Abstract: This paper will consider cavitation, the mechanism that causes it, its damaging effect on mechanical components, cavitation mitigation and the practical applications of cavitation. Cavitation is a phenomenon that occurs when bubbles form in a liquid due to a pressure drop, then violently collapse. This is usually a consequence of fluids moving at high velocity when the local pressure falls below vapor pressure allowing small amounts of liquid to vaporize. When the bubble reenters a region of high pressure, the bubble then collapses violently with enough energy and force to erode metal. Damage from a single bubble collapse is almost immeasurable; it is the constant accumulation of damage over long periods of time that causes significant removal of material, hence “cavitation erosion”. The highly focused jets of liquid from the collapsing bubbles blast away micro-amounts of material which eventually gives the surface a pitted appearance. This is commonly a problem for mechanical components such as hydrofoils, propellers, automobile engines and centrifugal pumps in working environments of in the marine, automotive and industrial applications where liquid velocity is high and pressure head is low.
Keywords: Pump Head, Erosion, Cavitation Phenomenon, Fluid Pressure.
Title: INVESTIGATION OF THE CONDITIONS THAT TRIGGER CAVITATION IN A PUMP
Author: Kingsley E. Madu; Emmanuel I. Nwankwo; Malachy U. Orji; Anthony C. Aneke
International Journal of Mechanical and Industrial Technology
ISSN 2348-7593 (Online)
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