EXPERIMENTAL STUDY OF FLOW AND SEPARATION IN VORTEX TUBES WITH APPLICATION TO GASEOUS FISSION HEATING

Journal Article · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1961 · ARS (Am. Rocket Soc.) J.

OSTI ID:4837810

Keyes, Jr, J J

An experimental investigation of the flow in simple jet driven vortex tubes under conditions dynamically similar to those estimated to be necessary for operation of a vortex cavity reactor indicated that viscous retardation of the vortex motion near the periphery is severe. Estimates of virtual viscosities and skin friction coefficients based on an assumed two dimensional flow field were correlated in terms of the peripheral tangential Reynolds number based on the tube diameter. Friction coefficients so defined for vortex flow appear to be high by a factor of about two compared with those for turbulent flow along a flat plate with zero pressure gradient. Observed tangential velocities are compared with theoretical calculations for viscous vortex flow in terms of the turbulent radial Reynolds number. This comparison suggests that virtual viscosity probably decreases with decreasing radius. Extrapolation of the experimental results to typical reactor operating conditions indicated the need for small diameter tubes and recirculation of a large fraction of the inlet gas in order to achieve adequate vortex strength without exceeding an allowable exit mass flow rate. Quantitative measurements of concentration profiles for separation of helium and a heavy fluorocarbon vapor were made using a radial gas sampling probe and thermal conductivity analysis. The data are compared with laminar flow separation theory. (auth)

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Lab., Tenn.
• NSA Number: NSA-15-030817
• OSTI ID: 4837810
• Journal Information: ARS (Am. Rocket Soc.) J., Journal Name: ARS (Am. Rocket Soc.) J. Vol. Vol: 31
• Country of Publication: Country unknown/Code not available
• Language: English

Related Subjects

CONFIGURATION
COOLANT LOOPS
ENGINEERING AND EQUIPMENT
FLUID FLOW
FLUIDS
FLUORINATED HYDROCARBONS
FRICTION
FUEL SUSPENSIONS
GAS COOLANT
HELIUM
HOMOGENEOUS REACTORS
JETS
MASS
MEASURED VALUES
MECHANICS
OPERATION
PERFORMANCE
PLATES
REACTORS
REYNOLDS NUMBER
SAMPLING
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SURFACES
THERMAL CONDUCTIVITY
TUBES
TURBULENCE
VAPORS
VELOCITY
VISCOSITY
VORTEX FLOW