Cavitation in Centrifugal Pumps
Level of Education of Students Involved
Undergraduate
Faculty Sponsor
Pete Johnson
College
Engineering
Discipline(s)
Mechanical Engineering
ORCID Identifier(s)
https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9990-7565
Presentation Type
Poster Presentation
Symposium Date
Spring 4-24-2025
Abstract
Cavitation occurs in centrifugal pumps, and with this occurrence it can impair the performance, efficiency, and damage the pump's components. Researching this phenomena is crucial in mitigating damages and optimizing pump design and operations. This research will utilize Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models to analyze cavitation. With a CFD approach to simulate various boundary conditions such as different inlet pressures, velocity, or flow rate, to see pressure drops and fluid flow. Utilizing basic fluid principles such Bernoulli’s equation, comparing like researches online, and comparing experimentally will be methods of validation of the developed models. The CFD models do indicate that with high rotational turbine speeds and increasing inlet flow rates, there are significant pressure drops at the blades of the turbine. With the increased pressure drops about the fins, the static pressure drops far enough to vaporize water, forming cavitation bubbles, and when pressure needed to collapse the bubble is met about the turbine it causes them to implode causing small microcracks at the blades.
Recommended Citation
Guinto, Gil, "Cavitation in Centrifugal Pumps" (2025). Symposium on Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression (SOURCE). 1426.
https://scholar.valpo.edu/cus/1426
Biographical Information about Author(s)
I am a transfer student, pursuing mechanical engineering in my Junior year, and research has been the focal point of my education career as a means to figure out what I want to do if I decide to pursue graduate school. As such, I have been taking up opportunities in research like GE190 to better equip myself with the knowledge and tools needed for future research. In this class I was presented with a project in the realm of fluid dynamics; cavitation. Which has been a topic of interest of mine after ME373 Fluid Mechanics. Within the project I am doing the CFD models that work in conjunction with ME476 CFD, as I am also doing research on cavitation within centrifugal pumps.