Liquid hydrogen cavitation analysis inside an oblique globe valve

• Published in: Flow measurement and instrumentation 2024-07, Vol.97, p.102599, Article 102599
• Main Authors: Qian, Jin-yuan, Liu, Chuang, Qiu, Chang, Li, Wen-qing, Chen, Dong-yu
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Axial force; Cavitation; Dynamic evolution; Liquid hydrogen; Oblique globe valve
• ISSN: 0955-5986; 1873-6998
• DOI: 10.1016/j.flowmeasinst.2024.102599

Liquid hydrogen is widely used in the rocket engine test system as a fuel, and the fueling process of liquid hydrogen is controlled by the oblique globe valve installed in the liquid hydrogen main pipeline. As LH2 is transported through the oblique globe valve, cavitation has the tendency to occur near the throttling region where fluid flow causes the local static pressure to be lower than the saturated vapor pressure, especially during opening and closing process. In this paper, the cavitation dynamic evolution and axial force for the whole valve disc during opening and closing process of an oblique globe valve are investigated by the dynamic mesh and UDF technology. The results reveal that the cavitation evolution during opening process is divided into three stages including cavitation inception, cavitation development and cavitation full development. The axial force for the whole valve disc during the cavitation evolution process is increased first and then decreased as the time goes on. The unbalanced pressure distribution on the bottom of valve disc is harmful to the response of the valve disc at its maximum displacement. This work is of significance for the cavitation control and structural design of liquid hydrogen oblique globe valves. •Liquid hydrogen cavitation evolution during flow through an valve is investigated.•Cavitation intensity and position in oblique globe valve are investigated.•Cavitation evolution during opening process is divided into three stages.•Pressure fluctuations are analyzed for mechanism explain of cavitation evolution.•Hydraulic fluctuations on valve disc bottom during cavitation are investigated.