What is cavitation and how is it caused?
Cavitation is the term used to describe a rather complex phenomenon that can exist in any pumping installation. In a centrifugal pump this may be explained as follows: when a liquid flows through the suction line and enters the eye of the pump impeller an increase in velocity takes place. This increase in velocity is, of course, accompanied by a reduction in pressure. If the pressure falls below the vapor pressure corresponding to the temperature of the liquid, the liquid will vaporize and the flowing stream will consist of liquid plus pockets of vapor. Flowing further through the impeller, the liquid reaches a region of higher pressure and the cavities of vapor collapse. It is this collapse of vapor pockets that causes the noise and damage incident to cavitation.
