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Numerical simulation of strongly swirling turbulent flows in a liquid-liquid hydrocyclone using the Reynolds stress transport equation model

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Abstract

The Reynolds stress transport equation model (DSM) is used to predict the strongly swirling turbulent flows in a liquid-liquid hydrocyclone, and the predictions are compared with LDV measurements. Predictions properly give the flow behavior observed in experiments, such as the Rankinevortex structure and double peaks near the inlet region in tangential velocity profile, the downward flow near the wall and upward flow near the core in axial velocity profiles. In the inlet or upstream region of the hydrocyclone, the reverse flow near the axis is well predicted, but in the region with smaller cone angle and cylindrical section, there are some discrepancies between the model predictions and the LDV measurements. Predictions show that the pressure is small in the near-axis region and increases to the maximum near the wall. Both predictions and measurements indicate that the turbulence in hydrocyclones is inhomogeneous and anisotropic.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. State Key Laboratory of Multiphase Flow in Power Engineering, Xi'an Jiaotong University, 710049, Xi'an, China

    Yaojun Lu, Lixing Zhou & Xiong Shen

  2. Department of Engineering Mechanics, Tsinghua University, 100084, Beijing, China

    Yaojun Lu, Lixing Zhou & Xiong Shen

Authors
  1. Yaojun Lu
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  2. Lixing Zhou
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  3. Xiong Shen
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Correspondence to Yaojun Lu.

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Lu, Y., Zhou, L. & Shen, X. Numerical simulation of strongly swirling turbulent flows in a liquid-liquid hydrocyclone using the Reynolds stress transport equation model. Sci. China Ser. E-Technol. Sci. 43, 86–96 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02917141

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02917141

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