Measurement of thermal parameter and Reynolds number effects on cavitation instability onset in a turbopump inducer

Abstract

This study experimentally examines how the non-dimensional thermal parameter and Reynolds number affect cavitation instability onset in a turbopump inducer using water. Based on the time-resolved static pressure measured at the inlet of the turbopump inducer, the onset cavitation number of rotating cavitation has been determined for varying Reynolds number and non-dimensional thermal parameter values. Increasing non-dimensional thermal parameter suppresses rotating cavitation and causes a monotonic decrease in the rotating cavitation onset cavitation number. At low non-dimensional thermal parameter values (e.g., 0.0125), the onset cavitation number is independent of the Reynolds number. However, at higher values of the non-dimensional thermal parameter (e.g., higher than 0.0537), the onset cavitation number increases with increasing Reynolds number. Thus, the Reynolds number promotes rotating cavitation onset. This study provides the first assessment of the independent effects of the non-dimensional thermal parameter and Reynolds number.

Research Progress on Identification and Suppression Methods for Monitoring the Cavitation State of Centrifugal Pumps

“…Their findings indicated that with an increase in the rotational speed, the cavitation area on the back side of the blade gradually shifted from the central trailing edge to the trailing edge and hub direction. Kim et al [45] focused on the influence of temperature on the cavitation characteristics of the induced wheel. By elevating the temperature of the liquid medium, they used a high-speed camera to observe the cavitation attached to the blades of the wheel at different temperatures.…”