Study of vortex throttle characteristics with adjustable resistance by rotation of the vortex chamber inlet channel

Abstract

The study is aimed at obtaining and analyzing the flow and cavitation characteristics of the proposed control devices, which are in demand in control systems for aircraft and rocket engines, chemical and other technological processes that require a wide range of flow control at high pressure drops. The characteristics of vortex throttling devices with cylindrical and spherical chambers were obtained, providing flow control in the range of 0.1–25 kg/s. A change in flow rate in the range of 3.5–3.8 can be achieved by changing the flow swirl intensity without throttling the flow sections. When vortex devices operate, the threshold for the occurrence of cavitation shifts to the region of small values of P out /P in, and, starting from the values of the geometric characteristic A > 4.5, cavitation is absent throughout the entire range of flow control. The pressure drop at the inlet channel of the vortex chamber does not exceed 10–30 % of the total resistance of the device. The torque on the control roller is small, 1.8–2.8 Nm, regardless of the flow rate.