Large Eddy Simulation of Turbulent-Cavitation Interactions in a Venturi Nozzle

Abstract

Large eddy simulation of turbulent cavitating flow in a venturi nozzle is conducted. The fully compressible Favre-filtered Navier–Stokes equations are coupled with a homogeneous equilibrium cavitation model. The dynamic Smagorinsky subgrid-scale turbulence model is employed to close the filtered nonlinear convection terms. The equations are numerically integrated in the context of a generalized curvilinear coordinate system to facilitate geometric complexities. A sixth-order compact finite difference scheme is employed for the Navier–Stokes equations with the AUSM+-up scheme to handle convective terms in the presence of large density gradients. The stiffness of the system due to the incompressibility of the liquid phase is addressed through an artificial increase in the Mach number. The simulation predicts the formation of a vapor cavity at the venturi throat with an irregular shedding of the small scale vapor structures near the turbulent cavity closure region. The vapor formation at the throat is observed to suppress the velocity fluctuations due to turbulence. The collapse of the vapor structures in the downstream region is a major source of vorticity production, resulting into formation of hair-pin vortices. A detailed analysis of the vorticity transport equation shows a decrease in the vortex-stretching term due to cavitation. A substantial increase in the baroclinic torque is observed in the regions where the vapor structures collapse. A spectra of the pressure fluctuations in the far-field downstream region show an increase in the acoustic noise at high frequencies due to cavitation.