What is NPSH and Cavitation of the Centrifugal heavy duty slurry pump?

NPSH refers to net positive suction head. NPSH is particularly relevant inside centrifugal slurry pumps and turbines,which are parts of a hydraulic system that are most vulnerable to cavitation.

It may refer to one of two quantities in the analysis of cavitation.

NPSHa: NPSH available at slurry pump suction flange, at given capacity and temperature

NPSHr: NPSH required at slurry pump suction flange, at given slurry pump speed, capacity and temperature to prevent cavitation.Cavitation is a phenomenon that adversely affects the performance of a centrifugal slurry pump and it must be avoided during normal operation.

The onset of cavitation in a slurry pump, at any given speed and capacity, is brought about by a particular combination of temperature and pressure at the pump suction flange.

The absolute total head is called the Net Positive Suction Head or NPSH. The letter P tells us that NPSH, by definition, can never be a negative number.