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Quantitative predictions of cavitation presence and erosion-prone locations in a high-pressure cavitation test rig

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 April 2017

Phoevos Koukouvinis Open the ORCID record for Phoevos Koukouvinis [Opens in a new window] ,
Nicholas Mitroglou ,
Manolis Gavaises ,
Massimo Lorenzi Open the ORCID record for Massimo Lorenzi [Opens in a new window]  and
Maurizio Santini Open the ORCID record for Maurizio Santini [Opens in a new window]
Phoevos Koukouvinis*
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics Computer Science and Engineering, City University London, London EC1V 0HB, UK
Nicholas Mitroglou
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics Computer Science and Engineering, City University London, London EC1V 0HB, UK
Manolis Gavaises
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics Computer Science and Engineering, City University London, London EC1V 0HB, UK
Massimo Lorenzi
Affiliation:
School of Mathematics Computer Science and Engineering, City University London, London EC1V 0HB, UK
Maurizio Santini
Affiliation:
Department of Engineering and Applied Sciences, University of Bergamo, Bergamo, 24129, Italy
*
†Email address for correspondence: [email protected]
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Abstract

Experiments and numerical simulations of cavitating flow inside a single-orifice nozzle are presented. The orifice is part of a closed flow circuit, with diesel fuel as the working fluid, designed to replicate the main flow pattern observed in high-pressure diesel injector nozzles. The focus of the present investigation is on cavitation structures appearing inside the orifice, their interaction with turbulence and the induced material erosion. Experimental investigations include high-speed shadowgraphy visualization, X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) of time-averaged volumetric cavitation distribution inside the orifice as well as pressure and flow rate measurements. The highly transient flow features that are taking place, such as cavity shedding, collapse and vortex cavitation (also known as ‘string cavitation’), have become evident from high-speed images. Additionally, micro-CT enabled the reconstruction of the orifice surface, which provided locations of cavitation erosion sites developed after sufficient operation time. The measurements are used to validate the presented numerical model, which is based on the numerical solution of the Navier–Stokes equation, taking into account compressibility of both the liquid and liquid–vapour mixture. Phase change is accounted for with a newly developed mass transfer rate model, capable of accurately predicting the collapse of vaporous structures. Turbulence is modelled using detached eddy simulation and unsteady features such as cavitating vortices and cavity shedding are observed and discussed. The numerical results show agreement within validation uncertainty with the obtained measurements.

JFM classification

Drops and Bubbles: Cavitation Multiphase and Particle-laden Flows: Multiphase flow Vortex Flows: Vortex interactions
Type
Papers
Information
Journal of Fluid Mechanics , Volume 819 , 25 May 2017 , pp. 21 - 57
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Copyright
© 2017 Cambridge University Press 

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Koukouvinis et al. supplementary movie

Cavity shedding at low cavitation number (Cn= 1.5).

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Video 783.7 KB

Koukouvinis et al. supplementary movie

Cavity shedding at high cavitation number (Cn = 2.18).

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Video 3.3 MB

Koukouvinis et al. supplementary movie

Density distribution at the midplane of the geometry, at high cavitation number (Cn= 2.18).

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Video 1.2 MB

Koukouvinis et al. supplementary movie

Animation of the 3D cavitation isosurface (95% liquid), showing the formation of cavitating vortices, starting from the needle.

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Video 2.2 MB

Koukouvinis et al. supplementary movie

Animation of the 3D coherent vortical structures, Cn = 2.18 (q= 109 s-2)

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Video 9 MB

Koukouvinis et al. supplementary movie

Instantanteous velocity magnitude at the midplane of the geometry (Cn = 2.18).

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Video 3.2 MB

Koukouvinis et al. supplementary movie

Instantaneous pressure field on the throttle wall (Cn = 2.18). Note the rapid changes due to cavitation collapses.

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Video 3.8 MB

Koukouvinis et al. supplementary movie

Pressure peaks on the wall of the orifice (Cn = 1.5).

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Video 3.8 MB

Koukouvinis et al. supplementary movie

Pressure peaks on the wall of the orifice (Cn= 2.18).

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Video 3.7 MB

Koukouvinis et al. supplementary movie

Collapse mechanism at the first erosion site (1 to 3.5 mm downstream the channel entrance). Cn = 2.18.

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Video 889.5 KB

Koukouvinis et al. supplementary movie

Collapse mechanism at the second erosion site (5.5 to 8.5 mm downstream the channel entrance). Cn = 2.18.

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Video 1.1 MB