Analysis of the re-entrant jet to twin vortex flow regimes transition in ventilated cavitation

Abstract

The combination of ventilated cavitation (injection of a non-condensable gas in a liquid flow) and natural cavitation (flow vaporization due to a local pressure drop) is studied with a numerical model based on a homogeneous multiphase flow approach, using two transport equations for vapor and air. Ventilated cavitation behind an axisymmetric body is simulated and the results compare well with previous experimental data for both the reentrant jet and the twin vortex flow patterns. The transition between the two regimes is found to be primarily related to a critical shift of the vortices generated behind the body, due to air injection. It is also shown that the critical value of σc⋅Fr (product of ventilated cavitation number with the Froude number) at the transition depends strongly on the shape of the body. The influence of the baseline flow without air injection (Reynolds number and natural cavitation) on the transition is also analyzed. When natural cavitation is negligible, only the twin vortex regime is obtained for a Reynolds number Re < 8 104, while for a higher Re, the ventilation air flow coefficient at transition CQt varies almost linearly with Ln (Re). In presence of additional natural cavitation, (σ < 1), a decrease of CQt is observed. This phenomenon is amplified when natural cavitation increases. This drop of CQt can be directly related to the amount of vapor generated in the flow field, as it is shown that it corresponds to the maximum positive flux of vapor behind the body.