Vortex evolution in a rotating tank with an off-axis drain

Munro, R. J.; Foster, M. R.

Abstract

Fluid entering the periphery of a steadily rotating cylindrical tank exits through an off-axis drain hole, located in the tank's base at the half-radius. Experiments show that, though a concentrated vortex forms over the drain, it soon advects around the tank in what is at first a circular path. Though inviscid vortex dynamics predicts continued motion, our experiments show that the vortex moves inwards from the predicted circular path, finally coming to rest at approximately from the drain. In this final state, the vorticity is concentrated in a thin shear layer bounding an irrotational core, which passes over the drain. The broadening of the vortex structure and eventual steady-state formation are believed to be due to the growing boundary layer on the outer wall.

Citation

Munro, R. J., & Foster, M. R. (2022). Vortex evolution in a rotating tank with an off-axis drain. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 933, Article R2. https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2021.1098

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Dec 2, 2021
• Online Publication Date: Dec 21, 2021
• Publication Date: Feb 25, 2022
• Deposit Date: Jan 13, 2022
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 22, 2022
• Journal: Journal of Fluid Mechanics
• Print ISSN: 0022-1120
• Electronic ISSN: 1469-7645
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 933
• Article Number: R2
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/jfm.2021.1098
• Keywords: Mechanical Engineering; Mechanics of Materials; Condensed Matter Physics
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/7227226
• Publisher URL: https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-fluid-mechanics/article/abs/vortex-evolution-in-a-rotating-tank-with-an-offaxis-drain/2991029E729D0B9AB09FD9D6A8347EF2
• Additional Information: Copyright: © The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press