Flow Characteristics and Cavitation Behavior of an Industrial Gate Valve Based on CFD and Fluid–Structure Interaction Analysis

Chengjun Zhang; Xiaomin Yang

doi:10.6911/WSRJ.202602_12(2).0005

Authors

Chengjun Zhang
Xiaomin Yang

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6911/WSRJ.202602_12(2).0005

Keywords:

Gate valve, Computational fluid dynamics, Cavitation, Flow characteristics, Structural optimization

Abstract

To reduce the dependence of small- and medium-sized enterprises on physical experiments during valve research and development, this study employs the SolidWorks Flow Simulation module to visualize and analyze the internal flow field of a DN100 industrial gate valve under different opening conditions. A steady-state computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model is established to systematically investigate the flow characteristics, pressure drop, flow resistance coefficient, and cavitation-sensitive regions at various valve openings. The influence of valve opening reduction on internal flow behavior and cavitation evolution is revealed. The results indicate that, with decreasing valve opening, the internal flow field exhibits pronounced pressure drops, significant velocity variations, and an expansion of cavitation-sensitive regions. At small openings, a distinct negative-pressure zone forms on the leeward side of the gate plate, accompanied by strong vortical structures and high-velocity jet flows. Meanwhile, the cavitation region expands progressively as the opening decreases, indicating an increased cavitation risk. The present study provides a valuable theoretical reference for analyzing valve flow characteristics under complex operating conditions.

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