Optoelectronic System Registering the Shape of Cavitation Cloud

Cavitation is one of the most interesting phenomena in area of fluid flow research. It can be observed in many different hydraulic systems and its effects can be very serious. Basic problem with cavitation is its observation. The main aim of the paper is to propose and evaluate the simple method allowing registration of the cavitation cloud shape, which will be financially and computationally undemanding. Therefore, the article presents the system registering the shape of cavitation cloud. It is based on the optoelectronic devices, i.e. lasers and photoresistors, as well as on the assumption that cavitation leads to diffusion of lasers light on the vapor bubbles. The experiment was performed for three cavitation inducers and two flow velocities. Obtained results shows that the shape of cavitation cloud is dependent on the inducer, but not on flow velocity. It can be concluded that the described optoelectronic system can be regarded as an inexpensive alternative to traditional methods of cavitation observation.

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Opracowanie ze środków MNiSW w ramach umowy 812/P-DUN/2016 na działalność upowszechniającą naukę (zadania 2017).