Simply defined, cavitation is the formation of bubbles or cavities in liquid, developed in areas of

relatively low pressure around an impeller. The imploding or collapsing of these bubbles trigger
intense shockwaves inside the pump, causing significant damage to the impeller and/or the pump
housing.
If left untreated, pump cavitation can cause:

Failure of pump housing

Destruction of impeller

Excessive vibration - leading to premature seal and bearing failure

Higher than necessary power consumption

Decreased flow and/or pressure

There are two types of pump cavitation: suction and discharge.

Suction Cavitation
When a pump is under low pressure or high vacuum conditions, suction cavitation occurs. The
pump is being "starved" or is not receiving enough flow. When this happens, bubbles or cavities
will form at the eye of the impeller. As the bubbles carry over to the discharge side of the pump,
the fluid conditions change, compressing the bubble into liquid and causing it to implode against
the face of the impeller.
An impeller that has fallen victim to suction cavitation will have large chunks or very small bits
of material missing, causing it to look like a sponge.
Possible causes of suction cavitation:

Clogged filters or strainers

Blockage in the pipe

Pump is running too far right on the pump curve

Poor piping design

Poor suction conditions (NPSH requirements)

Discharge Cavitation

When a pump's discharge pressure is extremely high, or runs at less than 10% of its best
efficiency point (BEP), discharge cavitation occurs. The high discharge pressure makes it
difficult for the fluid to flow out of the pump, so it circulates inside the pump. Liquid flows
between the impeller and the housing at very high velocity, causing a vacuum at the housing wall
and the formation of bubbles.
As with suction cavitation, the implosion of those bubbles trigger intense shockwaves, causing
premature wear of the impeller tips and pump housing. In extreme, discharge cavitation can
cause the impeller shaft to break.
Possible causes of discharge cavitation:

Blockage in the pipe on discharge side

Clogged filters or strainers

Running too far left on the pump curve

Poor piping design

Cavitation Prevention
If your pumps are experiencing cavitation, check these things to troubleshoot the problem on
your own:
1. Check filters and strainers - clogs on the suction, or discharge side can cause an
imbalance of pressure inside the pump
2. Reference the pump's curve - Use a pressure gauge and/or a flowmeter to understand
where your pump is operating on the curve. Make sure it is running at its best efficiency
point
3. Re-evaluate pipe design - Ensure the path the liquid takes to get to and from your pump
is ideal for the pump's operating conditions

Cavitation is a common problem in pumps and control valves - causing serious wear, tear and
damage. Under the wrong conditions cavitation reduces component life time dramatically.

What is Cavitation?
Cavitation may occur when local static pressure in a fluid reach a level below the vapor
pressure of the liquid at the actual temperature. According the Bernoulli Equation this may
happen when the fluid accelerates in a control valve or around a pump impeller.
The vaporization itself does not cause the damage - the damage happens when the vapor
almost immediately collapses after evaporation when the velocity is decreased and pressure is
increased.

Avoiding Cavitation
Cavitation can in general be avoided by

increasing the distance (pressure difference) between the actual local static pressure in
the fluid - and the vapor pressure of the fluid at the actual temperature

This can be done by:

reengineering components initiating high speed velocities and low static pressures

increasing the total or local static pressure in the system

reducing the temperature of the fluid

Reengineering of Components Initiating High Speed Velocity and Low

Static Pressure

Cavitation and damage can be avoided by using special components designed for the actual
rough conditions.

conditions with huge pressure drops can - with limitations - be handled by Multi Stage
Control Valves

challenging pumping conditions - with fluid temperatures close to the vaporization

temperature - can be handled with special pumps - working after other principles than
centrifugal pumps

Increasing the Total or Local Pressure in the System

By increasing the total or local pressure in the system the distance between the static pressure
and the vaporization pressure is increased and vaporization and cavitation can be avoided.
The ratio between static pressure and the vaporization pressure - an indication of the possibility
of vaporization, is often expressed by the Cavitation Number.
Unfortunately it is not always possible to increase total static pressure due to systems
classifications or other limitations. Local static pressure in components may be increased by
lowering (elevation) the component in the system. Control valves and pumps should in general
be positioned in thelowest part of the systems to maximize static head.
This is a common solution for boiler feeding pumps receiving hot condensate (water close
to 100 oC) from condensate receivers.

Reducing the Fluid Temperature

The vaporization pressure depends of fluid temperature. Vapor pressure of Water, our most
common fluid:

Pump Cavitation Definition

Pump cavitation is the formation and subsequent collapse or implosion of vapor
bubbles in a pump. It occurs when gas bubbles are formed in the pump due to
drop in absolute pressure of the liquid below vapor pressure. These gas bubbles
occupy space inside the pump and affect the pump's operating pressure and flow.
With vapor bubbles in the low-pressure zones of the pump, the motor's energy is
wasted expanding the bubbles instead of bringing more liquid into the pump. As
the bubbles pass into the pump's high-pressure zones, the motor's energy is
wasted compressing the bubbles instead of expelling the liquid from the pump. The
bubbles can collapse as they pass from low- to high-pressure zones in the pump.
When vapor bubbles collapse inside the pump the liquid strikes the metal parts at
the speed of sound. The noise generated from these collisions of gas bubbles into
the metal parts of pump sounds like pumping marbles and stones.

Causes of Pump Cavitation

Drop in pressure at the suction nozzle due to low NPSHa

If the fluid at pump suction is not available sufficiently above the vapor pressure of
liquid at operating conditions, then vaporization of liquid and formation of gas
bubbles is very likely, leading to cavitation.

Increase of the temperature of the pumped liquid

Increase in liquid temperature at the pump suction point increases the vapor
pressure of the liquid. Thus it becomes more likely for operating pressure to fall
below this vapor pressure limit, hence leading to bubbles and cavitation.

Increase in the fluid velocity at pump suction

Increase in fluid velocity at pump suction can typically be caused by higher liquid
flowrates than the design case. As per Bernoullis principle, higher liquid velocity
means higher velocity and lower pressure head. Frictional pressure drop in the
pump suction also rises with rise in the flowrate, making low pressure and
cavitation at pump suction more likely to occur.

Reduction of the flow at pump suction

Certain minimum flow is required by the centrifugal pumps to keep them from
running dry, as indicated by the pump performance curves. If liquid flow falls below
this limit, possibility of developing vapor in pumps and cavitation increases.

Undesirable flow conditions caused by obstructions or sharp elbows in the

suction piping

Sharp elbows, valves, other fittings and obstructions cause more frictional pressure
loss in the pump suction, thus increasing possibility of low pump suction pressure
leading to cavitation.

The pump is not selected correctly.

Every centrifugal pump has a certain requirement of positive suction head (NPSHr).
If the pump is not selected properly NPSHa might fall below this NPSHr limit,
causing cavitation.

Q: Pump cavitation is typically classified into two general categoriesinertial and noninertial
cavitation. What is the difference between inertial cavitation and noninertial cavitation?
A: Cavitation in general terms is used to describe the behavior of voids or bubbles in liquid. Any time
a flowing liquid falls below its vapor pressure, vapor bubbles can form. If the flowing liquid is then
subjected to pressures above the vapor pressure, these bubbles can implode causing damage,
which is called cavitation. Pump cavitation is usually divided into two classes of behavior: inertial (or
transient) cavitation, and noninertial cavitation. Inertial cavitation is the process where a void or
bubble in a liquid rapidly collapses, producing a shock wave. Noninertial cavitation is the process in

which a bubble in a fluid is forced to oscillate in size or shape due to some form of energy input,
such as an acoustic field.
Q: What are the typical causes of pump cavitation? What are the typical end results of
cavitation in pumping systems?
A: The cause of cavitation in pumps is usually due to insufficient NPSH (Net Positive Suction Head)
energy on the suction side of the pump. NPSH is the energy required to push the liquid into the
pump. This can be caused by:

Having the pump at too high of a distance above the fluid source

Having too small of a diameter of suction pipe

Having too long of a distance of suction pipe

Having too many fittings on the suction pipe

Handling a liquid with a low vapor pressure

Running the pump too fast

The end result of cavitation is the collapse of the vapor bubbles inside the pump, which can cause
several problems. The first problem is a reduction in the pumping capacity of the pump. If the pump
is unable to keep up with the incoming flow, then an overflow situation may occur. Cavitation also
causes damage to the pump. The collapsing vapor bubbles can cause excessive vibration, which
can cause rotating parts, such as the impeller, to contact non-rotating parts, such as the wear plates
or wear rings, causing damage. Excessive vibration may also cause premature failure to mechanical
seals and bearings. Cavitation can also damage the wetted components themselves from contact
with the imploding vapor bubbles. In these instances, the energy that is released when the vapor
bubbles implode causes pieces of the metal to break off and collide with other moving parts. The
damage typically occurs to the impeller and can severely reduce the operating life of the pump.
Q: What are some common warning signs that may signal the end-user that they are
experiencing pump cavitation?
A: If the pump is cavitating, it will typically vibrate, deliver less flow and make a noise that sounds
like marbles going through the pump. The sound may start out at a low level and increase in
intensity over time as material is chipped away and the surface of the parts becomes rougher. This is
due to the additional energy required by the drag (friction) on the fluid from contacting the rough
internal surfaces of the pump.

Cavitation is often confused with another phenomenon called air entrainment. Air entrainment occurs
when air is allowed to enter the pump on the suction side and expands as it enters the impeller eye.
This can often reduce the flow of the pump and cause vibration from disrupting the laminar flow
stream through the pump. Air entrainment can cause similar damage to bearings and seals. Unlike
cavitation, however, this problem can be easily remedied by simply identifying air leaks and fixing
them.
An interesting point about cavitation and air entrainment is that some experienced pump users have
actually injected small amounts of air into pumps that were cavitating to attempt to stop cavitation.
By injecting air into a pump that is cavitating, the air bubbles cushion the impact of the imploding
vapor bubbles and reduce the NPSHr of the pump, thus lessening the cavitation. This technique,
however, should only be used by skilled pump technicians, as too much air can cause priming
problems and, further, adding air typically reduces the pumps capacity, which could cause an
overflow condition.

Q: Why is cavitation so prevalent in and around the pumping system as compared to other
segments of the process line? What other segments of the process line are particularly
susceptible to cavitating conditions?
A: Cavitation frequently occurs in pumps because of the varying pressures in pumps. Centrifugal
pumps operate from the principle of creating a low pressure at the eye (center) of the impeller, and
atmospheric pressure forces the fluid to the eye to fill the void. As the fluid approaches the eye of the
impeller, the pressure drops, and if the pressure drops below the vapor pressure of the particular
liquid, it will boil and cause vapor bubbles to form. As the fluid leaves the impeller eye, it is now
exposed to higher pressures (due to the rotation of the impeller inside the casing), which can rise
above the vapor pressure of the liquid, causing the vapor bubbles to implode.
Cavitation can also occur in valves where the pressure drops suddenly and there is a chance for the
fluid to drop below its vapor pressure. This can often occur in throttling type valves, such as gate
valves or ball valves. If the pressure differential from one side of the valve to the other becomes too
great, the fluid can vaporize across the valve and implode on the downstream side of the valve. The
way to avoid cavitation in valves is to size them properly for the proper velocities. Valves are typically
sized for velocities less than 15 feet per second to avoid the possibility of cavitation.

Q: What are some common best practices end-users can employ to prevent pump cavitation?
A: Always calculate the NPSHa (Net Positive Suction Head available) from the system, and
compare it with the NPSHr (Net Positive Suction Head required) by the pump. The NPSHa should
always be one to two feet above the NPSHr of the pump to prevent cavitation.

The NPSHr is a function of the pump design and cannot be changed. The NPSHa is a function of the
system parameters and can be changed. Included in the NPSHa is the atmospheric pressure, vapor
pressure of the liquid being pumped, static height from the water level to the pump, and friction
losses. The atmospheric pressure is related to the altitude. At higher altitudes, the atmospheric
pressure is less and subsequently there is not as much energy available to push the liquid into the
pump. The vapor pressure varies by the type of liquid and the temperature of the liquid. If the liquid
is allowed to cool before the pump, it can often be pumped easier. Regarding the static height from
the fluid level to the pump, it is often possible to move the pump closer to the fluid to increase the
NPSHa. To reduce the friction losses, larger diameter pipes can often be employed to increase the
NPSHa and thus prevent pump cavitation.
If it is not possible to increase the NPSHa as described above, then the pump user should search for
a larger pump or pump that runs at a lower speed with lower NPSHr.

Q: From a technology perspective, what systems can end-users employ to help them more
effectively diagnose and mitigate pump cavitation?
A: The most effective solution is to listen to the pump and to evaluate the flow. Flow can best be
determined using flowmeters, and there are several types commercially available, depending on the
type of fluid being moved. Listening to the pump can be accomplished by the naked ear by trained
personnel or by using suitable noise level meters. More sophisticated vibration measuring equipment
can also be employed to detect cavitation. These portable devices can connect to the pump bearing
housings to detect movement (displacement) in the pumping system.

Q: In your experience, what are some of the most troublesome application occurrences of
pump cavitation? How were these cavitation issues resolved? ?
A: Among the most common applications that are susceptible to cavitation are applications that have
high-suction lifts with little-to-no discharge heads, as is the case with bypassing sewage from
manholes. In these applications, the duty point does not fall on the typical performance curve
because there is insufficient discharge pressure. In these applications, it is called operating too far
to the right of the curve. The way to fix this is to put artificial pressure on the discharge of the pump.
This can be accomplished by using smaller-diameter discharge hose or placing a throttling valve in
the discharge line.
Other examples are pumping heated liquids that are already close to their boiling points. In these
instances, the fluid cannot be lifted and must be provided a suitable distance above the height of the
pump.