Combined suppression effects on hydrodynamic cavitation performance in Venturi-type reactor for process intensification

Hydrodynamic cavitation is an emerging intensification technology in water treatment or chemical processing, and Venturi-type cavitation reactors exhibit advantages for industrial-scale production. The effects of temperature on hydrodynamic cavitating flows are investigated to find the optimum reaction conditions enhancing cavitating treatment intensity. Results show that the cavitation performance, including the cavitation intensity and cavitation unsteady behavior, is influenced by (1) cavitation number sigma (the pressure difference affecting the vaporization process), (2) Reynolds number Re (the inertial/viscous ratio affecting the bubble size and liquid-vapor interface area), and (3) thermodynamic parameter Sigma (the thermal effect affecting the temperature drop). With increasing temperature, the cavitation length first increases and then decreases, with a cavitation intensity peak at the transition temperature of 58 degrees C. With the growth of cavitation extent, the cavity-shedding regimes tend to transition from the attached sheet cavity to the periodic cloud cavity, and the vapor volume fluctuating frequency decreases accordingly. A combined suppression parameter (CSP) is provided to predict that, with increasing CSP value, the cavitation intensity can be decreased. Recommendations are given that working under the low-CSP range (55-60 degrees C) could enhance the intensification of the cavitation process.

Automated summary

Hydrodynamic cavitation is an intensification technology that shows promise in water treatment and chemical processing. This study investigates the effects of temperature on cavitation flows and identifies optimal reaction conditions for enhancing cavitation treatment intensity. The results demonstrate that cavitation performance is influenced by cavitation number, Reynolds number, and thermodynamic parameter Sigma. Recommendations are provided for working under specific temperature ranges to enhance cavitation process intensification.