NPSH is an acronym for Net Positive Suction Head.

In any cross-section of a generic

hydraulic circuit, the NPSH parameter shows the difference between the actual pressure of a
liquid in a pipeline and the liquid's vapor pressure at a given temperature.

NPSH is an important parameter to take into account when designing a circuit: whenever the
liquid pressure drops below the vapor pressure, liquid boiling occurs, and the final effect will
be cavitation: vapor bubbles may reduce or stop the liquid flow, as well as damage the
system.

Centrifugal pumps are particularly vulnerable especially when pumping heated solution near
the vapor pressure, whereas positive displacement pumps are less affected by cavitation, as
they are better able to pump two-phase flow (the mixture of gas and liquid), however, the
resultant flow rate of the pump will be diminished because of the gas volumetrically
displacing a disproportion of liquid. Careful design is required to pump high temperature
liquids with a centrifugal pump when the liquid is nearing the boiling point.

The violent collapse of the cavitation bubble creates a shock wave that can literally carve
material from internal pump components (usually the leading edge of the impeller) and
creates noise that is most often described as "pumping gravel". Additionally, the inevitable
increase in vibration can cause other mechanical faults in the pump and associated
equipment.

Considering the circuit shown in the picture, in 1-1 NPSH is[1] :

where hL is the head loss between 0 and 1, p0 is the pressure at the water surface, pv is the
vapour pressure (saturation pressure) for the fluid at the temperature T1 at 1, Δz is the
difference in height z1 − z0 (shown as H on the diagram) from the water surface to the
location 1, and ρ is the fluid density, assumed constant, and g is gravitational acceleration.

In pump operation, two aspects of this parameter are called respectively NPSHA or NPSH
(a) Net Positive Suction Head (available) and NPSHR or NPSH(r) or NPSH-3 Net Positive
Suction Head (required), where NPSH(a) is the suction pressure presented at the pump inlet
port, and NPSH(r) is the suction pressure limit at which the pump's total differential head
performance is reduced by 3% due to cavitation. Cavitation occurs at suction pressure levels
below the NPSH-3 level and pump damage can occur from cavitation even though the pump
may continue to provide the expected hydraulic performance.

[edit] A somewhat simpler informal way to understanding

NPSH…[2]
Fluid can be pushed very hard down a pipe. The only limit is the ability of the pipe to handle
the pressure. However, a liquid cannot be pulled very hard up a pipe because bubbles are
created as the liquid evaporates into a gas. The lower the vacuum pressure created, the bigger
the bubble, so no more liquid will flow into the pump. Rather than thinking in terms of the
pump's ability to pull the fluid, the flow is limited by the ability of gravity and air pressure to
push the fluid into the pump. The atmosphere pushes down on the fluid, plus, if the pump is
below the tank, the weight of the fluid from gravity above the pump inlet also helps. Until the
fluid gets to the pump, these are the only two forces providing the push. Friction losses and
vapor pressure must also be considered. Friction losses limit the ability of gravity and air
pressure to push the water towards the pump at high speed. Vapor pressure refers to the point
at which bubbles form in the liquid. NPSH is a measure of how much spare push you have
before the bubbles form.

________

NPSH is widely misunderstood, and is a fairly difficult concept to grasp. Once NPSH is fully
understood, sizing and controlling pumps and pumping machines is a much simpler task.

NPSH is the liquid suction force at the intake of a pump. In other words, the force of a liquid
naturally “pushing” into a pump from gravity pressure plus liquid headpressure only - into a
single pump intake.

This means;

NPSH = the net (left over) positive pressure of suction force into a pump intake after friction
loss has occurred. Liquid head height or liquid head pressure + gravity pressure, minus
friction loss, leaves a net head pressure of force into the pump.

If we want to pump some amount of liquid, we have to ensure that this liquid can reach the
center line of the suction point of the pump. NPSH represents the head (pressure and gravity
head) of liquid in the suction line of the pump that will overcome the friction along the
suction line.

NPSHR is the amount of liquid pressure required into the intake port of a pre-designed and
manufactured pump. This is known as NPSHR (Net Positive Suction Head Required). The
pump manufacturer will usually clearly have a NPSH curve to assist you in the correct
installation.

NPSHA is the amount (A = available) to the pump intake after pipe friction losses and head
pressures have been taken into account.
The reason for this requirement?

When the pump is receiving liquid into the intake port and the impeller is then pushing the
liquid out at the discharge, they are effectively trying to tear each other apart because the
pump is changing the liquid movement by a pressure increase at the impeller vanes, (general
pump installations). Insufficient NPSHR will cause a low or near-vacuum pressure (negative
NPSHA) to exist at the pump intake. This will cause the liquid to boil and cause cavitation,
and the pump will not receive the liquid fast enough because it will be attempting to pump
vapour. Cavitation will lower pump performance and damage pump internals.

At low temperatures the liquid can "hold together" (remain fluid) relatively easily, hence a
lower NPSH requirement. However at higher temperatures, the higher vapor pressure starts
the boiling process much earlier, hence a high NPSH requirement.

Water will boil at lower temperatures under lower pressures. Conversely the boiling-point is
raised at higher pressures.

Water boils at 100 degrees Celsius at sea level and an atmospheric pressure of 1 bar.

Vapor Pressure is the pressure of a gas in equilibrium with its liquid phase at a given
temperature. If the vapor pressure at a given temperature is greater than the pressure of the
atmosphere above the liquid, then the liquid will boil. (This is why water boils at a lower
temperature high in the mountains).

At normal atmospheric pressure minus 5 psi (or -0.35 Bar) water will boil at 89 degrees
Celsius.

At normal atmospheric pressure minus 10 psi (or -0.7 Bar) water will boil at 69 degrees
Celsius.

At a positive pressure of +12 psi or +0.82 Bar above atmospheric, water will boil at 118
degrees Celsius.

Liquid temperature greatly affects NPSH and must be taken into account when expensive
installations are being designed.

A pump designed with a NPSHR suitable for cold water may start to cavitate when pumping
hot water.

[edit] Some general NPSH Examples

(based on sea level).

Example 1: A tank with a liquid level 2 metres above the pump intake, plus the atmospheric
pressure of 10 metres, minus a 2 metre friction loss into the pump (say for pipe & valve loss),
minus the NPSHR curve (say 2.5 metres) of the pre-designed pump (see the manufacturers
curve) = an NPSHA (available) of 7.5 metres. (not forgetting the flow duty). This equates to
3 times the NPSH required. This pump will operate well so long as all other parameters are
correct.
Remember that (+ or -) flow duty will change the reading on the pump manufacture NPSHR
curve. The lower the flow, the lower the NPSHR, and vice versa.

Lifting out of a well will also create negative NPSH; however remember that atmospheric
pressure at sea level is 10 metres! This helps us, as it gives us a bonus boost or “push” into
the pump intake. (Remember that you only have 10 metres of atmospheric pressure as a
bonus and nothing more!).

Example 2: A well or bore with an operating level of 5 metres below the intake, minus a 2
metre friction loss into pump (pipe loss), minus the NPSHR curve (say 2.4 metres) of the pre-
designed pump = an NPSHA (available) of (negative) -9.4 metres. NOW we add the
atmospheric pressure of 10 metres. We have a positive NPSHA of 0.6 metres. (minimum
requirement is 0.6 metres above NPSHR), so the pump should lift from the well.

Now we will try the situation from example 2 above, but will pump 70 degrees Celsius
(158F) water from a hot spring, creating negative NPSH.

Example 3: A well or bore running at 70 degrees Celsius (158F) with an operating level of 5
metres below the intake, minus a 2 metre friction loss into pump (pipe loss), minus the
NPSHR curve (say 2.4 metres) of the pre-designed pump, minus a temperature loss of 3
metres/10 feet = an NPSHA (available) of (negative) -12.4 metres. NOW we add the
atmospheric pressure of 10 metres and we have a negative NPSHA of -2.4 metres remaining.

Remembering that the minimum requirement is 600 mm above the NPSHR therefore this
pump will not be able to pump the 70 degree Celsius liquid and will cavitate and lose
performance and cause damage. To work efficiently, this pump requires that it be buried into
the ground in a pit next to the hot spring well to a depth of 2.4 metres plus the required
600 mm minimum, totalling a total depth of 3 metres into the pit. (3.5 metres to be
completely safe).

A minimum of 600 mm (0.06 bar) and a recommended 1.5 metre (0.15 bar) head pressure
“higher” than the NPSHR pressure value required by the manufacturer is required to allow
the pump to operate properly.

Serious damage may occur if a large pump has been sited incorrectly with an incorrect
NPSHR value and this may result in a very expensive pump or installation repair.

NPSH problems may be able to be solved by changing the NPSHR or by re-siting the pump.

If an NPSHA is say 10 Bar then the pump you are using will deliver exactly 10 bar more over
the entire operational curve of a pump than its listed operational curve.

Example: A pump with a max. pressure head of 8 bar (80 metres) will actually run at 18 bar if
the NPSHA is 10 bar.

i.e.: 8 bar (pump curve) plus 10 bar NPSHA = 18 bar.

This phenomenon is what manufacturers use when they design multistage pumps, (Pumps
with more than one impeller). Each multi stacked impeller boosts the previous impeller to
raise the pressure head. Some pumps can have up to 40 stages or more, in order to boost
heads up to hundreds of metres.