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Heat transport in rotating processes finds a wide range of application in which academic issues in the fluid mechanics and heat transfer areas are here reported. This paper discusses successive works from the seminal paper of Taylor (1923) to recent numerical results established from a broad range of methods such as DNS, LES, RANS or LB methods. The flow regimes identification is thus reported in Taylor–Couette geometry. The role of the axial flow rates in the apparition, stabilization and destruction of the large-scale of the turbulent structures is depicted in the case of Taylor–Couette–Poiseuille geometry. In a non-isothermal condition, a discussion is held on the various exponent values found in the scaling relationships relying on the Nusselt number as a function of the Rayleigh or Reynolds numbers according to the regimes of thermal convection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the increasing application of bidirectional axial pump, it is necessary to study the flow and cavitation characteristics of bidirectional pump. In this paper, the cavitation and flow characteristics of the tip clearance under different clearances and different cavitation numbers of the S-hydrofoil bidirectional axial flow pump were studied by combining experimental and numerical simulation methods under reverse operation conditions. The section of the bidirectional pump was experimentally studied by high-speed photography and pressure pulsation. Based on the method of RANS, the SST-CC turbulence model and ZGB cavitation model were used to simulate the clearance cavitation of the bidirectional pump, and the cavitation morphology, velocity distribution, clearance vortex structure and energy distribution of blade tip clearance were investigated. The study reveals the flow characteristics of the clearance flow field of the bidirectional pump, and provides reference for the design and operation of it. • Deep cavitation bidirectional pump gap tail will form reverse shear cavitation. • Special distribution of S-shaped hydrofoil gap velocity will form a variety of vortices. • More disorderly flow field at the tail of the bidirectional pump gap. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vortex intensification plays an important role in a wide range of flows of engineering interest. One scenario of interest is when a streamwise vortex passes through the contracting streamtube of an aircraft intake. There is, however, limited experimental data of flows of this type to reveal the dominant flow physics and to guide the development of vortex models. To this end, the evolution of wing-tip vortices inside a range of streamtube contractions has been measured using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry. A semi-empirical model has been applied to provide new insight on the role of vorticity diffusion during the intensification process. The analysis demonstrates that for mild flow contractions, vorticity diffusion has a negligible influence due to the low rates of diffusion in the vortex flow prior to intensification and the short convective times associated with the streamtube contraction. As the contraction levels increase, there is a substantial increase in the rates of diffusion which is driven by the greater levels of vorticity in the vortex core. A new semi-empirical relationship, as a function of the local streamtube contraction levels and vortex Reynolds number, has been developed. The model comprises a simple correction to vortex filament theory and provides a significant improvement in the estimation of vortex characteristics in contracting flows. For the range of contractions investigated, errors in the estimation of vortex core radius, peak tangential velocity and vorticity are reduced by an order of magnitude. The model can be applied to estimate the change in vortex characteristics for a range of flows with intense axial strain, such as contracting intake streamtubes and swirling flows in turbomachinery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract The ultra-small axial flow hydraulic turbine is a portable, palm-sized hydraulic turbine that can be applied to low head applications. By redesigning the original runner of this turbine using a method which uniformized the axial flow velocity, we succeeded in improving the performance of the runner. However, the mechanism of the improved performance of the optimized runner was not sufficiently clear; furthermore, the internal flow of the ultra-small axial hydraulic turbine had hardly been elucidated. This study aims to elucidate the internal flow structure of the ultra-small axial flow hydraulic turbine and to clarify the mechanism behind the improved performance of the optimized runner. To this end, we investigated in detail the internal flow structure of the original and optimized runners using PIV measurements and numerical analysis, focusing on the vortex structures. As a result, it was found that losses due to the tip leakage vortex and vortices near the hub at the blade outlet were smaller for the optimized runner than for the original runner. In particular, it was found that the turbine efficiency was greatly improved because vortices due to the swirling flow downstream of the runner were suppressed, and losses resulting from these vortices were thus reduced. Highlights • Ultra-small axial flow hydraulic turbine is palm-sized. • The internal flow structure of the turbine was revealed. • Vortexes that cause losses were identified. • The mechanism behind the improved performance of the optimized runner was clarified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this paper is to investigate the cavity shedding dynamics in unsteady cavitating flows around an axisymmetric body with a blunt headform. A high-speed video camera is used to record the cavity evolution process. The numerical simulations are performed based on the homogenous method coupled with a modified PANS (Partially-averaged Navier-Stokes) turbulence model and Zwart cavitation model. The results show that the predicted time-evolution process of cavity agree fairly well with the corresponding experimental data for two different cavitation numbers ( σ = 0.7 and σ = 0.6 ). Compared to that of σ = 0.6, the cavity shedding behavior of σ = 0.7 presents more fluctuations and instabilities. To elucidate the different shedding structures, the Lagrangian coherent structures (LCS) and particle trajectory methods are also utilized here. It is found that the particle tracers respectively demonstrate the cavity shedding behaviors of conjunction at σ = 0.6 and rolling up at σ = 0.7. Moreover, the LCS distributions vary with the timeevolution of vortex structures. The particle trajectories can illustrate the upstream and downstream vortex structures connect together at σ = 0.6 but separate at σ = 0.7, which highly consistent with the cavity shedding behaviors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We did a numerical study of the internal flow field of a vortex pump. Five operating points were considered and validated through a measured characteristic curve. The internal flow pattern of a vortex pump was analyzed and compared to the Hamel-Oseen vortex model. The calculated flow field was assessed with respect to the circumferential velocity, the vorticity and the axial velocity. Whereas the trajectories of the circumferential velocity were largely in line with the Hamel-Oseen vortex model, the opposite was true for vorticity. Only the vorticity at strong part load was in line with the predictions of the Hamel-Oseen vortex model. We therefore compared the circumferential velocity and vorticity for strong part load operation to the analytical predictions of the Hamel-Oseen vortex model. The simulated values were below the analytical values. The study therefore suggests that a vortex similar to the Hamel-Oseen vortex is only present at the strong part load operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The behaviour of conical shock waves imploding axisymmetrically was first studied numerically by Hornung (J Fluid Mech 409:1-12, ) and this prompted a limited experimental investigation into these complex flow patterns by Skews et al. (Shock Waves 11:323-326, ). Modification of the simulation boundary conditions, resulting in the loss of self-similarity, was necessary to image the flow experimentally. The current tests examine the temporal evolution of these flows utilising a converging conical gap of fixed width fed by a shock wave impinging at its entrance, supported by CFD simulations. The effects of gap thickness, angle and incident shock strength were investigated. The wave initially diffracts around the outer lip of the gap shedding a vortex which, for strong incident shock cases, can contain embedded shocks. The converging shock at exit reflects on the axis of symmetry with the reflected wave propagating outwards resulting in a triple point developing on the incident wave together with the associated shear layer. This axisymmetric shear layer rolls up into a mushroom-shaped toroidal vortex ring and forward-facing jet. For strong shocks, this deforms the Mach disk to the extent of forming a second triple point with the primary shock exhibiting a double bulge. Separate features resembling the Richtmeyer-Meshkov and Kelvin-Helmholtz instabilities were noted in some tests. Aside from the incident wave curvature, the reflection patterns demonstrated correspond well with the V- and DV-types identified by Hornung although type S was not clearly seen, possibly due to the occlusion of the reflection region by the outer diffraction vortex at these early times. Some additional computational work explicitly exploring the limits of the parameter space for such systems has demonstrated the existence of a possible further reflection type, called vN-type, which is similar to the von Neumann reflection for plane waves. It is recommended that the parameter space be more thoroughly explored experimentally. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Despite the rapid advancement of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs), adverse events leading to deaths have been frequently reported in patients implanted with LVADs, including bleeding, infection, thromboembolism, neurological dysfunction and hemolysis. Cannulation forms an important component with regards to thrombus formation in assisted patients by varying the intraventricular flow distribution in the left ventricle (LV). To investigate the correlation between LVAD cannula placement and potential for thrombus formation, detailed analysis of the intraventricular flow field was carried out in the present study using a two way fluid structure interaction (FSI), axisymmetric model of a passive LV incorporating an inflow cannula. Three different cannula placements were simulated, with device insertion near the LV apex, penetrating one-fourth and mid-way into the LV long axis. The risk of thrombus formation is assessed by analyzing the intraventricular vorticity distribution and its associated vortex intensity, amount of stagnation flow in the ventricle as well as the level of wall shear stress. Our results show that the one-fourth placement of the cannula into the LV achieves the best performance in reducing the risk of thrombus formation. Compared to cannula placement near the apex, higher vortex intensity is achieved at the one-fourth placement, thus increasing wash out of platelets at the ventricular wall. One-fourth LV penetration produced negligible stagnation flow region near the apical wall region, helping to reduce platelet deposition on the surface of the cannula and the ventricular wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, the effects of airfoils on the aerodynamic performance of small axial flow fans were investigated to reduce airflow turbulence on the blade surface and to improve the aerodynamic performance of small axial flow fans. Irregular airfoils where several convex grooves are bound in the blade pressure surface of the fans have two kinds. The wave-shaped edge is bound to the blade trailing edge of the fans and is designed from the smooth airfoil of the fans. The filtered N-S equations with the finite volume method and the standard k-ɛ turbulence model were adopted to carry out the steady simulation calculation. The large eddy simulation and the FH-W noise models were adopted to carry out the unsteady numerical calculation and aerodynamic noise prediction. The results of simulation calculation are in good agreement with the tests, which proves that the numerical calculation method is feasible. The spectrum characteristics of aerodynamic noise of the smooth airfoil and the two kinds of irregular airfoils were analyzed. Although the fans of the three airfoils are regarded as noise sources, the vortex distribution features in the unsteady flow field are also described. Noise reduction mechanisms of the irregular designs of the airfoils were also discussed. The results of this research may provide proof of the parameter optimization and the structural design of small axial flow fans with low noise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Pressure losses as friction factor, and flow patterns in 3D axial flow between sinusoidal corrugated parallel plates with perpendicular directions of corrugation is numerically studied. The flow is assumed to be steady and laminar in the studied range. The numerical procedure is Chorin’s artificial compressibility method with finite difference second order central discretization. Results show that in moderate Reynolds numbers, vortices are formed and they put a great effect on pressure drop. The size of vortices grows with increase in Reynolds number, and also their cores tend to shift toward the flow direction and away from the walls. These vortices are not closed loops, and the streamlines slightly swirl in the circulating zone of vortices. This means that there can be a little convection in these regions and they are not closed dead zones anymore. The linear curve fit of the friction factor diagrams versus Reynolds number in logarithmic scale, shows that friction factor almost obeys a power function of hydraulic Reynolds number in the investigated geometries. With a slight error, this can be assumed as a rough estimation for the product of friction factor and hydraulic Reynolds number. The friction factor grows larger with increase in wave amplitude or decrease in wavelength. Also, when the gap between two plates decreases, friction factor increases. The least friction factor among the investigated geometries is for flat parallel plates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The flow field in an axisymmetric tube dilatation is studied employing a 2D PIV system and the commercial numerical code FLUENT. Experiment and numerical predictions are in good agreement providing similar trends and the same flow topology. For the steady case and for Re varying in the range 100–700, the recirculation zone length increases with Re, the flow reattachment line being displaced towards the exit of the model. Upstream of this line and a small distance from it, negative velocity maximizes close to the wall as well as the wall shear stress (in absolute value). Downstream of this region, the wall pressure peaks and wall shear takes a local maximum at the model exit. In the rest part of the cavity both wall shear and pressure do not practically vary due to separated flow. The axial velocity on the longitudinal axis of the model does not change streamwise for higher Re (Re=690), resembling the near field of a jet, entraining fluid from the cavity region. In the unsteady case the flow rate is sinusoidal, the Womersley number is 3.3 and peak Re=272. During early acceleration, a vortex ring is formed at the proximal part of the cavity and two stagnation points appear on the longitudinal axis of the model approaching each other as time progresses, eventually disappearing when the majority of the fluid particles changes direction. The velocity profile at the exit is most of the cycle blunt compared to the parabolic type profile at the model entrance. In contrast to the steady case, the pressure variation does not exhibit a local peak within the cavity rather varying in a smooth way. Conversely, wall shear stress shows high peaks at the distal end of the dilatation being proportional to the time dependent flow rate. The reattachment line travels along the wall, as well as the local pressure peak which is always located downstream of it. Massless particles released at various locations and time instants within a cycle are not trapped in the recirculation zone, being exposed to varying shear stress values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In this paper, we show the existence of new families of linear eigenmodes in vortices with axial jet. These modes are viscous in nature and concentrated in a ring around the vortex at the critical radial location r c > 0 where $${m\Omega '_c + kW'_c=0}$$ where $${\Omega_c'}$$ and $${W_c'}$$ are the radial derivative at r c of the angular and axial velocity of the vortex. Using a large Reynolds-number asymptotic approach for an arbitrary axisymmetrical vortex with axial flow, both the complex frequency and the spatial structure of the eigenmodes are obtained for any azimuthal and axial wave number. The asymptotic predictions are compared to numerical results for the q-vortex and a good agreement is demonstrated. We show that for sufficiently large Reynolds numbers, a necessary and sufficient condition of instability of viscous ring modes is that there exists a location r c where $${\Omega_c\Omega_c'[r_c\Omega_c'(2\Omega_c+r_c\Omega'_c)+(W_c')^2]<0}$$ and $${W_c'\neq0}$$ , which also corresponds to the condition of inviscid instability obtained by Leibovich and Stewartson (J Fluid Mech 126:335–356, 1983). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Previous studies have suggested that the asymmetric vortex wake which develops behind an axisymmetric body at angle of attack is the result of the amplification of a disturbance introduced at the tip of the body. The potential-flow vortex wake of a circular cylinder in cross-flow is examined and similarities to the wake of the axisymmetric body at incidence are described. The implications of these similarities for the suggested model are discussed, and an argument is made that the vortex trajectories are fixed at a given angle of attack and shifted upstream or downstream by the initial disturbance. The need for further detailed experimental studies of the asymmetric vortex wake development is noted. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Studies on the tip leakage vortex (TLV) are extensive, while studies on the secondary tip leakage vortex (S-TLV) are rare. To advance the understanding of the formation mechanism of the S-TLV, turbulent cavitating flows were numerically investigated using the shear stress transport (SST) turbulence model and the Zwart–Gerber–Belamri cavitation model. The morphology and physical quantity distribution of the S-TLV under two cavitation conditions were compared, and its formation mechanism was analyzed. The results reveal that in the lower cavitation number case, there is a low-velocity zone of circumferential flow near the tip in the back half of the blade. The shear vortices formed by the leakage jet gradually accumulate and concentrate in the low-velocity area, which is one of the main sources of the S-TLV. Meanwhile, the radial jet pushes the vortices on the suction surface to the tip, which mixes with the S-TLV. The flow path formed by the radial jet and the leakage jet is in accordance with the rotation direction of the S-TLV, which promotes the S-TLV's further development. Under the conditions of a small cavitation number and low flow rate, the circumferential velocity and radial velocity of the fluid near the gap have altered significantly, which is conducive to the formation of the S-TLV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The motion of a dispersed inertial admixture in a steady-state axisymmetric 3D viscous incompressible flow formed by a semi-infinite vortex filament interacting with an orthogonally located substrate surface is considered. The carrier-phase parameters are found from the numerical solution of the Navier-Stokes equations under the assumption of flow self-similarity of a known type [1]. Different phase force interaction schemes corresponding to different ratios of the phase densities are considered. For calculating the dispersed-phase continuum parameters, a full Lagrangian approach is used, which makes it possible to calculate the dispersed-phase concentration in particle accumulation zones and regions of intersecting particle trajectories. On the basis of parametric calculations, it is found that in the case of heavy particles (whose density is greater than that of the carrier phase) a “cup-shaped” particle accumulation surface visualizing a high-vorticity region is formed. The dependence of this surface shape on the governing parameters is investigated. It is shown that for different phase density ratios the dispersed-phase concentration fields are qualitatively different. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A vortex tracking methodology is developed to determine the precessional frequency and the characteristics of macroinstability (MI) vortices. The methodology is compared with other techniques, frequency analysis and correlation coeffcient, which are most commonly used to assess periodicities in a flow. Two sets of experiments were carried out, 2D PIV and two-point LDA, in two different scaled vessels of diameter 80 mm and 294 mm. The MI characteristics were studied for two different Re (i.e., 32 000 and 3200) by correlating the vortex intensity (vorticity and pressure suction) with its radius at different axial positions. This study provides relevant data for the optimisation of mixing time as it indicates ‘preferred’ positions, on the path of the MI vortex, where the insertion of a second phase should take place in order to fully exploit the suction potential of the MI vortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]