Cavitation Threshold and Superheat in Various Fluids.

摘要

Comparisons are made between cavitation thresholds in sodium (and other liquid metals) and water in identical machines,particularly pumps,in all cases known to the authors where such measurements have been made. It is generally concluded that there is little significant difference between these liquids in regard to cavitation threshold from an engineering viewpoint. However,there is much data scatter in all fluids,which becomes important in certain special cases, e.g., 'sodium superheat'for sodium-cooled fast breeder reactors. It is concluded that the scatter can only be resolved,and further progress made,if detailed measurements of entrained gas 'nuclei' (which are the presumed source of cavitation bubbles) be made for all fluids concerned. This is within the state-of-the-art now for water,but not as yet for sodium. (Modified author abstract)