Modelling of vortex based hydrodynamic cavitation reactors

Vortex based hydrodynamic cavitation reactors offer various advantages like early inception, less erosion and higher cavitational yield. No systematic modelling efforts have been reported to interpret the cavitation performance of these vortex based devices for cavitation. It is essential to develop a modelling framework for describing performance of cavitation reactors. We have addressed this need in the present work. A comprehensive modelling framework comprising three layers: per – pass performance models (overall process), computational fluid dynamics models (flow on reactor scale) and cavity dynamics models (cavity scale) is developed. The approach and computational models were evaluated using the experimental data on treatment of acetone-contaminated water. The presented models were successful in describing the experimental data using initial cavity size as an adjustable parameter. Efforts were made to quantify optimum operating conditions and scale-up. The developed approach, models and results will provide useful design guidelines for pollutant degradation using vortex based cavitation reactors. It will also provide a sound and useful basis for comprehensive multi-scale modelling of hydrodynamic cavitation reactors.