Laminar Flow Velocity and Temperature Distributions Between Coaxial Rotating Disks of Finite Radius

Predictions of the laminar flow and temperature distribution between coaxial rotating disks of finite radius have been obtained using a computer model solving the Navier-Stokes equation for a laminar fluid of constant properties. To do this, a stream vorticity model in the r-z plane is used in the solution of the Navier-Stokes equation. The velocity fields were obtained for both shrouded and unshrouded disks with or without radial throughflow for either co-rotating or counter-rotating disks. Velocity profiles predicted by this model were compared to experimental data, to a similarity solution and to a large aspect ratio model. The results obtained by this model closely matched the experimental data, and the large aspect ratio solution for the cases considered. The uncoupled energy equation was then solved using the calculated velocity distribution for the temperature distribution between the disks. This was done for two cases: i) two isothermal disks, and ii) one isothermal disk and one adiabatic disk.