Rotational cavitator: advances and applications in cavitation-enhanced technologies

Driven by the increasing demand for efficient, energy-saving and sustainable processing technologies, rotational cavitators have shown considerable promise across a range of industrial applications. By inducing intense shear forces and turbulent flow through high-speed rotation in liquid media, rotational cavitation enables strong cavitation effects under controlled conditions, thereby intensifying transport and reaction processes under lower energy input. This review systematically examines the fundamentals, cavitation characteristics and structural evolution of rotational cavitators, with a particular focus on their applications in biofuel production, droplet emulsification, food processing, wastewater treatment and other process intensification. The review comprehensively discusses the benefits of rotational cavitation in multiple application domains, outlines current research progress and emerging trends, and provides theoretical insights and practical guidance for future research and industrial implementation.