Which of the following is NOT listed as a common cause of cavitation in boiler feedwater pumps?

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Multiple Choice

Which of the following is NOT listed as a common cause of cavitation in boiler feedwater pumps?

Cavitation in boiler feedwater pumps happens when the pressure at the pump suction falls below the water’s vapor pressure, causing vapor bubbles to form and then collapse inside the impeller. The most common ways this happens are on the suction side: not enough suction head (insufficient NPSH available), a suction line that’s too restricted (friction and velocity losses drop the inlet pressure), and air entrainment (air bubbles reduce the effective pressure and provide nuclei for cavitation). Low discharge pressure isn’t a typical cause. Cavitation is driven by conditions on the suction side; lowering discharge pressure can even reduce the head the pump must develop, which doesn’t inherently create the low inlet pressure that triggers cavitation. Therefore, the factor that isn’t commonly listed as a cavitation cause is low discharge pressure.

Cavitation in boiler feedwater pumps happens when the pressure at the pump suction falls below the water’s vapor pressure, causing vapor bubbles to form and then collapse inside the impeller. The most common ways this happens are on the suction side: not enough suction head (insufficient NPSH available), a suction line that’s too restricted (friction and velocity losses drop the inlet pressure), and air entrainment (air bubbles reduce the effective pressure and provide nuclei for cavitation).

Low discharge pressure isn’t a typical cause. Cavitation is driven by conditions on the suction side; lowering discharge pressure can even reduce the head the pump must develop, which doesn’t inherently create the low inlet pressure that triggers cavitation. Therefore, the factor that isn’t commonly listed as a cavitation cause is low discharge pressure.

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