NPSH

NPSH 1
NPSH
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
Hydraulic circuit
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 is the head loss between 0 and 1, is the pressure at the water surface, is the vapour pressure
(saturation pressure) for the fluid at the temperature at 1, is the difference in height (shown as H
on the diagram) from the water surface to the location 1, and is the fluid density, assumed constant, and 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.
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
NPSH 2
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.
NPSH 3
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.
NPSH 4
References
[1] Potter & Wiggert Mechanics of Fluids, 3rd Ed, p 612
[2] Simple NPSH & Cavitation Explanation http:/ / www. marttechservices. com/ pdf/ ServiceBulletins/
Service%20Bulletin_-_Net_Postive_Suction_Head_-_Cavitation. pdf
Article Sources and Contributors 5
Article Sources and Contributors

NPSH Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=407282464 Contributors: Aarontu, Aushulz, Chipperr, Crackerbuzz, Dbfirs, Docu, Geniac, Gjs238, Grupler, Inwind, Jdpipe, John of
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Terrek, UbUb, Yworo, 46 anonymous edits
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NPSH 1

A somewhat simpler informal way to understanding NPSH…[2]

Some general NPSH Examples

Article Sources and Contributors

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

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