Numerical simulation of the thermal effect in the cavitating venturi flow

Cavitation can occur anywhere the velocity of the liquid changes. For instance, it can be observed on ship propellers, in pumps, and in valves. The cavitating venturi is one of the simplest flow control devices and has a wide range of applications. When a flowing fluid at a given pressure and temperature passes through the throat of a convergent?divergent venturi into a lower-pressure downstream environment, the fluid velocity increases and static pressure decreases. Cavitation occurs when the pressure declines to some point below the saturated vapor pressure of the liquid and subsequently recovers above the vapor pressure. Numerical modeling of cavitating flows involves many challenges. Apart from requiring a sound understanding of the fundamental phenomena, and reasonable models for the complex physics involved, one of the major difficulties lies in developing a robust numerical methodology. In the present approach, cavitation can be modeled within the framework of either the multiphase mixture model or the Eulerian multifluid model.