The cavitating flow simulation in cryogenic fluid around 3D objects

This research focuses on the development of numerical code to deal with compressible two phase flow around three dimensional objects combined with cavitation model suggested by Weishyy et al. with k-e turbulent model. The cryogenic cavitation is carried out by considering the thermodynamic effect on physical properties of cryogenic fluids in physical point of view and implementing the temperature sensitivity in the energy equation of the government equations in numerical point of view, respectively. The formulation has been extensively validated for both liquid nitrogen and liquid hydrogen by simulating the experiments of Hord on hydrofoils. Then, simulations of cavitating turbopump inducers at their design flow rate are presented. Results over a broad range of Nss numbers extending from single-phase flow conditions through the critical head break down point are discussed. In particular, thermal depression effects arising from cavitation in cryogenic fluids are identified and their impact on the suction performance of the inducer quantified.