Question Bank • QB_EXP_IDE_CAV_002 MCQ • 1 Mark

Section 5: Irrigation and Drainage Engineering

Pump Cavitation, NPSH & Installation

Subtopic: Cavitation prevention criterion

Question Statement:

To strictly prevent cavitation in a centrifugal pump installation, the relationship between available and required NPSH must satisfy:

Options:

  • (A) $NPSH_A > NPSH_R$ (typically with a safety margin of at least $0.5$ to $1.0\text{ m}$)
  • (B) $NPSH_A = 0$
  • (C) $NPSH_A < NPSH_R$
  • (D) $NPSH_R = \infty$

Answer Key:

A

Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation

Cavitation occurs when local pressure drops to or below vapor pressure $P_v$. To guarantee that fluid pressure remains above cavitation inception, Net Positive Suction Head Available ($NPSH_A$) must strictly exceed the manufacturer's required suction head ($NPSH_R$): $NPSH_A > NPSH_R$.
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