Dynamic cavitation processes in bubble flow pipelines for ultrasonic guided waves descaling

The gas-liquid two-phase flow is a common phenomenon in water transmission pipelines, often leading to fouling that impacts water quality and pipeline efficiency. Ultrasonic guided waves offer a novel approach to fouling removal, enhancing water and wastewater treatment processes. This study investigates the cavitation dynamics under bubble flow conditions to optimize descaling efficiency in pipelines. By incorporating the Keller–Miksis extended equations, the dynamic cavity generation process was simulated, revealing the influence of gas-bubble spatial distribution on cavitation intensity and expansion rate. Results indicate that in horizontally placed pipelines, bubble flow inhibits cavity generation more effectively in the radial direction than the axial direction, with downstream areas being more affected than upstream areas. Experimental data further demonstrate that when the air flow rate increases from 0.1 L/min to 0.4 L/min, calcium removal rates decrease significantly—from 84% to 16% at 40 cm from the sensor, and from 78% to 11% at 80 cm. The study summarizes the influence of bubble properties on ultrasonic descaling technology in two-phase flow and provides optimization ideas for the application of this technology on practical engineering.