A Cavitation Susceptibility Meter with Optical Cavitation Monitoring - Part Two: Experimental Apparatus and Results

This work in concerned with the development and operation of a Cavitation Susceptibility Meter based on the use of a venturi tube for the measurement of the active cavitation nuclei concentration in water samples as a function of the applied tension. The pressure at the venturi throat is determined from the upstream pressure and the local flow velocity without corrections for viscous effects because the flow possesses a laminar potential core in all operational conditions. The detection of cavitation and the measurement of the flow velocity are carried out optically by means of a Laser Doppler Velocimeter. A custom-made electronic Signal Processor is used for real time data generation and temporary storage and a computerized system for final data acquisition and reduction. The implementation of the whole system is described and the results of the application of the Cavitation Susceptibility Meter to the measurement of the water quality of tap water samples are presented and critically discussed with reference to the current state of knowledge on cavitation inception

A Cavitation Susceptibility Meter with Optical Cavitation Monitoring

This work is concerned with the design, development and operation of a Cavitation Susceptibility Meter based on the use of a venturi tube for the measurement of the content of active cavitation nuclei in water samples. The pressure at the ven-turi throat is determined from the upstream pressure and the local flow velocity without corrections for viscous effects because the flow possesses a lam-inar potential core in all operational conditions. The detection of cavitation and the measurement of the flow velocity are carried out optically. The apparatus comprises a Laser Doppler Velocimeter for the measurement of the flow velocity and the detection of cavitation, a custom-made electronic Signal Processor for real time generation and temporary storage of the data and a computerized system for the final acquistition and reduction of the collected data. The main considerations leading to the present design concept are illustrated and the implementation of the whole system is described. Finally, the results of application of the Cavitation Susceptibility Meter to measurement of the water quality of tap water samples are presented and critically discussed with reference to other similar or alternative methods of cavitation nuclei detection and to the current state of knowledge on cavitation inception

Separation and Surface Nuclei Effects in a Cavitation Susceptibility Meter

This work is concerned with the effects of flow separation and surface nuclei on the operation of a fixed geometry Cavitation Susceptibility Meter (CSM) with laminar flow. Cavitation is induced under controlled conditions at the throat of a glass venturi tube for the measurement of the active nuclei concentration in water samples as a function of the applied tension. Both cavitation and flow velocity are monitored optically by a Laser Doppler Velocimeter. The throat pressure is determined indirectly from the upstream pressure and the local flow velocity. The results show that laminar flow separation and surface nuclei effects are the most stringent operational limitations. Separation in the diffuser increases the minimum attainable throat pressure above the susceptibility of most cavitation nuclei commonly found in technical waters. Surface nuclei can generate extensive sheet or spot cavitation at relatively high tensions even on optically finished glass surfaces. These phenomena are difficult to eliminate and bring therefore into question the practical utility of CSM's with laminar flow and fixed geometry for the measurement of the dependence of the cavitating nuclei concentration over wide ranges of the applied tension, as required for cavitation studies

On the Design of Cavitation Susceptibility Meters

The observation of cavitation in C. S. M. 's at the throat of a Venturi tube provides an ideally simple and direct method to monitor the liquid quality in terms of the concentration of unstable nuclei as a function of the applied tension. The most important deductions are that: (1) the pressure in the cavitation region is an extremely sensitive parameter and cannot be directly measured with the necessary accuracy. It is therefore proposed to deduce the pressure from the potential core velocity at the throat obtained by using a L. D. V. ; (2) the volume of the cavitation region must be reduced as much as possible in order to increase the applied tension without incurring in large errors due to nuclei interference; and (3) the time response of cavitation nuclei imposes a lower bound for the length of the cavitation region

A Cavitation Susceptibility Meter with Optical Cavitation Monitoring - Part One: Design Concepts

This work is concerned with the design of a Cavitation Susceptibility Meter based on the use of a venturi tube for the measurement of the active cavitation nuclei concentration in water samples as a function of the applied tension. The operation of the Cavitation Susceptibility Meter is analyzed and the main considerations leading to the proposed design are illustrated and critically discussed. The results of this analysis indicate that the operational range is mainly limited by nuclei interference, flow separation and saturation (choking), and suggest to develop a Cavitation Susceptibility Meter where; (1) the flow possesses a laminar potential core throughout the venturi throat section in all operational conditions; (b) the pressure at the venturi throat is determined from the upstream pressure and the local flow velocity; (c) the detection of cavitation and the measurement of the flow velocity are carried out optically by means of a Laser Doppler Velocimeter; (d) a custom-made electronic Signal Processor incorporating a frequency counter is used for real time data generation and temporary storage; (e) a computerized system performs the final acquisition and reduction of the data

Comparison of Holographic and Coulter Counter Measurements of Cavitation Nuclei in the Ocean

Holographic and Coulter Counter detection techniques were jointly used to measure the concentration density distribution of cavitation nuclei in the ocean. Comparison of the two techniques indicates that Coulter Counter analysis measures particulate contents up to an order of magnitude smaller than indicated by the holographic method and may also produce a distorted concentration density distribution. Several possible explanations of the observed discrepancies are proposed and discussed, including fundamental differences between the in situ holographic samples and the collected samples examined with the Coulter Counter, differences between the unknown electrical conductivity of the measured particles in the sea water samples and the non-conductive polystyrene spheres used to calibrate the Coulter Counter, the rupture of aggregate particles in the flow through the Coulter Counter orifice, the effect of electronic noise on the Coulter Counter signal, and the influence of statistical sampling error

Development of hydrogen peroxide monopropellant rockets

Alta S.p.A. (Italy) and DELTACAT Ltd. (United Kingdom) are conducting a study, funded by the European Space Agency, into the development of hydrogen peroxide monopropellant thrusters using advanced catalytic beds. The present paper focuses on the design of two different demonstration thrusters with nominal ratings of 5 N and 25 N. Design requirements and specifications are presented, followed by the main results of a concept study, which was conducted to define the approximate dimensions needed. Some details about the specific design of the two prototypes and the choice of the main components are provided, with particular regard to the sensors and transducers to be used during the experimentation. Different catalytic bed configurations, including pure silver gauzes and pellets coated with manganese oxide or platinum, are going to be tested in the prototype thrusters, in order to find the optimum one for further industrial development. A dedicated test bench, designed and realized by Alta S.p.A. for tests on the thruster prototypes, is also illustrated