The condition where water flows from an atmospheric vented source to the pump without the inlet pressure dropping below atmospheric while at 150 percent capacity is known as

The condition where water flows from an atmospheric vented source to the pump without the inlet pressure dropping below atmospheric while at 150 percent capacity is known as

• A. Cavitation
• B. Flooded Suction
• C. Negative Suction
• D. Suction Lift

Answer: (B)

Flooded suction occurs when the suction piping is completely filled with water and the source is vented to atmosphere, so the pump inlet stays at about atmospheric pressure even when the pump is operating at higher flow. This arrangement prevents the inlet pressure from dropping toward the liquid’s vapor pressure, which would cause cavitation. Cavitation would happen if the pressure fell below the vapor pressure, not in this scenario. Negative suction would mean inlet pressure is below atmospheric, which isn’t the case here. Suction lift describes raising water up to the pump from a lower source, which isn’t implied by an atmospheric vented source. So the condition described matches flooded suction.

Flooded suction occurs when the suction piping is completely filled with water and the source is vented to atmosphere, so the pump inlet stays at about atmospheric pressure even when the pump is operating at higher flow. This arrangement prevents the inlet pressure from dropping toward the liquid’s vapor pressure, which would cause cavitation. Cavitation would happen if the pressure fell below the vapor pressure, not in this scenario. Negative suction would mean inlet pressure is below atmospheric, which isn’t the case here. Suction lift describes raising water up to the pump from a lower source, which isn’t implied by an atmospheric vented source. So the condition described matches flooded suction.