Rankine Vortex Suppression Employing Shaped Drain Ports: Assessment Using a New Parameter

Abstract

The phenomenon of vortexing is common in engineering applications but must be prevented due to its adverse effects on draining systems. Environmental disturbances often induce rotational motions in liquid propellants, leading to the formation of vortex air cores within the propellant tank. These air cores can impede the flow of propellants through the outlet, potentially compromising engine performance and jeopardizing mission success. The formation of air-core vortices can also induce cavitation problems in the feed pumps of propellant-draining systems. To address these challenges, researchers have designed innovative drain port geometries aimed at suppressing vortex formations. However, the lack of standardized metrics for evaluating vortexing hinders the comparison of findings across different studies. To overcome this issue, the present study formulates and proposes a novel parameter that integrates various parametric characterizations used in previous studies to assess vortexing. Upon analyzing the performance of different drain port shapes using this newly developed parameter, this study identifies cruciform drain ports with an aspect ratio of 3 as the most effective ones in suppressing vortexing. The current findings not only contribute to the data on vortex suppression strategies but also highlight the need for standardized metrics to evaluate vortexing.