NPSH

NPSH

NET
POSITIVE

SUCTION
HEAD

DEFINITIONS

NPSHA AVAILABLE (System)

NPSHR REQUIRED (Pump)

IF NPSHA < NPSHR,

CAVITATION OCCURS

ON SITE CASE

ON SITE CASE

NPSH A
HEAD

C D B

P LIQUID
A : PUMP SUCTION B : INDUCER INLET C : IMPELLER INLET D : DIFFUSER THROAT INLET E : PUMP DISCHARGE

NPSHR? NPSHA?

P VAP

A B

D E

DISTANCE

NPSHA < NPSHR

HEAD GAS BUBBLES APPEAR & ... IMPLODE F P VAP P LIQUID

F = NPSHA G = NPSHR A C DISTANCE

INDUCER EFFECT
HEAD

P LIQUID INDUCER EFFECT

A : PUMP SUCTION B : INDUCER INLET C : IMPELLER INLET D : DIFFUSER THROAT INLET E : PUMP DISCHARGE

P VAP

DISTANCE

NPSHA > NPSHR

P LIQUID

HEAD

P VAP

F = NPSHA G = NPSHR A B C DISTANCE

NPSHA CALCULATION

NPSHA

SURFACE STATIC = HEAD + PRESSURE HEAD

VAPOR FRICTION PRESSURE LOSSES

NPSHA OPEN TANK SURFACE STATIC = HEAD + PRESSURE HEAD

0 BARG OPEN TANK

NPSHA

FRICTION LOSSES -

VAPOR PRESSURE

WATER

H = 2,5m
Line losses: 0,8 m

TEMPERATURE = 80C PRESSURE AT TOP = 0 barg or 1 Bara VAPOR PRESSURE AT 80C = 0,47 Bara SPECIFIC GRAVITY = 0.97 @ 80C

NPSHA OPEN TANK SURFACE STATIC = HEAD + PRESSURE HEAD

NPSHA

FRICTION LOSSES -

VAPOR PRESSURE

0 BARG OPEN TANK

2,50 m
WATER
TEMPERATURE = 80C PRESSURE AT TOP = 0 barg or 1 Bara VAPOR PRESSURE AT 80C = 0,47 Bara SPECIFIC GRAVITY = 0.97 @ 80C

H = 2,5m
Line losses: 0,8 m

NPSHA OPEN TANK SURFACE + PRESSURE HEAD

NPSHA

2,5m

VAPOR FRICTION LOSSES - PRESSURE

0 BARG OPEN TANK

WATER

1Bara x 10.2 0.97

H = 2,5m
TEMPERATURE = 80C PRESSURE AT TOP = 0 barg or 1 Bara VAPOR PRESSURE AT 80C = 0,47 Bara MASS DENSITY = 970 kg/m3 @ 80C

Line losses: 0,8 m

NPSHA OPEN TANK

NPSHA

2,5m

10,5m

VAPOR FRICTION LOSSES - PRESSURE

0 BARG OPEN TANK

0,8m
WATER
H = 2,5m
Line losses: 0,8 m
TEMPERATURE = 80C PRESSURE AT TOP = 0 barg or 1 Bara VAPOR PRESSURE AT 80C = 0,47 Bara SPECIFIC GRAVITY = 0.97 @ 80C

NPSHA OPEN TANK

NPSHA

2,5m

10,5m

0,8m

VAPOR - PRESSURE

0 BARG OPEN TANK

WATER

0.47Bara x 10.2 0.97

TEMPERATURE = 80C PRESSURE AT TOP = 0 barg or 1 Bara VAPOR PRESSURE AT 80C = 0,47 Bara SPECIFIC GRAVITY = 0.97 @ 80C

H = 2,5m
Line losses: 0,8 m

NPSHA OPEN TANK

NPSHA

2,5m

10,5m

0,8m

4,9m

0 BARG OPEN TANK

WATER

NPSHA
H = 2,5m

7,3m

Line losses: 0,8 m

TEMPERATURE = 80C PRESSURE AT TOP = 0 barg or 1 Bara VAPOR PRESSURE AT 80C = 0,47 Bara SPECIFIC GRAVITY = 0.97 @ 80C

NPSHA CLOSED TANK SURFACE STATIC = HEAD + PRESSURE HEAD

NPSHA

FRICTION LOSSES -

VAPOR PRESSURE

Gas 2,5 barg

2,5m
TEMPERATURE = 38 C PRESSURE AT TOP = 2,5 barg or 3,5 bara VAPOR PRESSURE AT 38C = 3,6 bara SPECIFIC GRAVITY = 0.56 @ 38C

N-Butane H = 2,5m
Line losses: 0,8m

NPSHA CLOSED TANK SURFACE + PRESSURE HEAD

NPSHA

2,5m

FRICTION LOSSES -

VAPOR PRESSURE

Gas 2,7 barg

3.7 Bara x 10.2 0.56

H = 2,5m
TEMPERATURE = 38 C PRESSURE AT TOP = 2,7 barg or 3,7 bara VAPOR PRESSURE AT 38C = 3,6 bara SPECIFIC GRAVITY = 0.56 @ 38C

N-Butane

Line losses: 0,8m

NPSHA CLOSED TANK

NPSHA

2,5m

67,4m

VAPOR - FRICTION LOSSES PRESSURE

Gas 2,5 barg

0,8m
TEMPERATURE = 38 C PRESSURE AT TOP = 2,5 barg or 3,5 bara VAPOR PRESSURE AT 38C = 3,6 bara SPECIFIC GRAVITY = 0.56 @ 38C

N-Butane H = 2,5m
Line losses: 0,8m

NPSHA CLOSED TANK

NPSHA

2,5m

67,4m

0,8m

VAPOR PRESSURE

Gas 2,5 barg

3.6 Bara x 10.2 0.56

H = 2,5m
TEMPERATURE = 38 C PRESSURE AT TOP = 2,5 barg or 3,5 bara VAPOR PRESSURE AT 38C = 3,6 bara SPECIFIC GRAVITY = 0.56 @ 38C

N-Butane

Line losses: 0,8m

NPSHA CLOSED TANK

NPSHA

2,5m

67,4m

0,8m

65,5m

Gas 2,5 barg

N-Butane H = 2,5m
Line losses: 0,8m

NPSHA

3,6m

TEMPERATURE = 38 C PRESSURE AT TOP = 2,5 barg or 3,5 bara VAPOR PRESSURE AT 38C = 3,6 bara SPECIFIC GRAVITY = 0.56 @ 38C

HOW TO INCREASE NPSHA

INCREASE SUCTION VESSEL PRESSURE DECREASE VAPOR PRESSURE ( DECREASE SUCTION TEMPERATURE) DECREASE LINE LOSSES

INCREASE STATIC HEAD

NPSH TESTING

SET FLOW RATE, DETERMINE DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE REDUCE SUCTION PRESSURE (APPLY VACUUM) WHEN DIFFERENTIAL PRESSURE DROPS BY 3% UNIT IS CAVITATING NPSHA FOR THIS OPERATING CONDITION IS EQUAL TO NPSHR NPSHA = NPSHR

INDUCER PERFORMANCE
"SHARP" BREAKDOWN

PUMP OR INDUCER HEAD RISE

100% 97%
3% PUMP SUPPRESSION

1% SUPPRESSION

"GENTLE" BREAKDOWN

NPSH

ADEQUATE NPSH A

THE INDUCER FAMILY

THE INDUCER FAMILY

WHAT DOES THIS HAVE TO DO WITH PUMP MAINTENANCE?

INDUCER OR IMPELLER CAN FAIL MECHANICALLY

RESULTING HSSA UNBALANCE CAN LEAD TO BEARING FAILURE

IDENTIFICATION OF CAUSE REDUCES MAINTENANCE

CAVITATION EFFECT ON AN IMPELLER IN CASE OF INSUFFICIENT NPSH MARGIN

CAVITATION EFFECT ON INDUCER

FLUID TEMPERATURE RISE

TEMPERATURE RISE FROM SUCTION TO DISCHARGE - RESULT OF INEFFICIENCY TYPICALLY OF LITTLE OR NO CONCERN

OF CONCERN IN CLOSED LOOP SYSTEM WITHOUT COOLING

OR WHEN NPSH IS MARGINAL

FLUID TEMPERATURE RISE

INTERNAL CIRCULATION AT TURNDOWN

HIGHER TEMPERATURE FLUID MIXES WITH INLET FLOW, INCREASING FLUID VAPOR PRESSURE MAY RESULT IN CAVITATION AND/OR VAPOR LOCK

TEMPERATURE RISE INFLUENCE

HEAD

P LIQUID INDUCER EFFECT

A : PUMP SUCTION B : INDUCER INLET C : IMPELLER INLET D : DIFFUSER THROAT INLET E : PUMP DISCHARGE

P VAP

DISTANCE

TEMPERATURE RISE INFLUENCE

HEAD P LIQUID INDUCER EFFECT
A : PUMP SUCTION B : INDUCER INLET C : IMPELLER INLET D : DIFFUSER THROAT INLET E : PUMP DISCHARGE

P VAP

A B

D E

DISTANCE

FLUID TEMPERATURE RISE RESOLUTION

INCREASE BYPASS TO SUCTION VESSEL

VENT PORT #6 TO SUCTION VESSEL

INCREASED EFFICIENCY LEADS TO DECREASED INTERNAL RECIRCULATION (OPERATE NEAR BEP)

TO REMEMBER

What is NPSH?
How to calculate it?

What is the effect of an inducer?

What is cavitation?