Boilers do not function without pumps. Individuals and businesses that depend on water heating systems need to know that pump cavitation is the biggest threat to their boiler pumps. A well-known online boiler sales company in the UK, Boiler Central, explains, “within the central heating system, the pump’s function is to circulate hot water from your boiler through the pipes….”
What is cavitation in a pump? What is centrifugal pump cavitation?
Pump cavitation is defined by Pumptec, a commercial pump manufacturer, as “the rapid succession and released energy of the implosions of gaseous cavities which cause an intense rattling sensation that can damage a pump.” This process creates pockets or cavities along the walls of the pump. In an online guide, the same UK boiler sales company, Boiler Central, made a list of things that indicate your boiler pump is not working correctly.
- Poor Heating
- Leaks
- Strange Boiler Pump Noises or Vibration
- Cold Pipes
A different blog post on Pumptec’s website gives crucial information saying, “While cavitation is possible in all pump types, it is more common in centrifugal pumps where the bubbles quickly develop around the impeller’s axis.” A recent EEE blog talks about centrifugal pumps, or “a mechanical device designed to move a fluid by means of the transfer of rotational energy from one or more driven rotors, called impellers,” the way an article from Michael Smith Engineers Ltd, a leading pump specialist in the UK, defines this type of pump. If this is the pump your boiler runs on, it is even more imperative to ensure cavitation is not occurring.
What causes pump cavitation? How do you avoid cavitation in pumps?
Many pump conditions and misconfigurations cause cavitation, like:
- A clogged filter
- A restricted or flimsy inlet hose
- Viscosity, or consistency, of the fluid combined with the wrong type of hose
- A leak in the hose
- The reservoir tank’s position
- An inlet supply hose that is too rigid
- The fluid is too hot
When the situations above occur, the flow rate and pressure of the fluid in the pump decrease. Please click the words “flow rate and pressure” to read a blog post from Pumptec describing these two elements. The most crucial thing regarding pump cavitation Pumptec mentions is, “Many of these issues can be prevented with proper maintenance and by selecting a pump that is designed for the intended use, accommodates the viscosity of the fluid being pumped, and has the proper configuration.” For more tips on preventing pump cavitation, we suggest visiting http://bit.ly/3yAbUaB.
Boiler pump users, especially those with centrifugal pumps, should use an expert for installation and maintenance. When your boiler stops working, please call Engineering Energy Equipment to check the boiler pump before replacing the entire boiler.
References
https://www.boilercentral.com/
https://www.boilercentral.com/guides/boiler-pump-not-working/
https://www.pumptec.com/blog/cavitation-in-pumps
https://www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk/
https://www.pumptec.com/blog/pump-flow-rate-vs-pressure
https://www.michael-smith-engineers.co.uk/resources/useful-info/centrifugal-pumps
