An experimental investigation of hydrodynamic cavitation in micro-Venturis

Abstract

The existence of hydrodynamic cavitation in the flow of de-ionized water through micro-Venturis has been witnessed in the form of traveling bubble cavitation and fully developed streamer bubble/supercavitation, and their mechanisms have been discussed. High-speed photography and flow visualization disclose inchoate cavitation bubbles emerging downstream from the micro-Venturi throat and the presence of a single streamer bubble/supercavity, which is equidistant from the micro device walls. The supercavity initiates inside the diffuser section and extends until the microchannel exit and proceeds to bifurcate the incoming flow. This article strives to provide numerical data and experimental details of hydrodynamic cavitation taking place within micro-Venturis. © 2006 American Institute of Physics.