Suction Valve Throttle Versus Vacuum

Cavitation can severely damage pumps and is affected by pump design and system issues. What affects it most? Does the suction behavior from the discharge side (system) of a pump affect pump cavitation? Cavitation is initiated when the suction pressure drops below vapor pressure. However, does it matter how this pressure is reduced, and what is the system mechanism that can lead to the typical detectable noise versus cases in which, even if pressure drops substantially, no sound occurs? This column and Part Two in May will cover this topic. Part One breaks down a video of two cases that are seemingly similar, but under closer examination, have significant differences. Learning the differences can help pump users better understand the basics of cavitation mechanisms and also how the system within which the pump operates can contribute to it. Differences in low pressure initiation at the pump inlet is not the only factor to consider for an in-depth understanding of suction valve throttle versus vacuum pumping. A video of one of the live, hands-on exercises conducted during Pump School sessions shows each example and can be viewed at: www.pump-magazine.com/pump_magazine/q&a/faqq111-120/faqq111_120.htm (Question #120) In this video, two tests are conducted. The first, Case A, involves dropping the suction pressure in front of a pump by valve throttling. Case B introduces vacuum at the supply tank. In Case B, water is recirculated to the supply tank (dash line version), instead of a more common situation in which it is pumped from one tank to another. Would you expect the result shown in Figure 2—in both cases? Case A and B will be a test. The reader who answers correctly wins a ticket to the next Pump School. Make sure to view the video to follow along. As the suction valve (V_s) is throttled, the suction gauge (P_s) reads less pressure and becomes below atmospheric. What should happen when suction pressure begins to drop is the flow and head should remain constant for some time until the suction pressure drops significantly, when net positive suction head available (NPSHA) reaches the net positive suction head required (NPSHR), and then the total pump head drops quickly. However, as the video shows, flow drops immediately while the suction gauge needle barely moves. However, no cavitation is observed. Alternatively, when the suction valve is kept open and vacuum is applied to the supply tank via the vacuum control valve (V_vac), the flow remains constant, as expected, until a strong vacuum is reached. This results in fully developed cavitation, which becomes obvious and strong. Only then will flow drop suddenly. Can you explain why? Should the flow behave similarly in both cases—staying constant for a long time and only becoming affected at low values of NPSHA (low P_s)? The best answer will be published in an upcoming issue of Pumps & Systems. Click here to read Part Two of this article.