EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION OF THE STRUCTURE OF VORTICES IN SIMPLE CYLINDRICAL VORTEX CHAMBERS

An experimental study of the character of vortices in simple cylindrical vortex chambers completely open at one end is presented. Special attention is given to the problem of the transition from one-celled to two-celled vortex chambers having length-to-diameter ratios in the range 0 L/D 5, the character of the flow is primarily dependent on the ratio of a characteristic tangential velocity to a characteristic radial velocity V/U. In addition, it is shown that the Reynolds number based on the radial flow, while a parameter of major importance in laminar vortices, plays but a minor role in turbulent vortex motion. Transition from one-celled to two-celled vortex structure started for all vortex configurations tested (0 L/D 5) when V/U exceeded approximately 3.