Testing of a 1:6 Scale Physical Model of the Large, Low-Noise Cavitation Tunnel (LOCAT)

Abstract

As part of the conceptual and detailed design phases leading to the construction of the LOw Noise Large CAvitation Tunnel (LOCAT) at the Maritime and Ocean Engineering and Research Institute (MOERI) of the Republic of Korea, an experimental analysis and verification of the design was carried out at the St. Anthony Falls Laboratory (SAFL). This report describes pressure and velocity measurements performed at a 1:6 scale physical model at SAFL using air as a working fluid. The physical model is used to check the overall flow quality, including measurements of pump inflow, and to investigate contraction, diffuser and turning vane performance. High spatial resolution mean velocity and turbulence profiles were taken at 44 locations in the model, and mean pressure was measured at 183 locations. Here these results are summarized, and recommendations are made based on the experimental observations. The results of the physical model can be used for comparison to numerical simulations at model Reynolds number, which can then be extrapolated to prototype Reynolds numbers to predict the performance of the full scale LOCAT.