FLOW HYDRODYNAMICS ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON IN CAVITATION DEVICES

Abstract

The hydrodynamic and cavitation characteristics of the Venturi tube proposed by Long and the investigated design were analyzed to address the issue of controlling cavitation intensity in industrial applications. The need for improved cavitation control arises because excessive cavitation can lead to material damage and energy losses, while insufficient cavitation reduces process efficiency. Precisely tuning cavitation intensity is critical for optimizing system performance in many industrial sectors, particularly in high-demand environments such as chemical production and energy generation. Adjusting cavitation flow characteristics also provides significant advantages in process control and equipment longevity. This study focused on comparing the Venturi tube design proposed by Long with an alternative model that allows for better regulation of cavitation intensity. The objective was to evaluate both designs' hydrodynamic parameters and cavitation effects. Two apparatus configurations were modeled: Long's baseline design and the investigated version with adjustable processing modes. The study used fluid dynamics modeling in SolidWorks with the Flow Simulation module. A fine mesh was employed to ensure accuracy in analyzing flow behavior. The research was carried out for the following input parameters: flow rates in the range of 0.00117 – 0.003 m³/s, inlet pressures between 0.35-0.6 MPa, and water temperature at 293 K. Both designs were analyzed with a focus on key parameters such as velocity, pressure distribution, volume of the vapor-gas phase, and cavitation number. The results showed higher flow velocities and lower minimum pressures for the investigated apparatus, leading to an increased volume of the vapor-gas phase. These findings indicate that the investigated design effectively controls cavitation intensity, suggesting its potential for more efficient use in industrial processes.