Pump Cavitation Demonstration Device

Cavitation is a physical phenomenon in which fluid, typically entering a pump, forms vapor bubbles due to the lowering of pressure, on the suction side, to below the saturation pressure for the fluid's temperature.As these vapor bubbles proceed to higher pressure regions of the pump, they collapse or implode which creates pressure waves in the fluid.These pressure waves can cause noise, vibration and physical damage to the pump's impeller surfaces and causes the pump to operate less efficiently.Cavitation is typically discussed in fluid mechanics courses but students often have a hard time visualizing the concept.In order to provide a ready, visible demonstration of this phenomenon, a project was undertaken to design and construct an experimental device which can be used to demonstrate the phenomenon of cavitation using a pump, piping, control valve, and a heating element.It is anticipated that this device can be used in fluids labs/classes to demonstrate cavitation and its results.