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Numerical investigation of cavitation-vortex interaction in a mixed-flow waterjet pump

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Abstract

Turbulent cavitating flows in a mixed-flow waterjet pump were numerically investigated using the k-ω SST turbulence model and the mass transfer cavitation model based on the Rayleigh-Plesset equation to provide a comprehensive understanding of the cavitation-vortex interaction mechanism. The predicted hydraulic performance, as well as the cavitation performance, exhibits a reasonable agreement with the experimental results. The vorticity distributions under three operation conditions were illustrated together. Based on the illustration, cavitation development enhances vorticity production and flow unsteadiness in a mixed-flow waterjet pump. Vortices are basically located at the cavity interface, particularly at the downstream interface, during cavitation. Further analyses using the relative vorticity transport equation in cavitating turbulent flows indicate that vortex dilation and baroclinic torque exhibit a steep jump as cavitation occurs. In addition, vortex stretching contributes mainly to large-scale vortex generation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Hydroscience and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China

    Renfang Huang & Xianwu Luo

  2. School of Power and Mechanical Engineering, Wuhan University, Hubei, 430072, China

    Bin Ji

  3. Marine Design and Research Institute of China, Shanghai, 200000, China

    Zhihong Zhai & Jiajian Zhou

Authors
  1. Renfang Huang
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  2. Bin Ji
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  3. Xianwu Luo
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  4. Zhihong Zhai
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  5. Jiajian Zhou
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Xianwu Luo.

Additional information

Recommended by Associate Editor Shin Hyung Rhee

Xianwu Luo obtained his B.S. and M.S. degrees from Tsinghua University, Beijing, China in 1991 and 1997, respectively, and his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Kyushu Institute of Technology, Japan, in 2004. He is currently an associate professor at the Department of Thermal Engineering, Tsinghua University, China.

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Huang, R., Ji, B., Luo, X. et al. Numerical investigation of cavitation-vortex interaction in a mixed-flow waterjet pump. J Mech Sci Technol 29, 3707–3716 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-0816-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12206-015-0816-4

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