Combating Pump Cavitation

Industrial pump systems are vulnerable to a wide range of hazards, not the least of which is cavitation. One of the most common problems pumps to face, it can damage components throughout the pump. Cavitation can be extremely difficult to repair, and so, as is the case in many situations (pump-related or otherwise), prevention is the best possible cure. An ideal solution for preventing pump cavitation is to use wear rings manufactured from Vespel® CR-6100.

Pump cavitation. Photo credit: jcurtis4082 via Foter.com / CC BY-NC-SA

Reduce Pump Cavitation Immediately with Vespel® CR-6100

A unique, high-performance composite material developed by DuPont, Vespel® CR-6100 is made from Teflon® PFA resin (also a DuPont creation) and long strands of carbon fiber. The material is useful for countless applications and provides a simple, cost-effective way to reduce or prevent pump cavitation. Vespel® CR-6100 has numerous physical attributes that make it ideal for use in industrial pumps and similar systems. These characteristics include:

• Resists extreme temperatures from -238°F (-200°C) to 500°F (260°C)
• Chemical compatibility with nearly all pumpable fluids
• Coefficient of thermal expansion is lower than that of carbon steel

Using wear rings manufactured from Vespel® CR-6100 will enable you to run your pump(s) with reduced wear ring clearance, which will reduce or eliminate leakage from the discharge of the pump(s) back into suction. On the surface, this is a minor achievement, but it ultimately reduces flow disruptions at suction inlets and will reduce the pump’s net positive suction head required (a.k.a. the NPSHR). This, in turn, minimizes the potential for pump cavitation.

Vespel® CR-6100’s Benefits for Your Pump(s)

By swapping out your pump’s OEM metal parts and components for those manufactured from Vespel® CR-6100, you’ll experience less cavitation, longer pump life, decreased operating and maintenance costs, and improved efficiency. Other benefits include, among others:

• Lower NPSHR
• Reduced vibration
• Less recirculation of discharge fluid into pump suction
• Reduced flow disruption at pump suction

Big picture: if you’re experiencing pump cavitation that is negatively affecting your pump system’s performance, replace the pump’s stationary wear rings with Vespel® CR-6100 wear rings, and reduce wear ring clearance to as much as 50 percent of the API recommended minimum. Continue to use metal rotating wear rings. Then, watch as your pump’s efficiency and performance go through the roof.