Theory

In a real industrial environment the application in applying the concept of vortex is

significantly use especially in chemical based department as it primarily used in liquid
mixing operation.This findings will giving so much advantages in manipulating the
technology in order to minimize the effect of vortex so that the mixing will be evenly
mixed.According to vortex theory,advanced by Thomson(Lord Kelvin) on the basis of
investigation by Helmholtz that the atoms are vertically moving ring-shaped masses (or
masses
of
other
forms
having
a
similar
internal
motion)of
a
homogeneous,incompressible,frictionless fluid where various properties of such atoms
(vortex atoms) can be mathematically deduced.The examples of vortex are the atmospheric
phenomena of whirlwind,a tornado and also vortex formed when water goes down the sink
which we called as free vortex and also vortex form by spinning the liquid in valve by using

the impeller which we called as the forced vortex.

Figure 1
Free Vortex
When no external torque is required to rotate the fluid mass,that type of flow is called free
vortex flow(Mechanics of Fluids,Tuesday,December 30,2014). free vortex flow is that there
is no energy added or no energy taken out, that means energy remains constant. Therefore,
free vortex flow exist because, of some rotation which was previously imported on the fluid,
due to some energy interactions and just it is maintaining its motion due to some internal
action there is no dissipation of mechanical energy, no addition of mechanical energy, no
withdrawal of mechanical energy, it remains constant. So, this type of flow takes place
usually, it is resembles to certain practical situations for example, if the water is taken out
from a shallow vessel, with an orifice at the bottom. Then the circulatory flow which is
induced is more or less similar to a free vortex flow, which is often found in in our house
when, the water comes out from a bath tub or from a washing machine. Another case is that
if, in a whirlpool caused in a river at a far distance from the eye of the whirlpool, the flow
field resembles more like a free vortex flow. So, irrotational vortex flow where total
mechanical energy remains constant throughout the flow field is known as free vortex flow
(Fluid Mechanics Prof. S.K.Som Department of Mechanical Engineering Indian Institute of
Technology, Kharagpur).

For example,
Flow of liquid through a hole provided at the bottom of the container

Flow through kitchen sink

Draining the bath tub

Flow of liquid around a circular bend in pipe

A whirlpool in a river

The flow fields due to a tornado

Figure 2: Free Vortex

Based on the vortex profile for all diameter of orifice and gradient of the graph can be
calculated using the equation:
X=

K2
2g

( )( r1 )
2

Where:
X=Pressure Head
G=Gravitational Acceleration
r=Radius
Based on the velocity which can be calculated from the pitot tube reading and the radius
profile:
V= ( 2 gH )

Where:
V=Velocity
g=Gravitational Acceleration

0.5

H=Pitot tube difference

Thus,theoretically,the velocity can be calculated using the equation
K
r

V=

Forced Vortex
Forced vortex flow is defined as that type of vortex flow in which some external torque is
required to rotate the fluid mass.
Examples:

Flow of water through the runner of a turbine

Flow of liquid through the passage of impeller of centrifugal pumps

Rotation of water in a washing machine

Forced vortex generates in practical situations, when a liquid is taken in a vessel, contained in
a vessel, vessel is given a rotation ,if a vessel containing liquid is rotated about its axis, then
the solid, then the fluid body which is being churned with this motion of the solid body,
executes the rotary motion or rotational motion. That means exhibits tangential velocities,
which follows a solid body rotation, that means the forced vortex motion.Forced vortex
motion is a solid body motion, where the tangential velocities directly proportional to radial
location or radius, and the constant of proportionality is known as the angular velocity
During the experiment,paddle is being used in order to create the vortex formation by rotating
the body containing the fluid.The equation for the forced vortex can be created by applying
Newtons law to a fluid element and assuming there is no shear stress acting on the fluid .

h0

Figure 3: Forced Voltex

2 2

w r
h= hh0 = 2 g
Where:
h

=initial (non-rotating) surface height of the fluid

h0 =height on the axis

=angular velocity
r

=radius of the cylinder

g =gravitational acceleration

Apparatus

Figure 4:SOLTEQ Free

Figure 5: Profile Measuring Gauge

Figure 6: Pitot Tube

And Forced Vortex

Figure 7: Paddle

Figure 8: Orifices