🔍 Key Concepts

• Pump suction lift and how atmospheric pressure helps raise liquid into the pump • Effect of air leaks, restrictions, and vapor formation on pump priming and flow • Relationship between net positive suction head (NPSH) and loss of suction

💭 Think About

• For each option, ask yourself: would this condition make it easier or harder for the pump to draw water up from the source? Why? • Think about what happens if air or vapor gets into the suction side of a centrifugal pump—does the pump move liquid or compress gas? • Consider whether any one of these problems alone would reduce suction lift, or whether they all have a similar effect on the pump’s ability to stay primed and pull a vacuum.

✅ Before You Answer

• For each choice, decide if it would reduce the effective vacuum the pump can create on the suction side. • Ask: does this condition increase friction losses or introduce air/vapor into the suction line? If yes, how does that affect lift? • Make sure you understand that a centrifugal pump relies on being fully primed (no air) and having sufficient NPSH available to reach maximum suction lift.