Analysis of the flow and energy separation in a turbulent vortex

Abstract An analysis is made of the velocity, temperature and pressure distributions in a turbulent vortex with radial and axial flow. For making the calculations the vortex is divided into a core and an annular region, each with a different uniform axial mass velocity, although the equations obtained are applicable to an arbitrary axial mass velocity distribution. Tangential velocity, temperature and pressure distributions, as well as curves for overall energy or temperature separation, are presented and compared with experiment. Using the analytical results, the causes of the energy separation are studied. It is concluded that the most important factor affecting the total temperature of a fluid element in a compressible vortex is the turbulent shear work done on or by the element.