Application of a Low Reynolds Number k–ε Turbulence Model to High-Speed Rotating Cavity Flows

Abstract

A low turbulence Reynolds number k-ε model has been used in conjunction with an elliptic flow calculation procedure to obtain finite-difference solutions for radial outflow in the cavity formed between two plane corotating disks and an outer peripheral shroud. Air enters the cavity axially through a central hole in one of the disks and is assumed to leave via a uniform sink layer adjacent to the shroud. The main emphasis of the paper is the extension of the solution procedure to cover high rotational speeds, with rotational Reynolds numbers up to 107 . As a necessary prerequisite to this exercise, the turbulence model is validated by its good predictive accuracy of existing experimental data up to a maximum rotational Reynolds number of 1.1 × 106 .