Numerical Simulation of Random Cavitation Suppression Based on Variable NACA Airfoils

Abstract

In order to suppress the cavitation of an airfoil under random operating conditions, a deformable covering was constructed in the cavitation prone area of the NACA0012 airfoil. By sensing the pressure difference between the inner and outer sides of the airfoil, the covering of the airfoil can be changed adaptively to meet the requirement of suppressing random cavitation of the airfoil. The simulation results show that the cavitation influence range of the airfoil with a shape memory alloy covering can be reduced by more than 70%, and the cavitation is well reduced and suppressed. Moreover, the backflow near the wall of the airfoil was reduced under random working conditions. When the maximum bulge deformation of the covering was between 3–6 mm, the airfoil produced a cavitation range only on the covering surface of the airfoil, and there was no cavitation erosion on other parts. This method with locally variable airfoil to suppress cavitation provides a good reference value for other hydraulic machinery to suppress cavitation.