Boiler Feed Pump Cavitation & NPSH - SteamWorks

It can't be stressed enough, water and the right amount of it is critical for the boiler's operation. Kind of a no-brainer right? There are a lot of factors however that affect the selection of a boilers feed pump. Boilers, especially those with a deaerator or systems designed as a mobile boiler or temporary system require a pump that is specially designed to deliver a lower net positive suction head then a conventional centrifugal feed pump. The wrong pump or neglect will lead to a condition known as cavitation which is identified by excessive vibration, poor flow and pressure, and of course the classic sound of marbles or sand inside the pump casing. The failure of the pump is inevitable if cavitation is not addressed.
Find out more at www.powermechanical.com/conta...

[@darbycrash55]

I just learned this the hard way after my company chabged from a stage pump to a impeller pump. On top of this, our live steam injection that is in place to keep suction head pressure high enough to overcome boiler pressure, had its PRV fail shut. The pumps themselves are more like water movers. The impeller style Dean pumps we installed make about 65 to 70 PSI at room temp water and a boiler at atmospheric pressure. Without the motive steam working, our pressures were not great enough to keep the water boiling point in our suction pipe from gassifying and cavitation our pumps, which eventually resulted in low water cut off alarms shutting down the burners...
Hind sight is 20 20, 100% of the time in this work.

[@austinmaloney5156]

thanks for the informative video

[@powermechanical]

You're welcome

[@StephenMortimer]

Getting more "professional" here !! (needs more emphasis on STEAM SCHOOL) (even as a REFRESHER for old timers)