Define cavitation, and can a submerged pump cavitate?
A pump operates by excavating fluid through its discharge. This fluid is replaced by other fluid, and the pump pumps. If there is some restriction and the fluid cannot replace the excavated fluid fast enough, a vacuum is created and the fluid can “boil”. The boiling is water vapor filling the void creased as the bubbles form and collapse. This is cavitation. Yes, a submerged pump can cavitate if the suction cannot keep up with the pump requirement. Relate slurry specific gravity to dredge performance. Dredge performance is a function of the slurry specific gravity. The higher the specific gravity, the higher the production.
