How Cavitation Damages Centrifugal Pump Impellers: Key Effects You Should Know
How Cavitation Damages Centrifugal Pump Impellers: Key Effects You Should Know Cavitation is one of the most common and destructive problems in centrifugal pump operation. Many users initially notice symptoms such as: Increased noise and vibration Reduced flow rate Unstable performance However, the real issue goes deeper: 👉 Frequent cavitation can gradually destroy the pump impeller. Based on engineering experience from Shanghai Shangcheng Pump & Valve, understanding how cavitation affects the impeller is critical for improving pump reliability and lifespan. What Happens During Cavitation? Cavitation occurs when liquid pressure drops below its vapor pressure, forming vapor bubbles. As these bubbles move into high-pressure regions, they collapse violently, generating shock waves. 👉 These repeated micro-impacts act directly on the impeller surface. How Cavitation Changes the Impeller 1. Pitting and Honeycomb Surface Damage The most typical damage is pitting: Bubble collapse pr...