Erosion processes during non-stationary cavitation of irrigation pumps

Abstract

The article gives the main results of the study of the dynamics of wear of the working bodies of irrigation pumps, gives the main recommendations as a result of the study of pumping units in the presence of cavitation. The authors consider the cavitation coefficient as the minimum value of this expression, at which the beginning of cavitation is detected. The process of unsteady cavitation is accompanied by many significant effects in which the water flow becomes two-phase, with a corresponding change in its properties, which affects the pump's efficiency. The effect of particle size on the erosion rate is predominant only up to a certain size limit, i.e., 600-800 microns on the blades. After that, the erosion rate increases with a comparatively slower rate. This indicates that the particle size affects the erosion rate only up to a certain particle size.