During the operation of pump equipment, air binding and cavitation are two common abnormal phenomena. Both are related to the influence of gas, but there are significant differences in their nature, causes and hazards. Accurately distinguishing between them and taking targeted measures is crucial for ensuring the stable operation of pumps.
It refers to a phenomenon where after air enters the pump body, the pump cannot effectively establish sufficient vacuum due to the much lower density of gas than liquid, thereby failing to suck in liquid normally. It is a problem of pump suction function failure.
It is a process that occurs during pump operation, where bubbles are generated due to excessively low local pressure, and the collapse of these bubbles causes impact and damage to the internal components of the pump. It is a problem of component damage.
Its formation is mainly related to the pre-startup preparation of the pump and the sealing state. If the pump is not fully vented before startup, or if there is poor sealing in the pump body or suction pipeline, air will enter the pump and occupy a certain space, preventing the normal suction of liquid. In addition, an excessively low suction liquid level may also cause air to enter the pump along with the liquid, leading to air binding.
Its occurrence is closely related to the suction conditions and operating parameters of the pump. When the suction pressure of the pump is too low, lower than the saturated vapor pressure of the liquid at that temperature, the liquid will vaporize to generate bubbles. When these bubbles flow to the high-pressure area along with the liquid, they will collapse rapidly, producing strong shock waves that impact components such as the pump impeller and pump casing, thereby causing cavitation. At the same time, impurities contained in the liquid may also aggravate the degree of cavitation.
When air binding occurs, the pump will experience phenomena such as failure to deliver liquid, zero or large fluctuations in outlet pressure, and abnormal motor current, but it usually does not cause substantial damage to the pump components. The key to preventing air binding is to ensure that the pump and suction pipeline are fully vented before startup, check and ensure the tightness of the suction pipeline, and reasonably control the height of the suction liquid level.
When cavitation occurs, the pump will produce obvious noise and vibration, and the outlet pressure and flow will decrease significantly. Long-term operation will cause honeycomb-like damage on the surface of components such as the impeller and pump casing, reducing the efficiency and service life of the pump, and in severe cases, even rendering the pump inoperable. To prevent cavitation, it is necessary to optimize the design of the pump's suction pipeline to reduce pipeline resistance, reasonably select the installation height of the pump to ensure that the pump's suction pressure meets the requirements, and at the same time, materials with good anti-cavitation performance can be used to manufacture key internal components of the pump.
In summary, air binding is caused by air entering the pump body, leading to suction failure without component damage, and can be prevented by venting before startup and ensuring tightness; cavitation is caused by excessively low suction pressure generating bubbles, resulting in component damage and reduced efficiency, and requires optimizing the pipeline and selecting anti-cavitation materials.
TEFFIKO has in-depth experience in the pump industry and rich expertise in addressing air binding and cavitation. Its products fully incorporate preventive measures in their design, which can effectively reduce the occurrence of these two issues. TEFFIKO is a reliable partner for customers when choosing pump equipment.
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