Centrifugal Pump Cavitation CFD Simulation

Pump cavitation is the formation and subsequent collapse or implosion of vapor bubbles in a pump. It occurs when gas bubbles are formed in the pump due to drop in absolute pressure of the liquid below vapor pressure. These gas bubbles occupy space inside the pump and affect the pump's operating pressure and flow. The bubbles can collapse as they pass from low- to high-pressure zones in the pump. When vapor bubbles collapse inside the pump the liquid strikes the metal parts at the speed of sound. The noise generated from these collisions of gas bubbles into the metal parts of pump sounds like pumping marbles and stones. Cavitation of a pump can be a serious obstacle to smooth operation of a centrifugal pump. Therefore it is important to understand different pump cavitation causes in order to understand how to prevent pump cavitation.

Simulation Properties
- Volume Flow Rate: 522 m3/h
- Revolutions: 3580 RPM
- Head: 142m
- Pump Efficiency: 87.5%
- Power Output: 215.7 Kw
- Vapor Pressure: 0.0234 bar