Jump to content

Latest Downloads

Recent Status Updates

  • Photo
      09 Mar


View All Updates

Chemical and Process Engineering Resources

- - - - -

Category: Fluid Dynamics
Question: What is the significance of the minimum flow required by a pump?
Keywords: shutoff,pump
Answer: The minimum flow that a pump requires descibes the flow below which the pump will experience what is called "shutoff". At shutoff, most of the pump's horsepower or work is converted to heat that can vaporize the fluid and cause cavitation that will severely damage the pump. The minimum flow of a pump is particularily important in the design of boiler feed pumps where the fluid is near it's boiling point.