Scale effects on cavitation

Sundaram, Swamy (1966) Scale effects on cavitation. PhD thesis, University of Glasgow.

Abstract

Scale effects on cavitation can broadly be defined as the deviations from the classical law of similarity of cavitation. The classical similarity law takes into consideration only pressure and inertia forces of the flow, while cavitation is a complex phenomenon involving hydrodynamic aspects of fluid flow, molecular forces and thermodynamic properties of the fluid. The scale effects on cavitation are therefore classified under three headings:- (a) Scale effects on the minimum pressure that occurs in the flow; (b) Scale effects on the inception of cavitation; (c) Scale effects on the growth of cavitation bubbles. In his work the author has collected all the available information to date on scale effects on cavitation under the above-mentioned classifications. It appears, besides many other factors, that the cavitation parameter is a function of Reynolds, Froude and Prandtl numbers. In order to analyse the effect of Prandtl number on cavitation, a cavitation rig without a resorber was designed and erected. Cavitation experiments were done on a valve which was primarily designed to dissipate the pressure generated by the centrifugal pump of the circuit. Aqueous solutions of pluracol V-10 of different concentration were used as the working media. Various properties of pluracol V-10 solutions such as viscosity, specific heat, conductivity were obtained experimentally. There is some experimental evidence to conclude qualitatively that the tendency of the fluid to cavitate decreases with increasing Prandtl number.

• Item Type: Thesis (PhD)
• Qualification Level: Doctoral
• Additional Information: Adviser: T RF Nonweiler
• Keywords: Chemical engineering
• Date of Award: 1966
• Depositing User: Enlighten Team
• Unique ID: glathesis:1966-72045
• Copyright: Copyright of this thesis is held by the author.
• Date Deposited: 24 May 2019 15:11
• Last Modified: 24 May 2019 15:11
• URI: https://theses.gla.ac.uk/id/eprint/72045