Inviscid and viscous cold flowfield predictions in cyclone chambers

Numerical finite difference predictions are made for the strongly swirling flow in vortex chambers. Predictions show the dominance of the end plate boundary layers over the main flow and the tangential velocity peaks near the plates. The results reveal the existence of a reverse flow region midway the radius of the chamber and a Rankine's velocity profile for the tangential velocity. Numerical simulations indicate that the no-slip condition of the velocity on the circumferential wall is responsible for the annular recirculatory flow region midway on the radius of the vortex chamber. The difference between viscous and inviscid solutions are outlined. The numerical simulations of the flowfields are found to be conformal qualitatively using previously known experimental facts.