What can be a potential outcome of pump cavitation on power consumption?

Cavitation in pumps occurs when vapor bubbles form in the liquid being pumped, typically due to low-pressure conditions. These vapor bubbles can collapse violently, leading to a range of negative impacts on pump performance.

One significant outcome of pump cavitation is erratic power consumption. When cavitation occurs, the pump may struggle to maintain a consistent flow rate and pressure. As the pump operates under these unpredictable conditions, the power required to drive the pump fluctuates, resulting in inconsistent energy usage. This erratic performance can lead to variations in power consumption, as the pump may require more energy at certain points to compensate for the loss of hydraulic efficiency caused by cavitation.

In contrast, stable or reduced power consumption would indicate consistent operating conditions, which is not the case during cavitation. Increased efficiency typically suggests that the pump is operating optimally without the presence of cavitation, further reinforcing the notion that cavitation leads to unstable power consumption.