Analytical Approaches To Modeling Transient Vaporous Cavitation in Multi-Pipe Fluid Systems

Trey Walters, P.E., Applied Flow Technology - Presented at the first ASME / JSME Fluids Engineering Conference June 23-27, 1991 Portland, OR

The formation of vapor cavities in piping systems experiencing column separation during liquid transient flow is of engineering interest because of the very high transient pressures that can occur when the vapor cavities collapse. Several approaches have been proposed for modeling
vaporous cavitation in single-pipe fluid systems.

One approach for modeling this phenomenon is the Vaporous Cavitation Model (VCM). The VCM method for a single-pipe system is described by Streeter (1972) and amplified by Wylie and Streeter (1983). In order to model vaporous cavitation in a complex multi-pipe system, analytical expressions are required for the fluid connecting elements that join the pipes together. Although the VCM method has been used for many years, it is difficult to find descriptions in the open literature of how the VCM method is  applied to common fluid system connecting elements.

This paper describes how the VCM method was applied at General Dynamics Space Systems Division.

Edited by: H. Kato, University of Tokyo; o. Furuya, Technologies, Inc. 

(Note: this paper was written by an AFT professional prior to the organization of Applied Flow Technology as a company.)