Numerical investigation into the cavitating jet inside water poppet valves with varied valve seat structures

Abstract

Owing to the strong three-dimensionality and transient evolution, the flow dynamics of a cavitating jet inside a water poppet valve is poorly understood, leading to insufficient basis for exploring the governing mechanism of cavitation effects. In this paper, a three-dimensional simulation considering the compressibility of each constituent phase is performed, to clarify the governing mechanisms under the cavitating flow inside two water poppet valves. The cavitation structures inside the poppet valves are primarily located at three regions and triggered by different mechanisms. The vortex cavitation, mainly confined within the free shearing layer, is due to vortex dynamics, while the attached cavitation at the poppet trailing edge and within the chamfered groove arises from flow separation. The fast laminar–turbulent transition process contributes to the three-dimensionality within the free shearing layer and the rear part of the chamfered groove. The flow separation due to the chamfered groove leads to increased velocity of the central potential core, contributing to a different flow discharge performance from that of the poppet valves with a sharp seat. In addition, the periodic variation in cavitation reveals the significant interaction between the shed cavitating vortex and attached cavitation at the poppet trailing edge. In conclusion, the change in velocity distribution due to different poppet valve seat structures leads to variation in flow discharge performance, and the vortex dynamics makes sense for all three kinds of cavitation occurring inside poppet valves.