Prediction of turbulent swirling flows in annuli

Abstract

The paper presents the use of a numerical solution procedure for the prediction of steady, in­ compressible, and two-dimensional axisymmetric turbulent swirling flows in annuli. The mathematical model comprises differential equations for continuity, momentum, turbulence kinetic energy and its rate of dissipation. The simultaneous solution of these equations by means of a finite-difference solution algorithm yields the values of the variables at all internal grid points in the flow domain. The numerical solution pro­cedure, composed of the mathematical model and its solution algorithm, is applied to predict the fields of variables within annular ducts; the results of predictions are compared with published experimental data. The predicted results for turbulent flow in a vertical large-gap annulus with both rotating and non-rotating inner cylinder, and for turbulent swirling flow in a stationary annulus with a rotating inlet were in generally good agreement with experimental measurements reported in the literature.