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Viscous Liquids - Max. Suction Flow Velocities

Recommended max. pump suction flow velocity for viscous fluids.

Avoid higher velocities in suction pipes. Higher velocities increases pressure loss in pipes and the pumps may start to cavitate. For viscous liquids - as a rule of thumb - the suction velocities in front of pumps should be below:

Viscous Liquids - Max. Suction Flow Velocities
Pipe boreMax. Suction Velocity
inchesmmm/sft/s
1 25 0.3 1
2 50 0.33 1.1
3 75 0.36 1.2
4 100 0.4 1.3
6 150 0.43 1.4
8 200 0.45 1.5
10 250 0.5 1.7
12 300 0.5 1.7

These values depends a lot on the fluid pumped. More about viscosity and viscosities for different fluids:

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