An Analytical and Experimental Investigation of Multiple Disk Pumps and Compressors

Abstract

An unconventional type of turbomachinery employing a rotor composed of smooth disks is described and the history and motive principle of such devices briefly recounted. An experimental program of research on such devices is described, together with a description of the design and testing of an experimental water pump, a blower, and an air compressor using multiple disk rotors. Data resulting from the testing of the devices are presented in summary form with discussions of the conclusions which the data allow. A “first-approximation” analysis is presented of the flow processes within the rotor and of the limiting performance and efficiency of multiple disk pumps. Solution of the resulting equations, found by digital computation, is presented for a wide range of geometry and of flow variables, in terms of dimensionless parameters. A brief discussion is given of possible applications of multiple dish pumps, compressors and blowers, and of the information now available for the design of the devices.