The effect of polymer injection on the turbulence characteristics of a fully developed turbulent water channel flow was studied. The main focus of this study was to assess the influence of the polymer solution injection concentration and consequent mixing. This study was conducted by measuring the turbulence characteristics of two fully developed turbulent channel flows for a Reynolds number of 5×104, with different injection concentrations of the same polymer solution but with the same homogeneous concentration at the test section. These measurements were complemented by visualizations of the flow, which revealed the presence of supra-molecular polymer structures. The development of such structures seems to enhance the drag reducing abilities of the polymer solution.

Volume Subject Area:
Microbubble and Polymer Friction Drag Reduction
Topics:
Channel flow, Drag reduction, Polymers, Turbulence, Polymer solutions, Drag (Fluid dynamics), Flow (Dynamics), Reynolds number, Visualization, Water
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Copyright © 2003
 by ASME
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