FREE AND FORCED VORTEX

ABSTRACT:
Vortex is the rotation of fluid elements around a common center. Its concept was being
used in various types of industry such as turbine design and creating standard safety against
natural disaster. This experiment was carried out to study the relationship between the surface
shape of free and forced vortex. It also to study on the angular velocity of a rotating liquid in a
cylindrical tank. Theoretically, the angular velocity of the fluid was manipulated by adjusting the
control valve to provide different flow rate of fluid flow. The height of vortex profile was
measured when it maintained constantly at its maximum height. After carried the experiment, it
can be concluded that the height of vortex profile increased as the vortex radius decreased. This
conclusion is obtained from the result of the experiment. For forced vortex, when the angular
velocity of the fluid in the cylinder increases, the depth of each pointer at the different vortex
radius will also increase due to the formation of semi parabolic shape. Therefore, it was
concluded that the height of water surface level is relative to the lowest point of the surface of a
forced vortex flow was directly proportional to the angular velocity of a rotating liquid in a
cylindrical tank and is inversely proportional to the squared radius at which it was measured.

INTRODUCTION:
In fluid dynamics a vortex is a region, in a fluid medium, in which the flow is mostly
rotating on an axis line, the vorticial flow that occurs either on a straight-axis or a curved-axis.
Moreover, the plurals of vortex are vortices and vortexes. Examples of vortices occur in nature,
perhaps the most common being a tornado or a whirlpool. A tornado is formed by high winds
whirling around an area of extremely low pressure and characterized by a funnel shaped cloud.
Whirlpools can occur where tides flowing in different directions meet or at the base of waterfalls
where the effect is a spiraling or swirling of the water again producing a funnel shape.
AIM / OBJECTIVES:
Experiment 1: Free Vortex

1. To study on surface profile and speed.

2. To find a relation between surface profile and speed.
Experiment 2: Forced Vortex
1. To study on surface profile and angular velocity.
2. To find a relation between surface profile and total head.

APPARATUS:

Orifice of diameter 8mm, 12mm, 16mm, Profile measuring gauge

24mm

Paddle
Assembly View

1 Bridge 2 Profile measuring gauge

3 9.0 mm diameter, Nozzle 4 Three-way inlet valve

5 12.5 mm diameter, Nozzle 6 Inlet

7 Surface profile 8 Outlet valve

9 Outlet 10 Pitot tube

11 orifice 12 Paddle

METHODOLOGY/PROCEDURE:
GENERAL START UP:

1. The hydraulic bench tank is filled with water.

2. The study bench is placed on the hydraulic bench.

3. All the accessories must be made sure are ready on the bench such as surface probe,
profile measuring gauge, pitot tube, paddle and orifices.
 4. The inlet and outlet hose are set up.

5. The stand of the equipment is adjusted to reach the horizontal position.

GENERAL SHUT DOWN:

1. The valves are closed and the pump is switched off.

2. The orifices, paddle and other accessories are removed from the cylindrical vessel.

3. The water is drain off from the unit when it is not in used.

SAFETY PRECAUTION:

1. A proper lab coat must be worn while doing the experiment.

2. The sharpened object is being aware during conducting the experiment.

3. When water is splashed out from tank, that area must be mopped immediately to avoid
slippery floor.

EXPERIMENT 1: FREE VORTEX:

1. The general start-up procedures are performed.

2. An orifice with diameter 24mm is selected and it is placed on the base of cylinder tank.

3. The output valve is closed and the inlet 3-way valve is adjusted to let the water flows into
the tank from two pipes with 12.5 mm diameter. The water is flow out through the orifice.

4. The pump is switched on and the control valve on the hydraulic bench is opened slowly
until the tank limit. The water level is maintained by adjusting the control valve.

5. After the water level is stable, the vortex profile is collected by measuring the vortex
diameter for several planes using the profile measuring gauge.

6. The profile measuring gauge is pushed down until the both of sharp point touch the water
surface.

7. The measured height, h (from the top of the profile measuring gauge to the bridge) is
recorded. The value of a (distance from the bridge to the surface of the water level
(bottom level of the cutout)) is obtained.

8. The pitot tube is used to measure the velocity by sinking it into the water at the depth of
5 mm from the water surface. The depth of the pitot tube is measured in the water, H.
 9. Steps 3 to 8 are repeated for another orifice with diameter 12mm, 16mm and 8mm
respectively.

10. The coordinates of vortex profile is plotted for all diameter of orifice in graph and the
gradient of the graph is calculated by:

K2 1
X .
2g r 2
11. The graph of velocity which is calculated from the pitot tube reading versus the radius of
the profile is plotted.

V  (2 gH ) 0.5
Theoretically, the velocity can be calculated by using the following equation:

K
V
r
EXPERIMENT 2: FORCE VORTEX:
1. The general start-up procedures are performed.

2. A closed pump with two pedals is placed on the base of the cylinder tank.

3. The output valve is closed and the inlet 3-way valve is adjusted to let the water flows into
the tank from two pipes with 9.0 mm diameter. The water can flow out through another
two pipes with 12.5 mm diameter.

4. The water is being made sure flow out from the tank with the siphon effect by raising the
hose to above the water level in the tank.

5. The outlet hose is being made sure filled with water before letting the water to flow into
the sump tank in the hydraulic bench.

6. The angular speed of the pedals is measured by counting the number of circles in a certain
time.

7. The surface probe is pushed down until the sharp point touch the water surface.

8. The measured height, (from the top of the measuring gauge to bridge) is recorded.

9. Steps 4 to 8 are repeated with different volumetric flow rate.

 10. The coordinates of vortex profile is plotted for different angular velocity.

11. The calculated vortex profile in the same graph is plotted as they related as

2
h  h0  r2
2g
Both experimental and calculated profile is compared

RECOMMENDATIONS:

There are few recommendations that can be considered while doing this experiment in order to
get more accurate result:

 Repeat the experiment at least twice to get more accurate result, the more data we get,
we can make comparison to determine the best result that can be pointed out.

 Error might happen while taking the time for the number of revolutions since the paddle
that created the forced to the vortex is rotated at the fast rate and this is difficult for us
to get the accurate time. It is best to get the time average.

 The velocity of water needs to be constant to get the best result so the water flow needs
to be adjusted and be watched for the whole experiment.

 We must make sure that the needles touch the water surface accurately to get precise
data to be used in the further calculations.

 It is also important to make sure that the apparatus is in the good condition. It is because
if the apparatus is it not in the good condition it will affect our result.

 When we measure the length of the needles, use appropriate ruler such as long ruler and
try to get the average reading which is more accurate.

 A better (computerized/digital) mechanism is needed to read the revolution of paddle

associated with time which meant for more precise calculating number of revolutions of
paddle in forced vortex at the exact time.
DISCUSSION:

When water flows out of a vessel through a central hole in the base, a free vortex is
formed, the degree of rotation being dependent in initial disturbance. The water moves spirally
towards the center with stream line in motion, so that, neglecting losses caused by viscosity, the
energy per unit mass remains constant. If, while the mass is rotating, the central hole is plugged,
the flow of water in the vertical plane ceases and the motion becomes one of simple rotation in
the horizontal plane, and is known as free cylindrical vortex.

If the vortex is to have any longevity, once the material arrives at the centre, it must exit
the system (the red area). Without a constant supply of energy to remove the medium from the
centre, the Free Vortex ceases to exist. If the fluid doesn't exit the system, it no longer has any
spiral nature, and becomes a forced vortex.

There are two types of vortices,

Forced vortex Free vortex

In a free vortex, the medium spirals toward In a forced vortex, fluid (or gas) circles around
the centre a centre.

CONCLUSION:

These experiments were carried out in order to determine the surface profile of a forced
vortex and to investigate the physical phenomena associated with a free vortex. An observation
upon vortex that formed and found that small diameter of pitot tube created small vortex
whereas large diameter of orifice created larger vortex. The speed of circulation of vortex is slow,
moderate and fast depends on the size of pitot tube respectively. In the forced vortex
experiment, the result as the average velocity head, hc for the complete revolution were
obtained.

REFERENCES/APPENDIX:

1) Cengel, Y.A. & Cimbala J.M. (2006). Fluid Mechanics : Fundamentals and Applications. Flow
in pipes. New York : McGraw Hill, (324).
2) Laboratory Manual of CHE 465 Chemical Engineering Laboratory 1. Fakulti Kejuruteraan
Kimia, Universiti Teknologi Mara.
3) Science direct (n.d). Retrieved 19 May, 2015, from
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1026309813000175
4) Chapter 7: Flow of Fluid (n.d). Retrieved 19 May, 2015, from
http://www.nptel.ac.in/courses/112104118/lecture-21/21-2_forced_vortex_flow.htm
5) Free and Forced Vortex (n.d). Retrieved 19 May, 2015, from http://www.jsme-
fed.org/experiment-e/2011_2/003.html
6) Bruce R. Munson, Donald F. Young, John Wiley & son, Inc, FUNDAMENTAL OF FLUID
MECHANICS, 2nd edition.