Compressible swirling flow through convergent-divergent nozzles

The effects of swirl on the rate of mass flow and on the velocity field in the throat region of axi-symmetric nozzles are studied analytically and experimentally. In the analytical phase, methods are developed for treating either the direct or the inverse problem for flow in de Lavai and annular nozzles, taking account of either weak or strong swirl. The experiments were performed in an annular nozzle, with swirl being imparted to the flow by adjustable vanes situated upstream of the test section. The analytical results facilitated an examination of the effects of swirl strength, distribution of swirl, and nozzle geometry. The rate of mass flow was found to decrease with increasing swirl strength. The mass flow results were well correlated by a swirl strength parameter evaluated at the throat, with swirl type and geometry being of secondary importance. Another effect of swirl was to shift the sonic line upstream of the geometric nozzle throat. The experimentally determined mass flow results were in agreement with the analytical predictions. Also, all of the qualitative characteristics of the local flow field measurements were reproduced by the analytical results.