5-1

MILITARY INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

DEPARTMENT OF NAVAL, ARCHITECHTURE AND MARINE ENGINEERING
NAME 254 (HYDRODYNAMICS SESSIONAL)
Experiment No. 7
Study of forced vortex without discharge orifice

7.1 General:
A vortex arises, when a gas flows along a rotating device. If the inertia of the gas is small and
the device rotates at a high speed, the device will transfer part of its rotational energy to the
gas. This is called a forced vortex. It is characterized by an increasing tangential velocity for
increasing values of the radius.
The following are the two types of Vortex flow:
- Free Vortex Flow and
- Forced Vortex Flow 

- Fig: Free Vortex Vs Forced Vortex

Forced Vortex Flow

Forced vortex flow is defined as that type of vortex flow in which some external torque is
required to rotate the fluid mass.
Examples:
- Flow of water through the runner of a turbine
- Flow of liquid through the passage of impeller of centrifugal pumps
- Rotation of water in a washing machine

5.2 Theory:
When a fluid is turn in a closed cylinder, the speed of its particles decreases as long as they
move away from the center. The movement of the fluid is then made in concentric circles,
creating a vortex or twister.

For a constant rotation speed w (rad/s):

 5-2

v = w.r (m/s)
Where,
r = radius (m)
v = speed of the flow with a radius r (m/s)
If we usethe horizontal plane through the vortex, the theory shows us that:
2 2
w r
h = h0 + (m)
2g
Which is the equation of a parabola.
When the water flows out the recipient through the central hole in the base, the forced
vortex with discharge orifice is formed. In this case, the main characteristic is that the speed
varies inversely with the distance to the rotation axis, that is:
V = K/r (m/s)
Where,
K = Constant (m2/s)
r = Radius from the center of the vortex to the considered position (m)

The equation that governs the surface profile is obtained from Bernoulli’s theorem. Not
considering the pressure, as it is atmospheric in every point of the vortex surface.
2
v
+z = c = Constant
2g
Where z (m) is the height of the considered point. With the two previous equations we get
to,
2
k
2 +Z = c
2gr
k2
Or, C-Z =
2 g r2

This is the equation of the hyperbolic curve of the form Yx 2 = A, which is an asymptote with
the rotation axis and through the horizontal, Z = C.
C-Z is the kinetic term, that is to say, the total energy (C, which is the Bernoulli constant)
minus the potential energy (z or height). This term can be obtained by using the Pitot tubes
and the needles supplied in the equipment.
In the experiment, the value of x has been measured for the different radius. We can
calculate h in this way:
h = H0 – x (m)
Now, we just have to check that the values obtained adjust to a theoretical curve like the
following one:
w2 r 2
h = h0 + (m)
2g

7.3 Objectives:
1. Determine the profile surface of a forced vortex without discharge orifice
2. Determine the influence of the inlet direction of the fluid in the system
3. Determine the influence of the fluid inlet flow
 5-3

7.4 Apparatus:

Equipment accessories of the forced and free vortex, Chronometer, hydraulic bench, stop
watch etc.

Equipment accessories of the forced Stop Watch

and free vortex

Hydraulic Bench

7.5 Procedure:

- Place the equipment in the bench according to any of the two possibilities indicated
in figure 1.1.9 and connect it to the bench with a fast connector in the taking T1 (fig
1.1.10). Place the blind mouthpiece (fig 1.1.2) inside the central hollow in the base of
the cylinder (fig 1.1.1). Introduce the helix with the axis in the mouthpiece, so that it
turns correctly.
- Close the outlet valve and connect the pump in the bench with VCC closed (fig
1.1.10)
- Open gradually the control valve of the bench, open three way valve to the left so
that the water goes into the cylinder from a tangential inlet placed 60 0 away and so
that it goes out through the injectors (fig 3.1.1)
 5-4

- Start to open the outlet valve of the equipment when the water almost gets to the
limit of the outflow and level the cylinder with that level, unloading inside the
volumetric tank. Fill with water the outlet flexible hose, when it is full, pick up the
hose and introduce it by the drain spillway of the volumetric tank, in order to avoid
that the bench pump runs out of water. This operation induces a siphon effect that
increases the unload speed.
- For each value of flux speed, the outlet valve must be adjusted until the water flows
through the overflow. Place the measure probes through the superior part of
cylinder (fig 1.1.3).
- The surface profile is determined by lowering the measure probes (needles) until
they touch the surface of the water (fig 3.1.3). Then, taking as a reference the
spillway level as zero and the marks in the needles, we can get to know the depth
that each probe has descended.
- We can also use the diameter, in order to determine the vortex diameter at different
levels of depth (fig 1.1.5)
- The rotation speed of the helix is measured by timing the number of rotations of the
helix using the axis marked as reference.
- Once the height of the different needles is registered, remove the support of the
needles and repeat the procedure for different inlet flows, graduating the VCC (fig
1.1.10) with both inlet pipes (turn 1800 the key of the three-way valve of fig 3.1.1)
 5-5

7.6 Data Sheet

Study of forced vortex without discharge orifice
Experimental Data Sheet

Inlet Time, r.p.s POSITION OF THE MEASURES r

directio Sec Edge 110 90 70 50 30 0 (mm)
n
X,
(measured)

Calculated h

X1 = H0– h

Level / Term : Dept. :

Reg No. : Section:
Group No. : Date :

_____________________
 5-6

Signature of the Teacher

7.7 Calculation:

7.8 Discussion:

7.9 Assignment: