Question: Centrifugal pumps cannot run dry, and must have a minimum fluid flow to operate properly to avoid cavitation, and subsequent mechanical damage to the pump.

Centrifugal pumps cannot run dry, and must have a minimum fluid flow to operate properly to avoid cavitation, and subsequent mechanical damage to the pump. In other words, we must keep some fluid flowing through the pump at all times so that we do not break it. A storage tank is to be set up to provide such fluid flow to the process. However, sometimes the demand of fluid flow through the pump is lower than the minimum flow rate (which is set to 10-15% of the capacity of pump). What equipment setup would you recommend so that the pump is not damaged by fluid flows that are lower than the minimum capacity of the pump? Draw a picture of the layout so that the minimum flow can go through the pump no matter what level of liquid is present in the storage tank.

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