Exploration of the Circumferential Velocity Structure Induced by Guide Vane-Type Spiral Flow Generators in a Pipe Flow

Abstract

Incorporating a guide vane-type spiral flow generator can effectively resolve particle deposition issues during long-distance pipeline conveyance. Combining model experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) results under different guide vane height conditions, the paper investigated the structure of the circumferential velocity and the generated rotational effects of the guide vane-type spiral flow generator. Due to the combined effects of the guide vane constraint and water inertia, an envelope surface with a zero circumferential velocity exists along the inner edge of the guide vanes and in the direction of water flow. The envelope surface divides the circumferential flow velocity distribution into internal negative and external positive velocity zones. This paper discovered that the distribution of the envelope surface in the radial and axial directions is affected by both the height of the guide vanes and the Reynolds number. The rotational intensity of the fluid particles around the axis was characterized by the circumferential moment of momentum. When the relative height of the guide vane was 0.35, the highest percentage of circumferential flow velocity in the flow field was reached, while the rotational kinetic energy conversion efficiency was maximum.