EXPERIMENTAL MEASUREMENTS AND FLOW VISUALIZATION OF WATER CAVITATION THROUGH A NOZZLE

typical refrigeration loop is composed of an evaporator, compressor, condenser, and an expansion valve. There are many possible refrigerants that can be used, but the physical properties. of water make it ineffective in the traditional refrigeration loop. But if water could be used it would have many advantages as it is abundant, cheap, and is safe for the environment. As part of development of a new refrigeration loop using water, flow visualization and cavitation of water through nozzles are being investigated. Cavitation is generally defined as creating vapor from liquid, not through adding heat, but by decreasing the pressure. In a converging/diverging nozzle as the cross sectional area is constricted the velocity of the flow will increase, decreasing the pressure. Therefore, by flowing water through the nozzle it will cavitate. Transforming liquid into gas requires a certain amount of energy, defined as the latent heat. When a liquid is turned to vapor by an increase in the temperature the latent heat is provided by the heat transfer to the system. As no energy is being added in the nozzle to cause the cavitation, the heat to create the vapor comes from the liquid, effectively causes a temperature drop. This article presents results for the flow visualization of the water cavitating as it goes through the nozzle. Under different flow conditions and nozzle geometries the cavitation manifested itself in different formations. When gasses were entrained in the water they formed bubbles, creating a nucleation site and moving through the nozzle, called travelling bubble cavitation. In venturi nozzles the cavitation nucleated off of the wall, formiong attached wall cavitation. When water flowed out of an orifice, a turbulent water jet was formed which caused vapor to form around it, causing shear cavitation. When the water was rotated prior to the throat of an orifice, the orifice jet expanded radially and formed swirl cavitation.