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The vortex liquid piston engine and some other vortex technologies

  • Recent Advances In Mechanical Engineering
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Abstract

By exploiting three unique characteristics of confined swirling incompressible flows — centrifugal acceleration, internal separation or recirculation zones near the axis, andbistability (i.e. rarefied and condensed stable states) of multi-phase flows — we developed several innovativevortex machines which will revolutionize mechanical technologies in a variety of industries. The machines utilizing these features include:Vortex Engine, Vortex Thruster, Vortex Suction Device, Vortex Chemical Reactor, Bubbling Centrifuge andVortex Mill. As a specific example, we describe here in some detail the development of a liquid piston engine, including analysis of its hydrodynamic and thermodynamic features. We have designed a laboratory ‘cold’ model and performed detailed experimental, theoretical and numerical analyses to study the role of the controlling parameters and are now ready to test a ‘hot’ model. In addition, we mention a few other vortex technologies of interest to us.

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Goldshtik, M., Hussain, F. & Yao, R.J. The vortex liquid piston engine and some other vortex technologies. Sadhana 22, 323–367 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02744477

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