What is cavitation most commonly associated with?

Cavitation is most commonly associated with pumps due to the way these devices operate and the conditions they encounter. In the context of pumping systems, cavitation occurs when the local pressure in the liquid falls below its vapor pressure, leading to the formation of vapor bubbles. When these bubbles are transported through the pump and enter regions of higher pressure, they collapse violently. This phenomenon can cause significant damage to the pump components, such as erosion of impellers and casing, leading to reduced efficiency and increased maintenance costs.

Pumps are designed to create pressure differentials to move fluid from one location to another. If there's an issue, such as insufficient inlet pressure, high fluid temperature, or excessive flow rates, it can lead to cavitation. Therefore, understanding cavitation is crucial for reliability engineers, as it directly affects the performance and lifespan of pumping systems.

While cavitation can potentially affect other components like valves and hydraulic motors, it's especially critical in pumps because they must maintain adequate operating conditions to prevent cavitation from occurring.