Numerical validation of hydrodinamic cavitation generation using perforated plates

Abstract

This research shows the analysis of three case studies using perforated plates with a central orifice to generate hydrodynamic cavitation with diameters of 2 mm, 3 mm, and 4 mm. Experimental model was fabricated and instrumented to validate numerical models of the perforated plates and their corresponding pressure drop. Test points were established in the experimental setup to measure variables such as pressure drop compared between upstream pressured (distance of one diameter before plate), and downstream pressure (distance of ½ diameter after the plate), according to the ISO 5167 standard. The numerical model was developed using commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software applying the standard k-epsilon turbulence model, the mixture model, and the Rayleigh-Plesset equation. Results demonstrated that numerical model of the pressure drop produced hydrodynamic cavitation downstream the perforated plates; such phenomenon was validated with experimental data by less than 5% error values.