Lattice-Boltzmann simulation of induced cavitation in protruding structure

Abstract

Pressure induced cavitation is a promising heat dissipation technology since it enables phase-change heat transfer at relatively low temperature. In this study, the sustainability properties of induced cavitation in protruding structure are studied by the Lattice Boltzmann Method. The simulation results suggest that a typical cavitation process is composed of four stages: 1st: cavitation appears in front of inflow liquid, 2nd: bubble shedding, 3rd: cavitation area gradually stretches towards downstream, 4th: cavitation area reaches equilibrium steady state. The flow pattern varies as the increase of inlet velocity. Only inlet velocity greater than “critical inlet velocity” can cavitation bubbles exist perpetually in protruding structure. The value of the critical inlet velocity decreases as the increase of width ratio and the resulting cavitation number falls to 1.8–2.1. The main mechanism for cavitation in protruding structure is pressure drop, rather than shear force.

Additional information

Funding

The work described in this paper was fully supported by a grant from the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 51376178).