Cavitation

Cavitation is the formation and abrupt collapse of vapour-filled bubbles. This process takes place at points inside the pump where the pressure falls below the vapour pressure of the pumped medium.

Cavitation occurs in fluid flow systems where the local static pressure is below vapor pressure.

In order to avoid cavitation, it must be ensured that the pressure at the suction port is always greater than the vapour pressure of the liquid at a given temperature of the medium.

Cavitation in control valves occurs only with liquid flows; gases cannot cavitate.