Numerical study of cavitating flows with thermodynamic effect

Thermodynamic effects play an important role in the cavitation dynamics of cryogenic fluids. Such flows are characterized by strong variations in fluid properties with the temperature. A compressible, multiphase, one-fluid formulation that accounts for the energy balance and variable thermodynamics properties of the fluid is described. A preconditioning method for low Mach number areas is presented. Cavitation phenomenon is modelled by two different liquid–vapour mixture equations of state (EOS). Mathematical and thermodynamic properties are studied. Numerical results are given for a Venturi geometry with freon R-114 fluid and comparisons are made with experimental data.