Vortex characteristics of two rotating immiscible fluids

Abstract

Hydrodynamic and behavior of laminar confined axisymmetric flows driven by the rotating top disk in cylindrical cavity have been studied numerically. The vertical cavity, is filled with two superposed immiscible incompressible fluids. The top more viscous liquid drives the lower heavier fluid via the interface shear. The study, identified and highlighted a flow topology of types of axisymmetric recirculation regions; depending upon the effects of the disk rotation rate. This work confirms partly previous experimental observations and provides additional quantitative findings; particularly in the vicinity of the interface. The findings are in good accord with the experiments and show that vortex size increases with increasing rotation rate. The basic flow is made up of two clockwise circulation cells, separated by a thin layer of anticlockwise circulation (TCL). The gap thickness of TCL decreases with increasing rotation rate however, the interface high increases as rotation rate increases