A valve is a mechanical device which controls the fluid flow through system by changing the flow area. Flow rate & pressure drop across valve are of utmost importance for optimum valve performance. But many time pressure within valve drops below vapor pressure value, which results into valve cavitation & pressure wave. Valve cavitation leads to damage to various valve components. CFD offers a safe, reliable and cost + time saving solution to various issues of valves. CFD helps to estimate the flow performance of the valve beforehand and optimize the design accordingly.

• Meshing of close proximity in flow domain.
• Determining cavitation region.
• Obtain the safe limits in which valve can be operated without cavitation.

Flow simulation of valve was carried out to obtain the safe limits in which valve can be operated without cavitation. Capturing the close proximity regions accurately while meshing & identifying the cavitation free operating region of valve was the biggest challenge faced. CFD analysis is carried out for determining inlet pressure and safe outlet pressure for various % openings which will avoid cavitation. Identified region of Cavitation and Non-cavitation for various % opening of Valve are presented in the graph.

• Pressure drop evaluation across valve.
• Identification of the cavitation and non-cavitation regions within valve.
• Valve design recommendations for reducing the cavitation within valve.
• Setting the optimum operating parameters for cavitation free working of Valve.