Print this page Understanding Net Positive Suction Head
Randall W. Whitesides, P.E.
Course Outline
Students of this four-hour online course will be provided with an introduction to one of the important aspects of proper pump selection: Net Positive Suction Head.
This course includes
a multiple choice quiz at the end, which is designed to enhance the understanding
of the course materials.
Learning Objective
At the conclusion of this four-hour course, the student will:
- Be familiar with the two forms of Net Positive Suction Head and their derivation;
- Be aware of the variables that effect the numerical value of Net Positive Suction Head and;
- Learn the basic
concept of liquid cavitation and its destructive nature.
Intended
Audience
This course is intended primarily for Chemical and Mechanical Engineers in the
process industries. Engineers whose endeavors involve centrifugal pumps, e.g.,
Civil, Environmental, Petroleum, etc. will have equal interest. It is assumed
that the student has a rudimentary knowledge of fluid static and dynamic concepts.
Benefits
for Attendees
This course will review the various aspects of Net Positive Suction Head, including
centrifugal pump operation fundamentals, liquid vapor pressure, specific gravity,
absolute pressure, and cavitation. Examples of pumping systems, complete with
hydraulic analytical solutions, are provided to aid in the understanding of
the presented material. Additional and interesting hydraulic facts are randomly
interspersed throughout the course.
Course Content
The course content is in a PDF file (576 KB) NPSH.pdf.
Additional Resources
The Hydraulic Institute offers an online Net Positive Suction Head discussion forum at www.pumps.com.
The American National
Standards Institute (ANSI) and the Hydraulic Institute, Cleveland, Ohio, have
collaborated to produce a guidance document entitled Centrifugal and Vertical
Pump NPSH Margin (standard 9.6.1) that addresses this subject. It clarifies
misunderstandings of margins and develops concepts regarding suction energy
and NPSH margins. The document can be purchased from the Hydraulic Institute
at www.pumps.com.
The fundamentals of pump operation introduced in this course are limited to those aspects associated with Net Positive Suction Head and cavitation. For an in-depth treatment of the operation, maintenance, and troubleshooting of centrifugal pumps, the student should visit www.cheresources.com/centrifugalpumps2.shtml.
Once
you finish studying the
above course content,
you need to
take a quiz
to obtain the PDH credits.
DISCLAIMER: The materials contained in the online course are not intended as a representation or warranty on the part of PDHonline.com or any other person/organization named herein. The materials are for general information only. They are not a substitute for competent professional advice. Application of this information to a specific project should be reviewed by a registered professional engineer. Anyone making use of the information set forth herein does so at their own risk and assumes any and all resulting liability arising therefrom.
