Drives&Controls & BACK TO BASICS n SPONSORED BY Cavitation: one of pumps’ biggest enemies Cavitation is a troublesome issue in pumping systems, and can seriously affect performance and lifespan. However, modern drives can detect and prevent the phenomenon without needing any extra equipment, as ABB’s water framework manager, Kirk Brandon, explains. Cavitation can be bad news for any pump system. It occurs when a pump impeller creates a vacuum on the suction side (inlet) of the pump. If the vacuum becomes too large, or if the pressure is too low, the water starts to boil and transforms from a liquid to steam. When these steam bubbles reach areas of high pressure, they collapse back into a liquid state, generating a shockwave. While each individual shockwave may be relatively small, when they occur in large numbers over a prolonged period, they can erode impellers and damage the rest of the pump system. Cavitation also causes vibrations, which can affect pump performance adversely. The effects of cavitation can take time to manifest themselves. Rather than destroying equipment immediately, cavitation chips away gradually over the course of months or years, sometimes completely undetected. It can cut a pump’s lifetime in half, and in extreme cases damage it even faster. This increases maintenance costs and can require frequent replacement of pump systems. Cavitation is often a result of poor pump system design. It can be prevented by reducing the temperature of the fluid or pump, decreasing the number of elbows and valves in the pipework, reducing the length of the pipework, or increasing its diameter. However, for equipment already in place, or in applications where space or layout present a challenge, making significant alterations to a system’s design can be difficult. In these cases, drives offer the most cost-effective method of controlling cavitation in existing systems, allowing it to be detected and prevented in real-time. For example, ABB’s anti-cavitation software uses patented algorithms to look for patterns in the motor and drive operating data, and reduces the pump speed automatically to reduce the risk of cavitation occurring. Because the drive measures directly from the motor shaft, any potential flow issues can be detected immediately, with zero latency, and without the need for extra sensors, controllers or interfaces. For pump systems that already incorporate drives, this represents an easy and costeffective remedy for cavitation that needs no additional equipment. For more information, search for “ABB cavitation”. Short Lead Time Full Factory Support ory Support Great Style, Price & Function e, Price & Function Front Sheet Customisation Available sales@lamonde.com | www.lamonde.com +44 (0)20 3026 2670 vice pert Ad Quality Products: Ex ure & Support Arm Systems HMI Enclosur ort Arm Lamonde Automation Limited
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