Acceleration Head

The flow in the suction and discharge piping of a reciprocating pump that is not constant. The liquid being transported must accelerate and decelerate several times for each revolution of the crankshaft due to the inherently unsteady flow characteristics of reciprocating pumps. The extra pressure, or head, required to overcome these inertial effects is called acceleration head. If unaccounted for, acceleration effects can result in cavitation inside the suction piping.