Confined Flow in a Partially-Filled Rotating Horizontal Cylinder

Abstract

Experimental and analytical studies are reported for a Newtonian fluid in a partially-filled cylinder rotating about its centerline axis at constant angular speeds. Two fluids, glycerin and water, are used in this study. The analytical results are in good agreement with the experimental data. This comparison is based on the profiles of the free surfaces and the streamlines experimentally obtained using a flow visualization technique and as predicted by the analytical model. When the rotational speed is not high enough to cause solid body rotation of the fluid, due to excessive centrifugal force, a recirculation region forms at the lower portion of the cylinder. The profile of the free surface in this region depends on the relative magnitude of the body force and the viscous force. In general, two distinct flow regions can be recognized for a cylinder of infinite extent; a recirculating flow and a boundary-layer-type flow along the cylindrical wall. In addition to the volume of the fluid in the cylinder, there are two other parameters governing this problem; the Reynolds number and the ratio, G, of the Reynolds number to the Froude number.