Three-dimensional numerical simulation of turbulent flow between two corotating disks with arm obstruction in a circular shroud

Abstract

This paper investigates the turbulent flow between two corotating disks with arm obstruction in a circular shroud. The finite difference method was used to solve the Navier-Stokes equations with a κ-ε turbulence model applied in the core of the flow and a modified van Driest formulation of mixing length in the near-wall region. Good agreement was obtained between measurements and predictions of both mean and rms tangential velocities with the arm present in the flow. Without the presence of the arm, the flow is divided into a solid-body rotation region near the disk hub and a recirculating flow region near the shroud. The insertion of an arm in the flow reduces the extent of solid-body rotation region and induces a complex flow pattern around the arm. Both the physics of the flow and the accuracy of the model are discussed in the paper.