Experimental analysis of cavitation in a centrifugal pump using acoustic emission, vibration measurements and flow visualization

The continuously increasing industrial productivity has resulted in a great breakthrough in the field of maintenance on centrifugal pumps in order to ensure their optimum operation under different operating conditions. One of the important mechanisms that affect the steady and dynamic operation of a pump is cavitation, which appears in the low static pressure zone formed at the impeller entrance region. This paper investigates the inception and development of cavitation in three different impellers of a laboratory centrifugal pump with a Plexiglas casing, using flow visualization, vibration and acoustic emission measurements. The aim of this study is the development of an experimental tool that detects cavitation in different impellers and the further understanding of the effects of blade geometry in cavitation development. The results show that the geometrical characteristics of the impeller affect cavitation development and behavior, while an acoustic emission sensor and an accelerometer can be applied for successfully detecting the onset of this mechanism.