Cavitation is the bursting of air bubbles in the fluid inside your pump. When this happens, tiny but high-energy shockwaves are created inside the pump which can erode its internal components and lead to rapid deterioration. Curbing cavitation to prolong the working life of your centrifugal pump is therefore important. VEMC is the leading Kirloskar pump authorised dealer, and in this blog, we tell you how to prevent cavitation in your centrifugal pump.
How cavitation can damage pump components
Shockwaves created due to cavitation can gradually erode the internal pump components. Besides, repeated cavitation can also increase the surface tension of the components eventually leading to fatigue, failure, weakening of material, cracks and fractures. The noise and vibrations that cavitation causes can further lead to wear and tear.
Factors leading to cavitation
- Regions of low pressure: These are created as soon as the pressure of the fluid inside the pump drops below the vapour pressure of the liquid.
- Changes in flow velocity: Rapid changes in the flow velocity can lead to cavitation as it also creates regions of low pressure.
- Temperature differences: Sharp changes in the temperature of the fluid can cause cavitation. This is due to the changes in vapour pressure that it causes.
- Pump design: Inappropriate pump design or mismatched features as per the demand can result in severe cavitation.
Other factors that can cause cavitation are low-viscosity fluids, clogged flow, excessive speed or pressure.
Methods to prevent cavitation
- Proper pump selection: For starters, choose the right pump based on your task requirements. Make sure the flow rate and head are in line with your demands.
- Operational adjustments: Adjust the system design or use booster pumps to increase the suction pressure. Avoid running the pump at flow rates sharply different from its design point.
- Fluid management: Control the fluid temperature and try to keep it within the safe range relative to vapour pressure. Reduce the introduction of gases into the fluid as it can increase the rate of cavitation.
- Pump monitoring: Keep track of your pump parameters like pressure and temperature and try to maintain them within the desirable range.
- Material selection and coatings: For your pump components, use cavitation-resistant material such as hardened alloys. Apply protective coatings to prevent erosion of vulnerable surfaces.
- Operational practices: Avoid sudden changes in pressure, and prime the pumps properly to ensure no air pockets are formed within the pump.
- Improve system design: Use flow control valves or devices to stabilise flow rates. Change the system piping and place flow straighteners at the inlet for smooth and non-turbulent flow.
Cavitation can be prevented by regular inspections and maintenance. The most common signs of cavitation are noise, vibration, reduced performance, variations in flow and pressure, increased power consumption and damaged bearings and seals.
To know more about cavitation, feel free to call us on 022 43436655 or email us at marketing@vemc.co.in. We at VEMC are the leading Kirloskar pump authorised dealer based in Mumbai, having a rich experience of over 70 years in the field of pumping.