Numerical analysis of cavitation processes in a nozzle with variable cross-section

Numerical simulation approach addressing problems of cavitation processes and vapor-liquid two-phase flow dynamics research is discussed. The Navier-Stokes equations, supplemented by transport equation containing source terms, responsible for the interphase exchange, are solved to obtain hydrodynamic characteristics of the system. Mathematical model of unsteady conjugate heat-mass transfer between the bubble and the surrounding liquid is proposed to describe the evolution of a two-component (gas-vapor) bubble. The model takes into account a spatial nonuniformity of the gas and liquid temperature fields as well as nonuniformity of the component concentration inside the bubble. A comparative analysis of the experimental data and computational results is carried out for different regimes of cavitating flows inside a two-dimensional nozzle with variable cross-section. The oscillation characteristics of hydrodynamic parameters and the gas-vapor bubbles behavior are investigated.