What Role Does Vapour Pressure May Have On NPSHA?
Previously we have discussed net positive suction pressure but avoided the role vapour pressure may have on NPSHA. Today, we will shed some light on this subject.
The study of vapour pressure starts with developing an understanding of evaporation. Evaporation of a liquid is a concept most of us generally understand, but do we really know the intricacies of the process?
Let’s start by examining a beaker of material in a liquid state. If that material is water, the beaker at a molecular level would be full of H2O water molecules. If the water was cold, say 1 degree C, then these molecules would be moving slowly and would not possess much kinetic energy. The molecular attraction between the molecules would keep almost all the surface molecules contained.
Periodically, due to random collisions of molecules, one surface molecule may accumulate enough kinetic energy to break the molecular attraction and leave the water’s surface. This molecule is now in a gaseous state and has “evaporated”.
As the temperature of a liquid increases so does the kinetic energy of the individual molecules. As the drawing below illustrates, the increase in energy within the molecules at the elevated temperature translates into more molecules obtaining enough energy to transition into a gaseous state.
If the beaker is open to the atmosphere, air currents carry these water vapour molecules away, and the level in the beaker slowly drops. However, if the beaker is sealed as in the illustration above, the water vapour is contained and pressure starts to build.
While evaporation is occurring within the sealed beaker, a few gaseous molecules lose kinetic energy due to collisions with other molecules and return to the liquid state. A process we know as condensation.
If the liquid within the sealed container is held at a stable temperature for a long enough period of time, an equilibrium is reached. That is to say, water vapour is being formed by the process of evaporation and at the same rate vapour is condensing back to a liquid state. The pressure at which a state of equilibrium is reached at any given temperature is known as the liquid’s vapour pressure at that temperature.
Some people crudely describe the vapour pressure as the push the liquid has to jump from a liquid to a gaseous state. When the liquid is in a container that is open to the atmosphere, the force exerted by the vapour pressure is pushing against atmospheric pressure.
When water is heated to 100 degrees C (212 F) it has a vapour pressure of approx 14.7 psi. The pressure exerted by the water, in an effort to jump to a gaseous state, is now equal to the downward pressure on the water exerted by atmospheric pressure at sea level. Atmospheric pressure at this point is incapable of stopping the rapid formation of water vapour throughout the entire volume of the liquid, and the water boils.
As discussed in earlier blogs, pumps often rely on atmospheric pressure to push liquid into the eye of the impeller. If the vapour pressure is pushing up against the downward force of atmospheric pressure, then it is detracting from the pressure available to push liquid into the pump. In terms of earlier blogs, it is reducing the net positive suction head available. (NPSHA)
Looking at the formula used to calculate the net positive suction head available,
NPSHA = Ha +/- Hs – Hf + Hv – Hvp
we see vapour pressure is shown as negative or subtractive in nature. This coincides with today’s discussions of how vapour pressure acts against atmospheric pressure and detracts from the pressure available to feed liquid to a pump.
Fortunately, the majority of liquids pumped are water-based and not particularly hot but if you have a more volatile liquid or is at an elevated temperature best consider its vapour pressure if you have low NPSHA or you may be in for pumping problems.
If you need help or advice, the Hevvy/Toyo’s team of application engineers are well versed on this subject and are always willing to help.
Cheers
RJ
