Flow regimes in a multi-gap circular Couette-Taylor system with opposite rotating cylinders

Abstract

This work investigates the flow structure in the gaps of a multi-cylinder circular Couette-Taylor system, which is a model of a two-rotor heat generator. The initial information for studying the flow structure was data on the magnitude of the resistance torque to rotors opposed rotation, as well as on the nature of the amplitude-frequency spectrum of pulsations of this torque, depending on the viscosity of the working fluid and the rotational speed of the heat generator rotors. The obtained data allow comparing the nature of hydrodynamic processes in the single and obtained multi-gap circular space of Couette-Taylor and calculating the parameters of structural formations in the multi-gap working space of the heat generator. At relative rotational speeds of rotors (3-50) rad/s, the main energy of flow pulsations (up to 90%) is found in the amplitude-frequency spectra in the frequency range (12-70) Hz. It is associated with vortices first described by Taylor, which are extended low-frequency regularly alternating spirals and vortex structures with right and left rotation in the region of higher frequencies (200– 500) Hz; their frequency is determined by the width of the annular gaps of the multi-cylinder system.