Cavitation erosion can create problems for water supply
systems by causing materials failure in pipes and pipe
accessories, especially in regions such as Hong Kong,
where water must be supplied to high-rise buildings under high
water pressure. This research project investigated the cavitation
erosion and corrosion behaviors of materials - copper, brass,
bronze, cast iron, and stainless steel - commonly used in Hong
Kong cold water supply systems. The cavitation erosion resistance
of the various materials was ranked, and the relative significance
of erosion-corrosion synergism was evaluated.
In both tap water and deionized water, stainless steel outperformed
other materials in resistance to cavitation erosion. The
synergism of corrosion and erosion had a significant effect on
materials, contributing to nearly 79% of the overall damage rate in
cast iron and to 4.7% in stainless steel. Based on their findings,
the authors also developed a simple formula for estimating the
fractional increase in metal concentration attributable to
cavitation erosion.
Water supply systems, especially those in which cavitation is
likely to occur, should consider both mechanical and corrosion
properties in the selection and development of materials. Cavitation
erosion must be taken into account, not only because of its
damaging effects on susceptible parts but also because of the
additional contamination it induces. Includes 31 references, tables, figures.
| Edition : | Vol. 94 - No. 8 |
| File Size : | 1
file
, 190 KB |
| Note : | This product is unavailable in Ukraine, Russia, Belarus |
| Number of Pages : | 9 |
| Published : | 08/01/2002 |
