Numerical Predictions for the Flow Induced by an Enclosed Rotating Disc

Abstract

Finite difference solutions are presented for turbulent flow in the cavity formed between a rotating and a stationary disc, with and without a net radial outflow of fluid. The mean flow is assumed steady and axisymmetric and a mixing length model of turbulence is used. Grid dependency of the solutions is shown to be acceptably small and results are compared with other workers’ experimental data. Theoretical and measured disc moment coefficients are in good agreement, while theoretical and measured velocities are in reasonable agreement. It is concluded that the mixing-length model is sufficiently accurate for many engineering calculations of boundary layer dominated flows in rotating disc systems.