Experiments and Computational Fluid Dynamics on Vapor and Gas Cavitation for Oil Hydraulics

Abstract

AbstractA compressible Euler‐Euler computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for vapor, gas, and pseudo‐cavitation in oil‐hydraulic flows is presented. For vapor, the Zwart‐Gerber‐Belamri (ZGB) model is used and for gas cavitation, the Lifante model. The aim is to determine the empirical parameters within the cavitation models for hydraulic oil by comparing CFD results to experiments in a realistic valve. The cavitating flow is visualized and measured for numerous operating points. By degassing, states of pure vapor cavitation are generated. The major findings are: (1) large eddy simulation turbulence modeling is essential, (2) vapor cavitation in mineral oil can be simulated very well with the ZGB model using the determined parameter, and (3) gas cavitation model provides useful results although not all details can be reflected and its scope is limited.