Experimental analysis of varied vortex reducers in reducing the pressure drop in a rotating cavity with radial inflow

• Correlations of pressure drop with rotating velocity and mass flow rate.
• Performances in reducing pressure drop for 3 vortex reducers are evaluated.
• Critical curves which determine usage criterion for vortex reducers are obtained.
• Functions of pressure coefficient and turbulent parameter are given.

Experimental research was performed to determine the pressure drop in a rotating cavity with radial inflow. In order to decrease the pressure loss across the rotating cavity, three different vortex reducer configurations were designed and fitted in the cavity. The experiment revealed that the performance of a vortex reducer is determined by its own geometry, the inlet flow rate and the rotating speed of the cavity. For each vortex reducer configuration, a critical curve distinguishes its performance in terms of reducing the pressure drop. On one side of this curve, the pressure drop is reduced; on the other side, however, the pressure drop is even larger. The performance of each configuration was compared and presented schematically. As regards the rotating cavity without vortex reducer (empty cavity), the experimental data fitted quite well with Farthing’s linear theory. For each vortex reducer configuration, a fitting curve of the pressure coefficient was given.