Experimental Analysis of Pressure Drop Behavior in Jet-Driven Vortex Chambers Across a Wide Range of Aspect Ratios

This study presents a comprehensive experimental investigation into the static pressure drop behavior across vortex chambers with various aspect ratios, ranging from 1.36 to 22.36.Vortex chambers are essential components in several fluidic systems, including separators, atomizers, and vortex tubes, where efficient pressure drop management is vital for optimal performance.Despite numerous previous studies focusing primarily on medium aspect ratios (~2-3), limited work has been done on understanding the pressure drop characteristics across a broader range of aspect ratios.Using a jet-driven vortex chamber with interchangeable vortex generators and swirlers, experiments were conducted under controlled inlet conditions with varying flow rates and swirl angles (30 and 40), employing air as the working fluid.The Reynolds numbers covered were from 1811 to 2898, and contraction ratios varied over a wide spectrum by adjusting the exit port size.Dimensional analysis was employed to reduce the data into a general form, revealing that the dimensionless pressure drop is a function of the Reynolds number, aspect ratio, and inlet angle.Results show that the experimental data collapse into a single curve for a given contraction ratio, confirming the robustness of the derived non-dimensional formulation.Furthermore, the analysis demonstrates that increasing aspect ratio significantly affects the flow behavior and pressure drop characteristics.The study concludes with a generalized chart that correlates key geometric and flow parameters, offering a valuable design tool for engineers and researchers working on vortex flow systems.This work extends the foundational understanding of vortexinduced pressure drops and provides crucial insights into optimizing vortex chamber geometries for improved energy efficiency and fluid control.