VORTEX FLOW IN A CYLINDRICAL CHAMBER.

Based on the Navier-Stokes equation, the two-dimensional flow field in a cylindrically symmetric, infinitely long swirl chamber was calculated for very low Reynolds numbers. The boundary conditions on the peripheral wall of the chamber were given by zero velocity except for the inlet and exit slit areas for which uniform radial and azimuthal velocity components were assumed. The streamline patterns in a cross-sectional plane of the swirl tube were calculated for different sizes and positions of the inlet and exit slits however, both openings were always located within the same hemisphere of the chamber. The angles of gas inlet and exhaust were also variable. In general, the results show that the center of vorticity does not coincide with the geometric center of the tube. The streamline patterns appear as deformed ovals which are shifted toward the inlet and exit openings. Author