Frequency Dependence of Mass Flow Gain Factor and Cavitation Compliance of Cavitating Inducers

Abstract

Unsteady cavitation characteristics are analyzed based on a closed cavity model in which the length of the cavity is allowed to oscillate. It is shown that the present model blends smoothly into quasi-steady calculations at the low frequency limit, unlike fixed cavity length models. Effects of incidence angle and cavitation number on cavitation compliance and mass flow gain factor are shown as functions of reduced frequency. The cavity volume is evaluated by three methods and the results are used to confirm the accuracy and adequacy of the numerical calculations. By comparison with experimental data on inducers, it is shown that the present model can simulate the characteristics of unsteady-cavitation qualitatively.