The increasing presence of poorly degradable organic compounds in wastewater necessitates more efficient treatment methods. Hydrodynamic cavitation is emerging as a promising advanced oxidation process, as the collapse of cavitation bubbles generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) that are critical for the oxidation of pollutants. In this research, a numerical cavitation model was developed using a CFD approach with a modified SST k-ω turbulence model and the Schnerr–Sauer cavitation model. The model was verified against measurements in Venturi microchannels, where Kelvin–Helmholtz instability was confirmed as a mechanism governing cavitation cloud shedding. Correlation analysis between ROS formation and cavitation parameters demonstrated that the vapor volume fraction and the vapor volume are the most important indicators of chemical activity. The acquired knowledge was then transferred to a rotational hydrodynamic cavitation generator, where it was confirmed that a smaller gap between the stator and rotor teeth increases the vapor volume fraction and vapor volume, thereby indicating a higher chemical activity of cavitation and an increased expected process effect. The developed model enables a comparative assessment of cavitation device performance and the optimization of their geometric and operating parameters.
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