Mechanical Degradation Effects on Turbulent Flows With Macro-Molecular Polymer Structures

Macro-molecular polymer structures due to either the entanglement of polymer molecules or the ionic character of the polymer, have been shown in the literature to enhance the drag reducing abilities of polymer solutions in internal water flows. The purpose of this study is to contrast the performance of an ionic and a non-ionic polymer as drag reduction agents with and without the presence of such macro molecular polymer structures. The endurance of such polymer structures to mechanical degradation is also assessed and documented herein. It will also be shown that special attention needs to be paid to the design of optimum polymer delivery systems since they can contribute to the formation or to further enhancing the drag reducing abilities of homogeneous polymer solutions.