Cavitation can be temporarily corrected by throttling which valve?

Cavitation occurs when there is a drop in pressure that causes vapor bubbles to form in a fluid, which can lead to damage and reduced efficiency in pumps and other hydraulic equipment. Throttling a discharge valve is an effective temporary solution to mitigate cavitation. When the discharge valve is throttled, the flow resistance increases, which raises the pressure on the pump's suction side. This higher suction pressure can help to prevent the formation of vapor bubbles, stabilizing the flow and protecting the equipment from cavitation damage.

In contrast, other valves such as the flow valve, suction valve, and bypass valve do not address the issue of cavitation in the same effective manner. A flow valve typically regulates the amount of fluid that can pass through but does not necessarily impact pressure directly. The suction valve regulates the fluid entering the pump, and adjusting it can affect flow but may not alleviate the pressure drop causing cavitation. The bypass valve provides an alternative route for the fluid, but it is not primarily used to control pressure in a manner that would temporarily correct cavitation. Hence, throttling the discharge valve is the most effective way to reduce cavitation effects.