Pump and Other Component Cavitation Comparisons Between Alkali Liquid Metals and Water,

摘要

The presently existing and available world data on cavitation performance and damage in alkali liquid metals,particularly as it pertains to cases where water tests of the same or identical components are available,has been surveyed. It is generally concluded that there exists no difference in cavitating (or non-cavitating) performance between water and alkali liquid metals of such components as pumps or venturis observed within the various pertinent experimental inaccuracies. Hence,for most engineering purposes,ordinary water tests may be taken as an approximate indication of sodium results. Long-term operation of liquid metal powerplant pumps within or near the cavitating range is impractical from the viewpoint of damage,and design of truly cavitation-free liquid metal components is not within the state-of-the-art without a sophisticated research program involving visualization and aimed at a particular component. (Modified author abstract)