Drag Reduction in Laminar Flow Between Two Vertical Coaxial Cylinders

Abstract

Laminar drag reduction has been shown for the flow of a Newtonian fluid in the space between two vertical coaxial cylinders. Experiments were carried out to measure the torque of a bob with a highly water-repellent wall to clarify the effect of the contact surface of the bob on the flow behavior. The basic material of the highly water-repellent wall is fluorine alkane modified acrylic resin with added hydrophobic silica, and the contact angle of the wall is about 150 degree. The radius rations of the bob were 0.932 and 0.676. Test fluids were Newtonian aqueous solutions of 60, 70, and 80 wt% glycerin and polymer solutions. The maximum drag reduction ratio was about 12% for 80 wt% glycerin solution at a radius ratio of 0.932. The moment coefficient of the coaxial cylinder in Newtonian fluids was analyzed for fluid slip, and it was shown that the analytical results agreed well with the experimental data. For the case of non-Newtonian fluids, the fluid slip velocity of polymer solutions is not proportional to the shear stress and the relationship is approximated by power-law equations.