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Flow visualization of relaminarization phenomena in curved pipes and the related measurements

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Abstract

Flow visualization results for secondary flow phenomena at the exit of 90° and 180° bends and helically coiled pipes (1, 2 and 5 turns), (radius of curvatureR c=381 mm, inside pipe diameterd=37.5 mm, curvature ratiod/2R c=0.049) and in the downstream straight pipe (l/d=30) are presented to study the stabilizing (relaminarization) effect in curved pipes with fully developed entry turbulent air flow and the destabilizing (re-transition from laminar to turbulent flow) effect in the downstream straight region. The entry Reynolds numbers areRe=2200, 3200, 4300 and 5300).

The related measurement results using a hot-film anemometer are presented for developing profiles of the time-mean streamwise velocity distribution and the axial turbulence intensity field in the 180° return bend and in the downstream straight pipe for Reynolds numbersRe=3200, 4300, 6300 and 8200.

The time traces showing the output of the hot-film sensor are also presented for developing fluctuating velocity field in the 180° bend and in the downstream straight pipe for the same Reynolds number range. Some aspects of the relaminarization phenomena in curved pipes and the re-transition phenomena from laminar to turbulent flow in the downstream straight pipe are clarified by the present experimental investigation.

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Abbreviations

a :

inside pipe radius,d/2

d :

inside pipe diameter, 2a

K :

Dean number, Re (a/R c)1/2

l :

downstream tube length

R c :

radius of curvature for bend or coil

Re :

Reynolds number,u md / v

u :

time-mean local axial velocity

u’:

fluctuating axial velocity component

u m :

mean velocity across the cross-section

x,y :

horizontal and vertical coordinates (Fig⨴3)

z :

axial coordinate in downstream pipe

v :

kinematic viscosity of air

Θ :

bend or coil turn angle

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

    Kurokawa M., Cheng K. C. & Shi L.

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  1. Kurokawa M.
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  2. Cheng K. C.
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  3. Shi L.
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Kurokawa, M., Cheng, K.C. & Shi, L. Flow visualization of relaminarization phenomena in curved pipes and the related measurements. J Vis 1, 9–28 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03182471

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03182471

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