Computational fluid dynamic study on cavitation in liquid nitrogen

Cavitation is the formation of vapor bubbles within a liquid where flow dynamics cause the local static pressure to drop below the vapor pressure. This paper presents the steady computational fluid dynamic (CFD) results of cavitation in liquid nitrogen flow through hydrofoils and ogives with so-called “full cavitation model”. The model is reexamined to assess the performance prediction from the standpoint of cryogenic fluids with the assumption of thermal equilibrium between vapor phase and liquid phase. The fluid thermodynamic properties are specified along the saturation line using the “Gaspak 3.2” databank. The thermal effects and accompanying property variations due to phase change are modeled rigorously. The thermodynamic cavitation framework is validated against experimental data of NASA hydrofoil and ogive. The global sensibility of the cavitation solution with respect to the cavitation model coefficients and the free-stream velocity is investigated in detail and the choking phenomenon is reported with high Mach number. The full cavitation model with the default coefficients is applicable for cavitation prediction in liquid nitrogen, taking into account of the thermodynamic effects.