Confinement effect on recirculation structures in isothermal coaxial swirling jet

The present experimental work reports first observations of effect of confinement on recirculation structures in non-reacting coaxial swirling jet in geometric swirl number range of S-G = 2.14-2.88. In particular, particle image velocimetry (PIV) has been employed to study the effect of two confinement ratios (CR) viz. 1.82 and 2.73 on two types of recirculation zones (RZ) i.e., pre-breakdown dual rings (PVB) and central toroidal recirculation zone (CTRZ) observed in coaxial swirling jet. It is observed thatCR = 1.82 produces a slight radial expansion in PVB whereas significant compaction and streamwise elongation is observed in CTRZ. The difference in the observation is explained on the basis of modified Ross by number (Ro(m)). The PVB flow state which is characterised by Ro(m) > 1 presents significant resistance to wall effect to be felt till the centerline. Contrarily, the CTRZ flow mode characterised byRo(m) < 1allows the wall effect to be felt till the centerline, in turn affecting the RZ entirely. TheCR = 2.73 is shown to offer larger area for the RZ to spread radially outwards. Resultantly, the PVB and CTRZ are shown to significantly widen. Other significant comparisons betweenCR = 1.82 and 2.73 for PVB and CTRZ are elaborated using contour plots of axial and radial strain rates.