Numerical simulation of a spool valve in gaseous cavitation conditions

Spool valves are subject to a deteriorated performance and noise due to the occurrence of cavitation phenomena. It is well known that cavitation effects the performance of the component and causes an unwanted noise. The noise sound levels are influenced by many parameters like geometries and opening areas. In this paper a simple valve body made in plexiglass has been tested analyzing the cavitating area in U-grooves. A dedicated test rig has been installed in the Fluid Power Lab of the University of Naples “Federico II” using a high-speed camera to acquire images of the phenomenon. A numerical three-dimensional CFD model has been built up using the commercial code Simerics MP+. Experimental imagines have been compared with the numerical results showing a high accuracy on the prediction of the gaseous cavitation. The numerical results allow separate examination of several distinctive flow characteristics, which show favorable consistency with experimental observation and a periodic evolution of cavitation structure