SLIDE 54 Specialist Committee on Cavitation
526 ther results in the onset of cavitation erosion, which is caused by the implosion of vapor bubbles on the surface of the blades. This erosion rate also depends on the material of the blade. Finally, further reductions in static pres- sure will lead to a major deterioration in the powering performance of the pump. The criti- cal cavitation number for this breakdown in performance is typically defined as a 3% loss in thrust, torque, or total-head rise across the pump (although values of 2% and 5% have also been used). For axial-flow pumps, a cav- ity will form on the suction surface of the ro- tor blades, which can initially increase the blade camber—and, thus, the flow turning and blade lift—and cause a small increase in the powering parameters, as illustrated in Fig- ure B.9. However, as the static pressure de- creases towards the breakdown cavitation number, the cavity will enlarge and decrease the flow turning, causing a significant reduc- tion in the powering parameters. For radial- flow (or centrifugal) pumps, the cavity may need to grow to the point where it blocks a significant portion of the impeller channel be- fore finally resulting in performance break- down. Axial-flow pumps offer some key advan- tages within a waterjet propulsor. With a high specific speed, they provide improved effi-
- ciency. Also, their small casing diameter al-
lows for easier installation into many existing hulls or less volume restrictions when design- ing a new hull. However, axial-flow pumps can have difficulty developing enough head without detrimental effects from cavitation. The three limiting cavitation numbers in Fig- ure B.9 can be larger—or the limiting suction specific speeds can be smaller—for axial- flow pumps, although the details of the pump design and the flow condition can alter these
- limits. For instance, designers may increase
the blade area of their axial-flow rotor blades to decrease the maximum loading or lift and improve cavitation performance, at the risk of increasing friction losses.
Cavitation Number, σ (or σTh or NPSH) Powering Parameter (Thrust, Torque, Total-Head Rise, …) Acoustic Level
Erosion Rate Suction Specific Speed, NSS 3% Inception Erosion Limit Breakdown Limit Cavitation Number, σ (or σTh or NPSH) Powering Parameter (Thrust, Torque, Total-Head Rise, …) Acoustic Level
Erosion Rate Suction Specific Speed, NSS 3% Inception Erosion Limit Breakdown Limit
Figure B.9 Generic schematic of pump cavi- tation performance (for a given flow rate). In general, pump designs with lower spe- cific speeds will have improved cavitation
- performance. One possible pump type with a
lower specific speed is a multistage axial- flow pump. Similar to configurations used for rocket fuel pumps, one can design an axial- flow inducer just upstream of the main impel-
- ler. This blade row will increase the static
pressure to supply the
R
NPSH required by the impeller, without excessive loss of per- formance due to cavitation. Inducer blades themselves will not experience cavitation breakdown until the cavitation number be- comes very small, or the suction specific speed becomes very large. Well-designed in- ducers will raise the static pressure gradually, without doing much work to increase the total pressure (or total head). The main impeller will perform the bulk of the work. However, the inducer—with a large blade area—will still have total-pressure losses and will leng- then the overall unit. Another possible pump type with a spe- cific speed lower than an axial-flow pump is a mixed-flow pump. These blade rows will provide some increase in total head through centrifugal action (an increase in radius), so the blade loading will be reduced relative to an axial-flow pump—and cavitation should be less of a problem. These pumps can still