Disclaimer: R. L.

Deppmann and its affiliates can not be held liable for issues caused by use of the information on this page. While the information comes frommany
years of experience and can be a valuable tool, it may not take into account special circumstances in your systemand we therefore can not take responsibility for actions
that result fromthis information. Please feel free to contact us if you do have any questions.
20929 Bridge Street, Southfield, MI 48033

4121 Brockton Drive SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49512

6200 Baron Drive, Bridgeport, MI 48722

6910 Treeline Drive, Suite A, Brecksville, OH 44141


Phone: (800) 589-6120 - Fax: (248) 354-3710
www.deppmann.com
Serving the industry since 1927
April23
rd
2012~MondayMorningMinutes:
CoolingTowerPumpsandPipingPart3
Wherecavitationbegins.
ByNormanHall

LastweektheR.L.DeppmannMondayMorningMinutedefinedNPSH
R
,andendedwiththeHydraulicInstitute(HI)
definitionastheabsolutepressurethatwillcausethetotalheadofthepumptobereducedby3%,duetoflowblockage
fromcavitation.OfimportanceisthefactthatitdoesnotsaythatNPSH
R
iswherecavitationbegins.

Theplacewherecavitationbeginsiscalledincipientcavitationandcanbefrom2to20%greaterthantheNPSH
R
reportedonthepumpcurve.Inaddition,NPSH
R
isatestedvalue,thetestiswithclearunaeratedwater;notdirty,
highlyaerated,towerwaterandpumpshavemanufacturingtolerances.TheNPSH
R
canalsovarywiththesystemfluid
conditions.

Sotoreducethechanceofdamagetothepumpfromcavitation,weneedtousealargernumberthanthepumpnet
positivesuctionheadrequired.AfewyearsagoHIdefinedsomemarginstoapplytothepublishedpumpNPSH
R
with
differentsystemsandpumptypes.ThemargindependedontheapplicationandtheSUCTIONENERGYofthepumps.For
coolingtowerapplications,therecommendationwastouseamultipliertoNPSH
R
of1.3forlowenergypumps,1.5for
highenergypumps,and2.0forveryhighenergypumps.

SOHOWDOWEDETERMINEWHICHMARGINTOUSE?

Thesuctionenergyofapumpdependsonanumberofvariablesbutitcanbeapproximatedbytheformula:

SuctionEnergy=DxnxSX10
(6)
WhereS=SuctionSpecificSpeed
or(RPMXQ
(.5)
/NPSH
R
(.75)

)
D=ImpellerDiameter
n=Speed
Q=FlowatBestEfficiencyPoint(BEP)
forthemaximumimpeller
NPSHisattheflowatBEPformaximum
impelleralso.

Note:thatfordoublesuctionpumps,
youuseoftheflowatBEP

Nowyouusetheresulttochoosethemarginusingthischart.

SuctionEnergy PumpType MarginforCoolingTowers

Lessthan150220 LowEnergy 1.3
Between150220and250380 HighEnergy 1.5
Over250380 VeryHighEnergy 2.0

NextweekweuseanexampleandcompletethisdiscussionofMarginappliedtoNPSHR.

ClickheretorequestacopyoftheXylemBellandGossett
CoolingTowerPipingtechnicalbulletinTEH1075