Anti-Vortex Plate

Definition - What does Anti-Vortex Plate mean?

An anti-vortex plate is a special component installed in the suction line of surge tanks to control the turbulence in a flowing fluid. These plates are simple in design and very effectively control the velocity of the fluid thus preventing cavitation in the fluid. Anti-vortex plates are also used in machinery containing flowing liquids such as turbines, pumps and valves.

Corrosionpedia explains Anti-Vortex Plate

In fluid mechanics, a vortex is a turbulent flow that must be controlled to prevent machine failure and damage to other rotating parts and structures. A vortex is a region formed in a fluid when the fluid's flow rotates around an axis line (either straight or curved) and the fluid flows in a swirling motion at a high velocity. It is something similar to tornadoes or whirlpools created by fast moving winds or an airplane's wing.

Anti-vortex plates help to decrease the speed of a fast moving fluid and smooth it into a laminar flow instead of a turbulent flow, thus reducing wear and tear. These plates also help prevent cavitation (small liquid-free zones such as bubbles or voids) in the fluid. Cavitation can create dents, shock waves and imbalance in the moving parts. Once cavitation affects a surface it tends to erode at an accelerating rate. This makes the surface prone to stress corrosion.

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