Title: Cavitation erosion of the calcium carbonate deposits

Authors: Boštjan Pečnik; Roman Šturm; Marko Hočevar; Matevž Dular; Brane Širok

Addresses: Jožef Stefan International Postgraduate School, Jamova cesta 39, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia and Gorenje d.d., Partizanska 12, 3503 Velenje, Slovenia ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia ' Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, University of Ljubljana, Aškerčeva 6, 1000 Ljubljana, Slovenia

Abstract: The paper presents the research of erosion effects caused by acoustic cavitation on metallic and enamelled specimens coated with calcium carbonate - scale. The deposition of calcium carbonate was performed under controlled laboratory conditions. The deposition took place at the same integral conditions to the specimens of different surface roughness. Cavitation as a cause of erosion was generated in a vessel with ultrasonic excitation. Simultaneously with the monitoring of cavitation above the specimens, the destruction of scale on the surface of specimens was analysed. The results of experiments indicate a characteristic effect of cavitation intensity on the destruction of scale surface layer. The intensity of cavitation erosion is proportional to the voltage on the sonotrode or the intensity of pressure fluctuations, and depends on the roughness of the surface of specimens, on which the scales were deposited.

Keywords: cavitation erosion; calcium carbonate deposits; scale destruction; material properties; acoustic cavitation; metallic specimens; enamelled specimens; surface roughness; ultrasonic excitation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMMP.2015.074998

International Journal of Microstructure and Materials Properties, 2015 Vol.10 No.5/6, pp.445 - 462

Received: 07 May 2015
Accepted: 07 Dec 2015
Published online: 28 Feb 2016 *

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