Augmentation of Vortex Cavitator Performance by the Use of Co-Directional Swirl of the Flux after Vortex Chamber

Abstract

Abstract Background: Acoustic cavitation is the creation and collapse of cavitation caverns in liquid in an acoustic field with a frequency of f = 1–3 kHz. The acoustic-cavitation processes manifest themselves during the collapse phase, with high pressure gradient continuum deformation, with a multiple transformation of energy forms. Liquid whistles are widely used to create an acoustic field of high power, but their efficiency only reaches 6–12%. We propose a liquid whistle in the form of a vortex cavitator (analogue of the Ranque vortex tube) with a rotating body in which a reduction in the input power is predicted. Objective: Verification of feasibility of using a rotating body in a vortex cavitator with a rotation co-directional to the operational pump impeller. Method: The method for identifying the feasibility of using a rotating body is to exclude body from the prototype and directly connect vortex chamber outlet with the pump inlet, which ensures the most complete preservation of co-directional vortex component of the flux entering the pump impeller. Results: The results of experimental studies confirmed the validity of the hypothesis to a greater extent, since we achieved an increase in pressure at the outlet of the pump and a decrease in power at the drive relative to the original design. Conclusions: The feasibility of designing the vortex cavitator body with rotation capability has been established, which will provide a reduction in input power of at least 30% by a rotation of the body, co-directional with the impeller.