8-92 M,Y and O Water at 50o F is pumped from a lake as shown.

What is the maximum flow possible without incurring cavatation?

Solution Discussion and solution Cavatation will occur if the absolute pressure in the line reaches the vapor pressure of water, or any other pumped liquid. If this occurs it will occur prior to the pump, since the pump adds energy to the flow. Write Bernoulli's equation between the water surface, point 1 and the pump entrance, point 2, solve for Q. The datum is the water surface.

8-92 pump discharge problem.mcd last save 10/26/99 / 4:17 PM

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Known values: lb in
2

pressure at water surface p1 := 14.7

elevation of point 1 z 1 := 0 ft elevation of point 2 z 2 := 10 ft ft sec

vapor pressure of water pv := .256

lb in
2

inlet and outlet pipe diameter D := 3 in

D
2

liquid velocity at point 1 v1 := 0

suction line area A :=

A = 0.049 ft

liquid velocity at point 2 v2 =

Q A

(unknown)

length of suction line L := 50 ft ft

2

g = 32.174 ft sec

-2

:=

.0000121

sec

f := 0.02

:=

62.4

lb ft
3

K L := 1.5 + .5

minor loss coefficients including 90o bend and suction line entrance (no rounding)

friction loss in suction line hL = f

2

L v2

D 2 g

minor losses hm = K L

v2

2 g

p1

z1 +

v1

2 g

hL hm =

pv

z2 +

v2

2 g

p1

z 1 + .5

v1 g

.5 f

L D

( A2 g)

.5 K L

( A2 g)

pv

z 2 + .5

( A2 g)

8-92 pump discharge problem.mcd last save 10/26/99 / 4:17 PM

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Q :=

A f L + KL D + D

2. pv g +

2 2. p1 g + 2. z 1 g + v1 2. z 2 g

maximum flow for specified conditions Q = 322.664 Q A

gal min

Vinlet :=

Vinlet = 14.6 ft sec

-1

N R :=

D Vinlet

N R = 3.026 10

Now, examine the sensitivity of the solution to the temperature (vapor pressure) of the water: lb in
2

pv := .12

.13

lb in
2

..

.69

lb in
2

(40o F to 90o F)

Q (pv , f) :=

A f L + KL D + D

2. pv g +

2 2. p1 g + 2. z 1 g + v1 2. z 2 g

340 330 Maximum flow rate (gpm) 320 310 300 290 280 270 260 250 240 10 19 28

Maximum Flow Calculations

37

46

55 64 vapor pressure

73

82

91

100

f = .02 f = .04

8-92 pump discharge problem.mcd last save 10/26/99 / 4:17 PM

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O.K. - Once we have the basic equation we can ask other questions...such as how high above the water surface can we place the pump (for a specified flowrate and friction factor) and still avoid cavatation?

p1

z 1 + .5

v1 g

.5 f

L D

( A2 g)

.5 K L

( A2 g)

pv

z 2 + .5

( A2 g)

f := .02
2

z 2 ( pv , Q) :=

p1

z 1 + .5

v1 g

.5 f

L D

( A2 g)

.5 K L

( A2 g)

1.

pv

.5

(A2 g)

Maximum pump elevation above datum(ft)

20 18 16 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 10 19 28 37

Maximum pump height

46 55 64 Vapor pressure

73

82

91

100

250 gpm 350 gpm

8-92 pump discharge problem.mcd last save 10/26/99 / 4:17 PM

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For a given flowrate, pump elevation, friction factor and minor losses what is the maximum length of the suction line?

p1

z 1 + .5

v1 g

.5 f

L D

( A2 g)

.5 K L

( A2 g)

pv

z 2 + .5

( A2 g)

Q := 250

gal min

z 2 := 10 ft

2 2 2 p1 v1 pv Q Q + z 1 + .5 .5 K L 1. 1. z 2 .5 2 ) 2 ) g (A g (A g D 2 A g L ( pv) := 2. 2 f Q

Maximum length of suction line (ft)

115 113.5 112 110.5 109 107.5 106 104.5 103 101.5 100 10 19 28

Maximum suction line length

37

46 55 64 vapor pressure (lb/sq. ft.)

73

82

91

100

8-92 pump discharge problem.mcd last save 10/26/99 / 4:17 PM

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