Analysis of vortex breakdown in an enclosed cylinder based on the energy gradient theory

Abstract

Numerical simulation is carried out to study the phenomenon of vortex breakdown in an enclosed cylinder. The energy gradient theory is used to explain the vortex breakdown in the cylinder with consideration of centrifugal force, Coriolis force, angular momentum and azimuthal vorticity. The research results show that the large value of energy gradient function K is mainly located at the centerline and the region between the circulation vortices on both sides of the cylinder and the vortex breakdown bubbles at the centerline. It is found that the position of the local peak value of the energy gradient function K at the centerline corresponds to the location of vortex breakdown first occurrence. The position of the local peak value of K function in horizontal direction corresponds to the velocity inflection points except for the centerline. The vortex breakdown is mainly determined by the high K value at the centerline for low aspect ratio. The influence of the region of high K value between the circulation vortices on both sides of the cylinder and the vortex breakdown bubbles at the centerline becomes larger with the increase of the aspect ratio. The occurrence and development of the vortex breakdown bubble may be affected by the region of high K value between the circulation vortices on both sides of the cylinder and the vortex breakdown bubbles at the centerline for high aspect ratio.