Propeller Cavitation

Self made Cavitation experiment with a propeller token from a boat model immersed in a small glass cylinder into a low pression bell, interesting images with a stroboscope. Original video, no comments

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Cavitation
• Cavitazione
• propeller
• water
• low
• pression
• bell
• stroboscope

[pudd750]

its running backwards to the props design- spin it the other way and itd not cavitate as much

[thevigiles]

In most situation cavitation is bad. When the bubbles collapse, they cause what are essentially impact loads on the propeller. This causes pitting and ultimately premature failure of the propeller.  You may be able to come up with a few situations in which cavitation may be beneficial, but for most applications, it's a thing you want to avoid.

[rickypigazzini]

@kona181 You're right, the flash may be off sync, but, unfortunately it's spinning "backwards". Because Cavitation occours on the low-pressure face of the propeller's bades, if? u watch around 00:50 you see that it is spinning in the right direction to cause cavitation on the upper face. In terms of Visualization of the phenomena i think it counts marginally , the bubble formation is well visible.

[R00RAL]

12alien12, Hi, the composition of what is in the bubbles depends on what water you are testing or running the prop in.  The bubbles are essentionally the water boiling. It does this when you drop the water pressure, as kona181 said, cavitation happens on the Low side. The best way to film it is to put your prop into a flow tank, pressurize the water if your working with a smaller prop and film the prop then later slow the film footage down.

[12alien12]

I would like to know the composition of that gas that cavitates on the blades.

[707RipOtee]

Would divots and smooth sufaces also cause cavitation?

[theglib]

very good video.