Correlation of Cavitation Inception Data for a Centrifugal Pump Operating in Water and in Sodium-Potassium Alloy (NaK)

Abstract

The static head at pump suction at the time of cavitation inception was correlated for water and for 1500 F NaK on the basis of the differences of the vapor pressures of the two liquids. The difference between the vapor pressures, for the same conditions of pump speed and liquid flow, was added to the water-test cavitation inception value; this proved to be a good approximation to the experimental value found for cavitation inception with NaK.