VORTEX FLOW IN A FLUID UNDER THE ACTION OF FREELY ROTATING WALLS OF A CENTRIFUGAL REACTOR
B.R. Sharifullin, S.V. Dimov, S.G. Skripkin, I.V. Naumov
Kutateladze Institute of Thermophysics, Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Novosibirsk, Russia
Keywords: vortex flow, centrifugal reactor, passive flow control, vortex intensification, drag reduction
Abstract
The effect of free rotation of the cylindrical housing of a centrifugal reactor on the structure of vortex fluid flow is investigated experimentally. The working fluid is driven by rotation of the upper disk, while the reactor housing is free to rotate about its axis under the action of viscous friction from the fluid. The flow energy expended in overcoming friction in the stationary housing is converted into kinetic energy of rotation of the reactor housing. Even slight free rotation of the reactor housing is found to lead to a significant intensification of the vortex motion. The proposed reactor design enables efficient control of vortex flows without the additional energy expenditure required for forced rotation of the sidewalls at a fixed speed. The results obtained can be used in the development of compact centrifugal reactors for biological, chemical, and energy technologies.
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