Water or other fluids moving at a high flow rate through a control valve can be subject to cavitation able to damage pipes downstream. The solution was known decades ago: Divide the flow into an array of many much smaller parallel streams. Unfortunately, the geometry required to realize this effect resulted in a part that was difficult to produce — to the point that an early anti-cavitation product for ball valves was discontinued. Now, additive manufacturing has overcome this challenge. The Emerson company produces its Fisher Cavitrol Hex anti-cavitation trim in an essentially unattended process through laser powder bed fusion, and so far about 600 of these components have been installed in industrial ball valve applications.

This episode of The Cool Parts Show brought to you by Carpenter Additive. https://www.carpenteradditive.com/

RELATED RESOURCES
More on the Fisher Cavitrol Hex trim: https://www.emerson.com/en-us/catalog...
Intro to laser powder bed fusion: https://www.additivemanufacturing.med...
3D printing for hydropower components: https://www.additivemanufacturing.med...
Fluid flow optimization in an air duct via 3D printing: https://www.additivemanufacturing.med...
More on valves in Valve Magazine (also from Gardner Business Media): https://www.valvemagazine.com/

* * *
Subscribe to THE BUILDUP, Additive Manufacturing Media's newsletter on 3D printing for industrial production: https://gbm.media/JoinTheBuildUp