Hydrodynamic structure of the boundary layers in a rotating cylindrical cavity with radial inflow
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad de Chile, Beauchef 851, Santiago (Chile)
- CSIRO-Chile International Centre of Excellence, Apoquindo 2827, Floor 12, Santiago (Chile)
- Advanced Mining Technology Center, Universidad de Chile, Av. Tupper 2007, Santiago (Chile)
A flow model is formulated to investigate the hydrodynamic structure of the boundary layers of incompressible fluid in a rotating cylindrical cavity with steady radial inflow. The model considers mass and momentum transfer coupled between boundary layers and an inviscid core region. Dimensionless equations of motion are solved using integral methods and a space-marching technique. As the fluid moves radially inward, entraining boundary layers develop which can either meet or become non-entraining. Pressure and wall shear stress distributions, as well as velocity profiles predicted by the model, are compared to numerical simulations using the software OpenFOAM. Hydrodynamic structure of the boundary layers is governed by a Reynolds number, Re, a Rossby number, Ro, and the dimensionless radial velocity component at the periphery of the cavity, U{sub o}. Results show that boundary layers merge for Re < < 10 and Ro > > 0.1, and boundary layers become predominantly non-entraining for low Ro, low Re, and high U{sub o}. Results may contribute to improve the design of technology, such as heat exchange devices, and turbomachinery.
- OSTI ID:
- 22598996
- Journal Information:
- Physics of Fluids, Vol. 28, Issue 3; Other Information: (c) 2016 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 1070-6631
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Behavior of three-dimensional boundary layers in a radial inflow turbine scroll
A design study of radial inflow turbines with splitter blades in three-dimensional flow