Energy-efficient vortex flow intensification by adaptive wall rotation in centrifugal reactors

The effect of free rotation of the cylindrical container wall on the vortex flow of a liquid in a model of a centrifugal reactor is studied. A method for intensifying the vortex flow in a cylindrical reactor by adaptive free rotation of the side wall under the action of viscous fluid drag is proposed. The medium in the cylindrical container is agitated by the upper disk rotation. Other parts of the container can freely rotate relative to their axes with a rotational speed determined by the level of friction in the bearing. Thus, the thermal friction energy of the working fluid with a fixed wall is redistributed to the kinetic energy of rotation of the entire reactor system. The kinematic characteristics and flow structure are examined using experimental Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) measurements and numerical simulations in Star-CCM + . Results show that even minimal free rotation significantly suppresses vortex breakdown, which is typically observed when the cylindrical container is fixed. Furthermore, the maximum values of the tangential velocity with a rotating wall are 2–3 times higher than in a stationary cylinder, and the flow swirl is an order of magnitude higher, which indicates a significant decrease in hydraulic resistance. These findings are relevant for the development of energy-efficient vortex flow control technologies and the improvement of reactor systems, in particular, in the development of new models of compact centrifugal reactors for biological, chemical, and energy industries.