Total Suction Head

Total suction head, abbreviated as \(h_s\), is used in fluid mechanics and engineering, particularly in the context of pumps and pumping systems.  It represents the total energy or head pressure at the inlet or suction side of a pump.  Total suction head is an important parameter in pump design and operation because it helps determine whether a pump can effectively draw fluid from its source and push it through the system.

Pump manufacturers and engineers use total suction head to ensure that a pump has enough energy at its suction inlet to operate effectively and avoid problems like cavitation, which can occur when the pressure at the suction side of the pump falls too low.  Properly understanding and managing total suction head is essential for designing and operating efficient and reliable pumping systems.

 

Total Suction Head Formula
\( h_s =  h_{ss} + h_{ps} + h_{fs}  \)     (Total Suction Head) \( h_{ss} =  h_s - h_{ps} - h_{fs}  \) \( h_{ps} =  h_s - h_{ss} - h_{fs}  \) \( h_{fs} =  h_s - h_{ss} - h_{ps}  \)
Units	English	Metric
\( h_s \) = total suction head	\(ft\)	\(m\)
\( h_{ss} \) = static suction head	\(ft\)	\(m\)
\( h_{ps} \) = surface suction pressure (psi)	\(lbf\;/\;in^2\)	\(Pa\)
\( h_{fs} \) = friction suction head	\(ft\)	\(m\)