One-way Coupling Numerical Simulation of Cryogenic Cavitation Around an Inducer

Abstract

To numerically simulate cryogenic cavitation of turbomachinery, a mathematical model was developed, combined with the bubble size distribution model and Rayleigh–Plesset and heat conduction equations. In the bubble size distribution model, the bubble growth/decay was solved for each class of bubble mass when bubbles with various masses mixed in the same spatially discretized calculation region. The bubble growth/decay calculations included a combination of the Rayleigh–Plesset equation for the bubble oscillations and heat conduction equation in a thermal boundary layer around a bubble, to evaluate the evaporation or condensation mass rates. This study demonstrated that the cavitation mathematical model has the potential to contribute to the simulation fidelity for turbomachinery for a fluid with strong thermodynamic effects.