Heat transfer in a rotor–stator system with a radial inflow

• Published in: European journal of mechanics, B, Fluids B, Fluids, 2001-05, Vol.20 (3), p.371-398
• Main Authors: Djaoui, Marc, Dyment, Arthur, Debuchy, Roger
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied fluid mechanics; Aspect ratio; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid dynamics; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Heat transfer; Hydraulic and pneumatic machinery; Mathematical models; Physics; Rotors; Stators; Temperature; Velocity
• ISSN: 0997-7546; 1873-7390
• DOI: 10.1016/S0997-7546(01)01133-5

The object of the present work is to produce a better understanding of the flow and heat transfer process occurring in a rotor-stator system, with a low aspect ratio and subjected to a superposed radial inflow. The theoretical approach presented in a previous paper (Debuchy et al., Eur. J. Mech. B-Fluids 17 (6) (1998) 791–810) in the framework of laminar, steady, axisymmetric flow is extended to heat transfer effects. The asymptotic model is simplified and new integral relations including temperature are indicated. The experiments, made in a rotor–stator system with a heated stationary disc, are in agreement with the features of the model in the explored range of the gap ratio, Ekman and Rossby numbers. The data include radial and circumferential mean velocity components, air temperature inside the cavity, temperature and temperature-velocity correlations, and also local Nusselt numbers measured on the stationary disc. The flow structure near the axis is found to be strongly affected by the presence of a superposed inflow, as already observed under isothermal conditions. By contrast, the mean temperature, as well as the correlations concerning velocity and temperature are smaller when a radial inflow is assigned.