A centrifugal pump with a 7-in.-diameter impeller has the performance characteristics shown in Fig. 12.12. The pump is used to pump water at \(100{ }^{\circ} \mathrm{F}\), and the pump inlet is located \(12 \mathrm{ft}\) above the open water surface. When the flowrate is \(200 \mathrm{gpm}\), the head loss between the water surface and the pump inlet is \(6 \mathrm{ft}\) of water. Would you expect cavitation in the pump to be a problem? Assume standard atmospheric pressure. Explain how you arrived at your answer.

Fig. 12.12

8 in. dia 500 400 7 = 300 Head, ft 200 6 100 0 50% 55 60 63 15 99 65 63 60 85 55 40 bhp 50 -30 25 1 20 15 NPSHR 10 -5- 0 40 80 120 160 200 240 280 320 Capacity, gal/min NPSH R, ft