Controlling Cavitation Damage in Pumps on Oil Offshore Platforms

Cavitation is one of the most prevalent destructive phenomena in water pumps and valves. To help with oil extraction on Iranian oil platforms located in the Persian Gulf, high-capacity water pumps are used for injecting seawater into oil wells. Cavitation is the main cause for vibration, noise, reduced output capacity, and early pump failures. According to the laws of thermodynamics and fluid mechanics, cavitation is related to fluid velocity, local static pressure, and fluid temperature. This article explores possible remedies, including finishing the surfaces of pump components with a hydrophobic composite coating with a smooth and glassy surface, and the effect on the kinetics of cavitation bubble formation.