Aspect-Ratio Effects and Unsteady Pressure Measurements inside a Cross-Flow Impeller

Abstract

In the present experimental study, the authors try to clarify the characteristics of the flow around and inside a cross-flow impeller in a typical geometry, over a wide parameter range of an aspect ratio L/D2. In order to eliminate the complicated casing factors, the impeller rotates in open space without any casings. As a result, by using hot wire anemometer measurements and by conventional flow visualisations with a particle image velocimetry technique, the authors show that both the outflow rate and the maximum vorticity attain the maximum for L/D2 = 0.6. In order to investigate the aspect-ratio effect, we further reveal minute fluctuating pressures on an impeller end wall for a singular L/D2 = 0.6. Especially in these pressure measurements, the eccentric vortex is prevented to revolute by the insertion of a tongue, in order to consider the spatial structure of flow more precisely.