An experimental study was conducted to get more insight into the flowing characteristics of single phase spiral flow in the horizontal pipe by the use of a laser Doppler velocimeter (LDV). Water was used as the working medium, and the spiral motion was produced by a vane. The vanes with different spiral angles and vane area were self-made. Influence of flow attenuation, average Reynolds number, spiral angle, and vane area on axial velocity distribution and tangential velocity distribution were studied. Turbulence intensity distribution was studied, and the spiral strength attenuation law was analyzed. The experimental results show that the vane is an efficient spiral device with low pressure drop, and it is used in pipeline, natural gas hydrate formation, and so on.

Issue Section:
Flows in Complex Systems
Keywords:
spiral flow, LDV, vane, velocity distribution, turbulence intensity, spiral intensity, attenuation
Topics:
Flow (Dynamics), Reynolds number, Turbulence, Lasers

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