Abstract: “The cavitation phenomenon determines a decrease in performance levels of hydraulic machinery together with a distinctive noise in the fluid flow. The analysis conducted on the basis of acoustic and visual measurements show that the classical method for identification of cavitation inception, based on a fall in the pump head, is not very reliable. In particular the acoustic measurement makes it possible to detect cavitation at its onset under the most potentially damaging conditions namely high values of flow rate and NPSH. Moreover the acoustic method (characterized by non intrusive technology) also makes it possible to detect different nuclei of cavitation in the pump under the same operating conditions. These characteristics of the acoustic method are of particular interest to the manufacturers of hydraulic machinery as well as to the managers of pumping systems.”

Keywords: cavitation noise, centrifugal pump, cavitation detection, acoustic method.