Prediction of the Cavitation over a Twisted Hydrofoil Considering the Nuclei Fraction Sensitivity at 4000 m Altitude Level

Cavitation phenomenon is important in hydraulic turbomachineries. With the construction of pumping stations and hydro power stations on plateau, the influence of nuclei fraction on cavitation becomes important. As a simplified model, a twisted hydrofoil was used in this study to understand the cavitation behaviors on pump impeller blade and turbine runner blade at different altitude levels. The altitudes of 0 m, 1000 m, 2000 m, 3000 m and 4000 m were comparatively studied for simulating the plateau situation. Results show that the cavitation volume proportion fcav increases with the decreasing of cavitation coefficient Cσ. At a specific Cσ, high altitude and few nuclei will cause smaller size of cavitation. The smaller Cσ is, the higher the sensitivity Δfcav is. The larger Cσ is, the higher the relative sensitivity Δfcav* is. On the twisted foil, flow incidence angle increases from the sidewall to mid-span with the decreasing of the local minimum pressure. When Cσ is continually decreasing, the size of cavitation extends in spanwise, streamwise and thickness directions. The cavity is broken by the backward-jet flow when Cσ becomes small. A tail generates and the cavity becomes relatively unstable. This study will provide reference for evaluating the cavitation status of the water pumps and hydroturbines installed on a plateau with high altitude level.