Investigations on inward flow between two stationary parallel disks

Abstract

The present study examines the effect of acceleration on flow field. Both experimental and numerical methods have been employed to study the problem. Fluid enters through the peripheral gap between two concentric disks and converges to the center where it discharges axially through a hole in one of the disks. The mean flow governing equations have been solved in the numerical study. A low Reynolds number k-epsilon model has been used to model the Reynolds stresses. The experimental study involves the measurement of velocity field and turbulence intensity with laser Doppler anemometery. Both the studies show the change in flow regime from turbulent to laminar. The numerical study reveals that the acceleration parameter is not the only factor governing turbulent-laminar transition in this flow, the gap ratio also plays a significant role. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Inc. .