3D Numerical Simulation of Pump Cavitating Behavior

The quasi-steady cavitating behavior of three pumps was investigated by 3D unsteady viscous computations. The numerical model is based on the commercial code FINE/TURBO™, which was adapted to take into account the cavitation phenomenon. The resolution resorts to a time-marching algorithm initially devoted to compressible flows. A low-speed preconditioner is applied to treat low Mach number flows. The vaporization and condensation processes are controlled by a barotropic state law that links the void ratio evolution to the pressure variations. A radial pump, a centrifugal pump, and a turbopump inducer were calculated and the cavitating behaviors obtained by the computations were compared to experimental measurements and visualizations. A reliable agreement is obtained for the two pumps concerning both the head drop charts and the extension of the vapor structures. A qualitative good agreement with experiments is also observed in the case of the turbopump inducer. The accuracy of the numerical model is discussed for the three geometries. These simulations are a first attempt to simulate the complete 3D cavitating flows in turbomachinery. Results are promising, since the quasi-steady behaviors of the pumps in cavitating condition are found quantitatively close to the experimental ones. A continuing effort is pursued to improve the prediction accuracy, and to simulate unsteady effects observed in experiments, as, for example, rotating cavitation.