What causes cavitation?
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Formation of vapour bubbles within a liquid at low pressure area and where the liquid has been accelerated to high velocities, as in the operation of centrifugal pumps, water turbines, and marine propellers.
Cavitation produces extensive erosion of the rotating blades, noise from the knocking and vibrations, and reduction of efficiency because it distorts the flow pattern.
The formation of cavities when the pressure of the liquid has been reduced to its vapour pressure; they expand as the pressure is further reduced along with the flow and suddenly collapse when they reach a position of higher pressure. The sudden collapse and growth of these vapour cavities result the extreme pressures that pit the metal surfaces exposed to the cavitating liquid.