Is this project an undergraduate, graduate, or faculty project?
Undergraduate
Project Type
group
Campus
Daytona Beach
Authors' Class Standing
Gillian Negron Burgos, Junior Olivia Wilson
Lead Presenter's Name
Gillian Negron Burgos
Lead Presenter's College
DB College of Engineering
Faculty Mentor Name
Dr. Birce Dikici
Abstract
In this research, we will explore cavitation in pumps and propellers, including its causes, effects on system performance, prevention methods, and future engineering solutions. Cavitation occurs when the local pressure of a flowing liquid drops below its vapor pressure, forming vapor-filled bubbles that collapse and damage mechanical components. Disciplines such as fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and materials science contribute to understanding and mitigating cavitation in fluid machinery. When vapor bubbles collapse near metal surfaces, they generate localized shock waves that cause pitting, erosion, vibration, and noise. These effects reduce efficiency, increase maintenance requirements, and shorten the lifespan of rotating machinery used in marine propulsion, industrial pumping systems, and hydroelectric power generation. Cavitation is frequently observed in centrifugal pumps, marine propellers, and hydraulic turbines operating at high velocities or low pressures. In large systems such as power plants and marine propulsion systems, cavitation damage can lead to significant repair and replacement costs due to surface erosion and material fatigue. One example occurs in hydraulic turbines such as Kaplan turbines, where pressure variations along the runner blades can create cavitation zones that gradually degrade blade surfaces. Fortunately, modern engineering developments aim to mitigate these effects through improved blade geometries, advanced material coatings, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. These tools allow engineers to predict cavitation regions and optimize designs to improve system reliability and efficiency.
Did this research project receive funding support (Spark, SURF, Research Abroad, Student Internal Grants, Collaborative, Climbing, or Ignite Grants) from the Office of Undergraduate Research?
No
Included in
Aerodynamics and Fluid Mechanics Commons, Ocean Engineering Commons, Structural Materials Commons
Cavitation in Pumps and Propellers: Causes, Effects, Prevention, and Future Trends
In this research, we will explore cavitation in pumps and propellers, including its causes, effects on system performance, prevention methods, and future engineering solutions. Cavitation occurs when the local pressure of a flowing liquid drops below its vapor pressure, forming vapor-filled bubbles that collapse and damage mechanical components. Disciplines such as fluid mechanics, thermodynamics, and materials science contribute to understanding and mitigating cavitation in fluid machinery. When vapor bubbles collapse near metal surfaces, they generate localized shock waves that cause pitting, erosion, vibration, and noise. These effects reduce efficiency, increase maintenance requirements, and shorten the lifespan of rotating machinery used in marine propulsion, industrial pumping systems, and hydroelectric power generation. Cavitation is frequently observed in centrifugal pumps, marine propellers, and hydraulic turbines operating at high velocities or low pressures. In large systems such as power plants and marine propulsion systems, cavitation damage can lead to significant repair and replacement costs due to surface erosion and material fatigue. One example occurs in hydraulic turbines such as Kaplan turbines, where pressure variations along the runner blades can create cavitation zones that gradually degrade blade surfaces. Fortunately, modern engineering developments aim to mitigate these effects through improved blade geometries, advanced material coatings, and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling. These tools allow engineers to predict cavitation regions and optimize designs to improve system reliability and efficiency.