Numerical Analysis of Cavitation Processes in a Nozzle with Variable Cross-Section

• Published in: The Journal of Computational Multiphase Flows Vol. 5; no. 3; pp. 189 - 206
• Main Authors: Zagordan, N.L., Reviznikov, D.L., Cherkasov, S.G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 01.09.2013
• Subjects: Bubbles
• ISSN: 1757-482X; 1757-4838
• DOI: 10.1260/1757-482X.5.3.189

Numerical simulation approach addressing problems of cavitation processes and vapor-liquid two-phase flow dynamics research is discussed. The Navier-Stokes equations, supplemented by transport equation containing source terms, responsible for the interphase exchange, are solved to obtain hydrodynamic characteristics of the system. Mathematical model of unsteady conjugate heat-mass transfer between the bubble and the surrounding liquid is proposed to describe the evolution of a two-component (gas-vapor) bubble. The model takes into account a spatial nonuniformity of the gas and liquid temperature fields as well as nonuniformity of the component concentration inside the bubble. A comparative analysis of the experimental data and computational results is carried out for different regimes of cavitating flows inside a two-dimensional nozzle with variable cross-section. The oscillation characteristics of hydrodynamic parameters and the gas-vapor bubbles behavior are investigated.