Title: AN ALTERNATIVE DIAGNOSTIC METHOD FOR PUMP CAVITATION INCEPTION
Abstract: Pump cavitation has always been a serious problem. The determination of pump cavitation inception is an important matter for preventing pump from cavitation damage. Based on the authors' research on pump cavitation characteristics with signal analysis technique, it is found that once cavitation occurs, a particular low frequency fluctuation component of outlet pressure with higher amplitudes than that in non-cavitating condition appears. Its nature of association with cavitation inception indicates that the appearance of this low frequency component can perhaps be used as an indirect indicator for pump cavitation inception. The experimental observation results with piston and gear pumps at different speeds are shown. A discussion and preliminary theoretical analysis are also given in this paper.