Dual vortex breakdown in a two-fluid whirlpool

Looking for an optimal flow shape for culture growth in vortex bioreactors, an intriguing and impressive structure has been observed that mimics the strong swirling flows in the atmosphere (tornado) and ocean (waterspout). To better understand the flow nature and topology, this experimental study explores the development of vortex breakdown (VB) in a lab-scale swirling flow of two immiscible fluids filling a vertical cylindrical container. The rotating bottom disk drives the circulation of both fluids while the sidewall is stationary. The container can be either sealed with the still top disk (SC) or open (OC). As the rotation strength (Re) increases, a new circulation cell occurs in each fluid—the dual VB. In case SC, VB first emerges in the lower fluid at Re = 475 and then in the upper fluid at Re = 746. In case OC, VB first emerges in the upper fluid at Re = 524 and then in the lower fluid at Re = 538. The flow remains steady and axisymmetric with the interface and the free surface being just slightly deformed in the studied range of Re. Such two-VB swirling flows can provide efficient mixing in aerial or two-fluid bioreactors.

Features of swirled flows in power plant chimneys

The results of computational studies of the cylindrical and conical chimneys operating modes are presented. It is shown that with opposite gas supplies, swirling flows appear. Their shape and intensity depend on the type of chimney stack and the gas supply conditions. Swirling flows significantly affect the fields of axial and tangential velocities and determine the conditions for the gas outflow from the chimney.

Investigation of the influence of Taylor-Gortler vortexes on heat transfer of annular channel

This article is about the influence of Taylor-Gortler vortices on heat transfer in concentric annular channels with turbulent decaying swirling flows. The study shows that the occurrence and transformation of secondary vortex structures has a significant effect on the distribution of heat flux over the annular channel surface. An explicit is relationship between the radial velocity fluctuations and the heat flux density distribution. The highest intensity of heat transfer on the outer surface is observed in the areas of positive radial velocity values, while on the inner surface it is observed in the areas of negative radial velocity values.

Recovery of radial-axial velocity in axisymmetric swirling flows of a viscous incompressible fluid in the Lagrangian consideration of vorticity evolution

Swirling laminar axisymmetric flows of viscous incompressible fluids in a potential field of body forces are considered. The study of flows is carried out in a cylindrical coordinate system. In the flows, the regions in which the axial derivative of the circumferential velocity cannot take on zero value in some open neighborhood (essentially swirling flows) and the regions in which this derivative is equal to zero (the region with layered swirl) are considered separately. It is shown that a well-known method (the method of viscous vortex domains) developed for non-swirling flows can be used for regions with layered swirling. For substantially swirling flows, a formula is obtained for calculating the radial-axial velocity of an imaginary fluid through the circumferential vorticity component, the circumferential circulation of a real fluid, and the partial derivatives of these functions. The particles of this imaginary fluid “transfer” vortex tubes of the radial-axial vorticity component while maintaining the intensity of these tubes, and also “transfer” the circumferential circulation and the product of the circular vorticity component by some function of the distance to the axis of symmetry. A non-integral method for reconstructing the velocity field from the vorticity field is proposed. It is reduced to solving a system of linear algebraic equations in two variables. The obtained result is proposed to be used to extend the method of viscous vortex domains to swirling axisymmetric flows.

The Limits of Fine Particle Ultrasonic Coagulation

This paper describes the studies conducted in order to identify the limits of ultrasonic exposure’s effect on the fine particle coagulation process. It has been established as a result of the studies that ultrasonic exposure with a sound pressure level of 160 dB is capable of ensuring coagulation of particles sized 2.5 µm with efficiency δ = 83%. An increase of the coagulation up to 13% is induced with generation of swirling flows. The suggested approach to increasing the coagulation efficiency owing to vortex-type flows between the radiating and reflecting surfaces ensures efficiency of coagulation δ = 96 %. The implementation of this approach has shown that with generation of vortex-type acoustic flows, it makes the most sense for a concentration of particles of 18×10−3 g/m3. Incremental efficiency at such concentrations amounts to 50%.

An artificial compressibility method for axisymmetric swirling flows

Purpose This study aims to feature the application of the artificial compressibility method (ACM) for the numerical prediction of two-dimensional (2D) axisymmetric swirling flows. Design/methodology/approach The respective academic numerical solver, named IGal2D, is based on the axisymmetric Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations, arranged in a pseudo-Cartesian form, enhanced by the addition of the circumferential momentum equation. Discretization of spatial derivative terms within the governing equations is performed via unstructured 2D grid layouts, with a node-centered finite-volume scheme. For the evaluation of inviscid fluxes, the upwind Roe’s approximate Riemann solver is applied, coupled with a higher-order accurate spatial reconstruction, whereas an element-based approach is used for the calculation of gradients required for the viscous ones. Time integration is succeeded through a second-order accurate four-stage Runge-Kutta method, adopting additionally a local time-stepping technique. Further acceleration, in terms of computational time, is achieved by using an agglomeration multigrid scheme, incorporating the full approximation scheme in a V-cycle process, within an efficient edge-based data structure. Findings A detailed validation of the proposed numerical methodology is performed by encountering both inviscid and viscous (laminar and turbulent) swirling flows with axial symmetry. IGal2D is compared against the commercial software ANSYS fluent – by using appropriate metrics and characteristic flow quantities – but also against experimental measurements, confirming the proposed methodology’s potential to predict such flows in terms of accuracy. Originality/value This study provides a robust methodology for the accurate prediction of swirling flows by combining the axisymmetric RANS equations with ACM. In addition, a detailed description of the convective flux Jacobian is provided, filling a respective gap in research literature.

Swirling Flows Characteristics in a Cylinder Under Effect of Buoyancy

Thermal buoyancy, induced by injection or by differential heating of a tiny rod is explored to control breakdown in the core of a helical flow driven by the lid rotation of a cylinder. Three main parameters are required to characterize numerically the flow behavior; namely, the rotational Reynolds number Re, the cavity aspect ratio and the Richardson number Ri. Warm injection/rod, Ri > 0, is shown to prevent on-axis flow stagnation while breakdown enhancement is evidenced when Ri < 0. Results revealed that a bubble vortex evolves into a ring type structure which may remain robust, as observed in prior related experiments or, in contrast, disappear over a given range of parameters (Λh, Re, Ri > 0). Besides, the emergence of such a toroidal mode was not found to occur under thermal stratification induced by a differentially heated rod. Moreover, three state diagrams were established which provide detailed flow characteristics under the distinct and combined effects of buoyancy strength, viscous effects and cavity aspect ratio.