Precessing Vortex Structures in Turbulent Flow within Rotor-Stator Disc Cavities

Several studies of enclosed turbulent flows within rotating discs or cylinders (e.g. [6, 7]) have revealed that, while the geometry may be strictly axisymmetric, it is possible for non-axisymmetric flow patterns to be created within the space. Here we report a visualization study off low induced in the cavity formed between two discs, one rotating, the other stationary. This is an idealization of the flow configuration that occurs between successive stages in the `hot section' of a gas turbine. Such rotor-stator cavities have hitherto been regarded as creating asymmetric flow pattern but Owen [8] has conjectured that the failure to predict heat transfer coefficients accurately for certain radius-to-height ratios may indicate that here, too, organized rotating vortex structures were playing a crucial role. The present study has made an experimental visualization of this flow over a range of conditions in order to test this conjecture and to help guide future numerical explorations.