CFD Analysis of Hydrodynamic Cavitation through an Orifice: Influence of Different Inlet Pressures and Number of Orifice Holes

Authors

Lemthong Chanphavong, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos, Lao-Thai Friendship Road, Vientiane, Lao PDR.Follow
Vongsavanh Chanthaboune, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos, Lao-Thai Friendship Road, Vientiane, Lao PDR.
Keophousone Phonhalath, Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, National University of Laos, Lao-Thai Frienship Road, Vientiane, Lao PDR.

Abstract

Hydrodynamic cavitation (HC) is considered an energy-efficient process with high potential for utilization in many chemical processes. This study presents a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis of cavitating flow through an orifice with a constant flow area. The Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, coupled with turbulence and cavitation models, are employed to capture the complex flow behaviors. The effects of inlet pressures and number of orifice-holes on cavitation behavior are investigated. Result of the numerical simulation is validated with the existing experimental data from the literature. The CFD study revealed that cavitation initiates just behind the inlet edge of the orifice plate. The gas phase then develops and collapses at the downstream location, which resulted from the simultaneous influence of shear stress and turbulence associated with the rapid phase change of the fluid medium. An increase in the upstream pressure is favorable for enlarging the cavitation zone, leading to intensified HC, which effectively decreases the cavitation number. Similarly, an increase in orifice holes while fixing the flow area enables to increase the intensity of HC. The cavitation number decreases from 0.62 (inlet pressure of 500000 Pa/single hole orifice) to 0.34 (inlet pressure of 1000000 Pa), while the cavitation numbers of the 3 and 5 holes are 0.59 and 0.55, respectively. Overall, the cavitation inception is lower than 1.5, which indicates the potential for severe cavitation.

Keywords

Hydrodynamic cavitation, CFD, Orifice flow, RANS equations, Turbulence modeling, Cavitation modeling

Publication Date

2025

Received Date

09/03/2024

Revised Date

17/06/2024

Accepted Date

23/10/2024

Recommended Citation

Chanphavong, Lemthong; Chanthaboune, Vongsavanh; and Phonhalath, Keophousone (2025) "CFD Analysis of Hydrodynamic Cavitation through an Orifice: Influence of Different Inlet Pressures and Number of Orifice Holes," ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development: Vol. 42: No. 1, Article 1.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.61931/2224-9028.1603
Available at: https://ajstd.ubd.edu.bn/journal/vol42/iss1/1