Numerical Study of Erosion Phenomena with the Presence of Cavitation at Deflector Jet Servo-Valve

According to the National Association of Corrosion Engineers, erosion–corrosion costed the world economy approximately 2.5 trillion in 2020. In general, erosion precedes corrosion and both processes accelerate each other leading to major shutdown and maintenance costs. This research numerically investigates the erosion behavior of an electro-hydraulic servo-valve, which serves as a critical component in automation in industrial production systems. Furthermore, this study thoroughly investigates the cavitation phenomenon at various inlet pressures, first monitoring erosion without cavitation effects and then performing a comparative analysis of erosion rates in the presence and absence of cavitation. The effect of particle size, flow rate, and material hardness on erosion rate is also studied. The results show that erosion is highly concentrated at the shunt wedge region and is heavily influenced by particle size and flow rate; additionally, decreasing the hardness of the material results in lower erosion rates. The outcomes of this study are valuable for manufacturers looking to improve the performance of deflector jet servo-valves (DJSV) by addressing erosion concerns. This work provides a significant contribution by examining erosion mechanisms in electro-hydraulic servo-valves and quantifying the impact of various parameters on erosion rates, thereby providing valuable recommendations for manufacturers.