Asymmetric Swirling Flows in Turbomachine Annuli

Abstract

An analytical and experimental investigation of asymmetric annular swirling flows is presented. It is shown that, in contrast to the situation in nonswirling flow, the different types of flow disturbances (pressure and vorticity) are not separable in a swirling flow but are strongly coupled. The flows that occur due to this coupling are inherently three-dimensional and exhibit new features not seen in the nonswirling case. The theoretical predictions are in good agreement with experimental measurements carried out in an annular swirl rig.