Cavitation

What is cavitation?
Formation of local vapor areas and vapor bubbles in the inside of flowing fluids.

When does cavitation occur?

When the static pressure drops below the vapor pressure of the liquid

7. Cavitation

What are determining factors cavitation in centrifugal pumps?

Operating state, rotor/blade geometry, fluid properties.

SS 2012

Machines und Prozesses

Hydraulic Fluid Machinery

Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi 1

7. Cavitation

SS 2012

Machines und Prozesses

Hydraulic Fluid Machinery

Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi

Cavitation (2)

Why is cavitation potentially dangerous?

If the steam bubbles are carried by the flow into areas in which the static pressure rises again above the vapor pressure, then the vapor bubbles implode. At the same time extremely high flow velocities are locally present around the vapor bubbles. If this takes place in the vicinity of a wall, then the impulse forces of the high flow velocities can cause material damages. 7. Cavitation

Is it sensible to avoid cavitation?

No. Cavitation is only dangerous if an intensive interaction with the walls occurs. Modern centrifugal pumps operate with a partial and controlled amount of cavitation.

SS 2012

Machines und Prozesses

Hydraulic Fluid Machinery

Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi 3

Cavitation damages (examples)

7. Cavitation

SS 2012

Machines und Prozesses

Hydraulic Fluid Machinery

Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi 4

Cavitation (examples)

7. Cavitation

SS 2012

Machines und Prozesses

Hydraulic Fluid Machinery

Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi 5

Harmful effects of cavitation in hydraulic FM

Two-phase flow
The vapor bubbles cause two-phase flow. Since the specific volume of the vapor phase is much more larger, the effective cross-section of the flow is narrowed. This leads to blockage and reduction of performance and efficiency.

Noise and vibrations

7. Cavitation

The implosions of the vapor bubbles cause high-frequency noises. Through blockage effects, unstationary flow phenomenon can occur.

Material removal, destruction

Through the intensive and frequent pressure peaks, due to the implosions near the wall, local material strains can appear, which can lead to erosion and corrosion.

SS 2012

Machines und Prozesses

Hydraulic Fluid Machinery

Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi 6

p T diagram

fluid
Evaporation

e urv nc e tio v fica cur g lidi So eltin M

Absolute pressure p

p > pD
Kavitation

CP

solid
bl cu ima rv tio e n

ve r u nc e o i t a rv r u o c p g Eva eltin M

CP critical point TP Triple point

7. Cavitation

TP

gas

Su

p < pD

Temperature T

SS 2012

Machines und Prozesses

Hydraulic Fluid Machinery

Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi 7

avoiding cavitation?
Nowhere in the fluid machine the pressure shall be lower than the vapor pressure of the fluid.

Criteria:

pmin > pD

Problem: Where is pmin?

Only the manufacturer has this information.

Solution: Manufacturer must give the permissible minimal pressure at

a reference point (usually at the inlet flange) 7. Cavitation

ptot , E pD > ptot , E pmin

SS 2012

Machines und Prozesses

Hydraulic Fluid Machinery

Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi 8

Cavitation index
Definition:

1 NPSH = ptot , E pD ) ( ( g)
(Net positive suction head)

Difference of the total pressure to the vapor pressure at the inlet (E)

Given by manufacturer: NPSHerf , NPSHreq 7. Cavitation To be figured out by operator: NPSHvorh , NPSHav Energy balance at inlet part of facility (I E):

ptot , E = pI + gz I pVerl , S +
SS 2012 Machines und Prozesses Hydraulic Fluid Machinery

cI2

Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi 9

7. Cavitation

SS 2012

Machines und Prozesses

Hydraulic Fluid Machinery

Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi 10

Criteria for free of cavitation

ptot , E = pI + gz I pVerl , S +
1 NPSH = ptot , E pD ) ( ( g)

cI2

7. Cavitation

1 2 ( pI + gz I pVerl , S pD + cI ) NPSHvorh = 2 g

NPSHvorh NPSHerf
Inlet facility
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Machine
Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi 11

7. Cavitation

SS 2012

Machines und Prozesses

Hydraulic Fluid Machinery

Fachgebiet Strmungsmaschinen
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Martin Gabi 12