CAVITATION

Phenomenon
• Vapour pressure: At which water begins to vaporize
at particular temperature
• Cavitation: Vaporization of water forming cavities
filled with water vapour
 Phenomenon
• Propeller thrust is due to pressure difference
between face & back
• Pressure on the back falls lower with the increase
in a propeller RPM.
• If absolute pressure on back of blade becomes
low enough, water vaporizes and local cavities
form. This phenomenon is known as cavitation.
• Impurities in water may cause cavitation at higher
pressure (around 17 kPa) than pv (1.7 kPa for
fresh water)
 Condition for Cavitation

• Minimum value of pressure coefficient (CP) should be

equal to the local cavitation number ( )

p0 pv
1 2
2 VR
p0 - total static pressure at propeller axis
pv - vapor pressure of water
Hydrodynamic Characteristics
Dimensional Analysis
A

A
A
A
 A
A A
A A

A
A A A
A

A A A
A

Replace V with VA
Advance Coefficient J

A A A A
A
A

A
 Propeller Efficiency

PT = T. VA