Question 1 of 27070
Q
If you hear a 'crackling' noise while standing watch in the engine room coming from a centrifugal pump within a general service system, the most probable cause of the problem would be __________.
A
insufficient speed
B
cavitation
C
excess discharge pressure
D
excessive net positive suction head
Question 1 / 270705eccef9bbacbc34ba4d454d5
Question 1 of 270705eccef9bbacbc34ba4d454d5

If you hear a 'crackling' noise while standing watch in the engine room coming from a centrifugal pump within a general service system, the most probable cause of the problem would be __________.

Back
Back
Back
Question 1 of 27070
Q

If you hear a 'crackling' noise while standing watch in the engine room coming from a centrifugal pump within a general service system, the most probable cause of the problem would be __________.

If the question has a related picture, it will appear here.

🔍 Key Concepts

• Centrifugal pump operation and what happens at the suction side when conditions are poor • The meaning of Net Positive Suction Head (NPSH) and how it relates to vapor formation in the liquid • Symptoms (sound, vibration) associated with vapor bubbles forming and collapsing inside a pump


💭 Think About

• Think about which condition inside a pump would cause the liquid to partially turn into vapor and then collapse, producing a crackling or gravel-like noise • Consider whether too much pressure at the discharge or too little effective pressure at the suction is more likely to cause noise inside the pump casing • Ask yourself: does increasing or decreasing NPSH tend to prevent destructive noises and damage, or cause them?


✅ Before You Answer

• Identify which option is directly associated with vapor bubble formation and collapse inside a pump • Verify which condition (low suction pressure vs. high discharge pressure vs. speed change) is most commonly linked with a crackling or rattling sound and potential impeller damage • Confirm your understanding that adequate NPSH is something engineers try to maintain to AVOID this problem, not to cause it