A suction pipe inlet device for a centrifugal pump, the device having a hollow tubular axisymmetric body along a longitudinal axis having an open first end adapted for fitting into or against a retention tank; an open second end adapted for fitting into or against an inflow end of a suction pipe having an outer pipe diameter and an inner pipe diameter; a converging section located closer to the retention tank; a diverging section located closer to the suction pipe; a throat located at the intersection point between the converging and diverging sections, the converging and diverging sections defining an interior converging-diverging geometry within the tubular axisymmetric body and the throat defining a minimum inner cross sectional area of the tubular axisymmetric body.