Validation 1.

Flow in a Rotating Cavity

1.1 Purpose
The purpose of this validation is to compare numerical values of swirl and radial velocity
in a rotating cavity with experimental data [1,2].

1.2 Problem Description

An enclosed cylindrical cavity of height L = 1.0 m and radius R = 1.0 m has a lid that
spins at Ω = 1.0 rad/s, as shown in Figure 1.2.1. The flow field is 2D axisymmetric, so
only the region bounded by the dashed lines in Figure 1.2.1 needs to be modeled. The
Reynolds number of the flow based on the cavity radius R and the tip-speed of the disk
(ΩR) is 1800. The flow within the cavity is assumed to be laminar. The problem can
be solved using either a stationary reference frame or a rotating reference frame. The
second-order discretization scheme is chosen because the flow in the cavity is not aligned
with the grid (it crosses the grid lines obliquely), and this scheme leads to more accurate
results in these cases.

1.3 References
1. Sorensen, J.N. and Loc, T.P., Higher-Order Axisymmetric Navier-Stokes Code:
Description and Evolution of Boundary Conditions, International Journal For Nu-
merical Methods in Fluids, 9:1517–1537, 1989.

2. Michelsen, J. A., Modeling of Laminar Incompressible Rotating Fluid Flow, AFM

86-05, Ph.D. thesis, Department of Fluid Mechanics, Technical University of Den-
mark, 1986.

c Fluent Inc. August 8, 2006 1-1
Flow in a Rotating Cavity

Rotating Cover

L = 1.0 m
R = 1.0 m
Ω = 1.0 rad/s
Region to
be modeled
L

y
R

Figure 1.2.1: Problem Description

1-2
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 1.4 Results

1.4 Results
Figures 1.4.1 - 1.4.4 compare the computed swirl and radial velocity profiles with mea-
sured data at y = 0.6 m (for both the stationary and the rotating reference frame).
Figures 1.4.5 - 1.4.8 compare the computed and measured velocities at y = 0.9 m. The
computed velocities in the rotating frame were transformed to the stationary reference
frame of the measured data. The results obtained with FLUENT match the measured
velocity profiles and reproduce accurately the sharp gradients in swirl and radial velocity
in the region of x = 0.9 m. The results show that the second-order discretization scheme
produces good agreement with the data using a 41 × 41 non-uniform grid.

1.4.1 Validation-Specific Information

Solver: FLUENT 2d, 2ddp
Version: 6.3.11
Solution Files: 1. rotcv r1.cas, rotcv r1.dat
2. rotcv r2.cas, rotcv r2.dat
These solution files are available from the Fluent Inc. User Services Center as described
in the Introduction.

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Flow in a Rotating Cavity

1.4.2 Plot Data

y=0.6
y_exp=0.6
1.20e-01

1.00e-01

8.00e-02

6.00e-02

4.00e-02

2.00e-02
Radial
Velocity 0.00e+00

(m/s) -2.00e-02

-4.00e-02

-6.00e-02

-8.00e-02

-1.00e-01
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Position (m)

Rotating Frame - Rotating End Wall Cavity

Radial Velocity
FLUENT 6.3 (axi, swirl, dp, pbns, lam)

Figure 1.4.1: Comparison of Computed Radial Velocity Profile with Mea-

sured Data at y = 0.6 m (Rotating Reference Frame)

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 1.4 Results

y=0.6
y_exp=0.6
1.20e-01

1.00e-01

8.00e-02

6.00e-02

4.00e-02

2.00e-02
Radial
Velocity 0.00e+00

(m/s) -2.00e-02

-4.00e-02

-6.00e-02

-8.00e-02

-1.00e-01
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Position (m)

Stationary Frame - Rotating End Wall Cavity

Radial Velocity
FLUENT 6.3 (axi, swirl, dp, pbns, lam)

Figure 1.4.2: Comparison of Computed Radial Velocity Profile with Mea-

sured Data at y = 0.6 m (Stationary Reference Frame)

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Flow in a Rotating Cavity

y=0.6
y_exp=0.6
7.00e-01

6.00e-01

5.00e-01

4.00e-01

Swirl
Velocity 3.00e-01
(m/s)
2.00e-01

1.00e-01

0.00e+00
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Position (m)

Rotating Frame - Rotating End Wall Cavity

Swirl Velocity
FLUENT 6.3 (axi, swirl, dp, pbns, lam)

Figure 1.4.3: Comparison of Computed Swirl Velocity Profile with Measured

Data at y = 0.6 m (Rotating Reference Frame)

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c Fluent Inc. August 8, 2006
 1.4 Results

y=0.6
y_exp=0.6
7.00e-01

6.00e-01

5.00e-01

4.00e-01

Swirl
Velocity 3.00e-01
(m/s)
2.00e-01

1.00e-01

0.00e+00
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Position (m)

Stationary Frame - Rotating End Wall Cavity

Swirl Velocity
FLUENT 6.3 (axi, swirl, dp, pbns, lam)

Figure 1.4.4: Comparison of Computed Swirl Velocity Profile with Measured

Data at y = 0.6 m (Stationary Reference Frame)

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Flow in a Rotating Cavity

y=0.9
y_exp=0.9
1.60e-01

1.40e-01

1.20e-01

1.00e-01

8.00e-02
Radial
Velocity 6.00e-02
(m/s)
4.00e-02

2.00e-02

0.00e+00

-2.00e-02
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Position (m)

Rotating Frame - Rotating End Wall Cavity

Radial Velocity
FLUENT 6.3 (axi, swirl, dp, pbns, lam)

Figure 1.4.5: Comparison of Computed Radial Velocity Profile with Mea-

sured Data at y = 0.9 m (Rotating Reference Frame)

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 1.4 Results

y=0.9
y_exp=0.9
1.60e-01

1.40e-01

1.20e-01

1.00e-01

8.00e-02
Radial
Velocity 6.00e-02
(m/s)
4.00e-02

2.00e-02

0.00e+00

-2.00e-02
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Position (m)

Stationary Frame - Rotating End Wall Cavity

Radial Velocity
FLUENT 6.3 (axi, swirl, dp, pbns, lam)

Figure 1.4.6: Comparison of Computed Radial Velocity Profile with Mea-

sured Data at y = 0.9 m (Stationary Reference Frame)

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Flow in a Rotating Cavity

y=0.9
y_exp=0.9
1.00e+00

9.00e-01

8.00e-01

7.00e-01

6.00e-01

Swirl 5.00e-01
Velocity
4.00e-01
(m/s)
3.00e-01

2.00e-01

1.00e-01

0.00e+00
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Position (m)

Rotating Frame - Rotating End Wall Cavity

Swirl Velocity
FLUENT 6.3 (axi, swirl, dp, pbns, lam)

Figure 1.4.7: Comparison of Computed Swirl Velocity Profile with Measured

Data at y = 0.9 m (Rotating Reference Frame)

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 1.4 Results

y=0.9
y_exp=0.9
1.00e+00

9.00e-01

8.00e-01

7.00e-01

6.00e-01

Swirl 5.00e-01
Velocity
4.00e-01
(m/s)
3.00e-01

2.00e-01

1.00e-01

0.00e+00
0 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 0.8 0.9 1

Position (m)

Stationary Frame - Rotating End Wall Cavity

Swirl Velocity
FLUENT 6.3 (axi, swirl, dp, pbns, lam)

Figure 1.4.8: Comparison of Computed Swirl Velocity Profile with Measured

Data at y = 0.9 m (Stationary Reference Frame)

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