Experiment Title: Study of Free and Forced Vortices

INTRODUCTION
Vortices can occur naturally or be produced in a laboratory. There are two types of vortices: free
vortices and forced vortices. A free vortex is formed, for example, when water flows out of a vessel
through a central hole in the base. No external force is required to rotate the fluid, and the degree
of rotation is dependent upon the initial disturbance. Whirlpools in rivers and tornadoes are
examples of natural free vortices. A forced vortex, on the other hand, is caused by external forces
on the fluid. It can be created by rotating a vessel containing fluid or by paddling in fluid.
Rotational flow created by impellers of a pump is an example of a forced vortex in turbomachinery.

PRACTICAL APPLICATION
Studying natural phenomena such as hurricanes, tornadoes, and whirlpools (free vortices) requires
a full understanding of vortex behavior. It is also critical for engineers and designers to be able to
characterize forced vortices generated in machinery, such as centrifugal pumps or turbines.
Vortices often have adverse effects, as have been seen during hurricanes, tornadoes, or scour holes
created downstream of a dam outlet; however, understanding vortex behavior has enabled
engineers to design turbomachinery and hydraulic structures that take advantage of these
phenomena. For example, hydrodynamic separators have been developed, based on vortex
behavior (swirling flow), to separate solid materials from liquids. This type of separator is used in
water treatment plants.

OBJECTIVE
The objective of this lab experiment is to study and compare the water surface profiles of free and
forced vortices.

METHOD
This experiment is performed by measuring the water surface profiles of a number of free and
forced vortices, and observing the differences. We will study the profiles of free vortices that are
produced when water flows from orifices of different diameters that are installed at the base of a
tank. Varying the size of the orifice creates changes in the flow rate, thereby changing the rotational
speed and size of the vortex profile. Forced vortices are created due to external forces, so we will
increase the rotational speed throughout the experiment to study the theoretical and experimental
relationships between the vortex surface profile and angular velocity.

EQUIPMENT
The following equipment is required to perform the free and forced experiment:

• Hydraulics bench
• Free and forced vortices apparatus.
EQUIPMENT DESCRIPTION

The free and forced vortices apparatus consists of a transparent cylindrical vessel, 290 mm in
diameter and 276 mm deep, with two pairs of diametrically opposed inlet tubes of 9.0 mm and
12.5 mm diameter. The 12.5 diameter inlet tubes are angled at 15° to the diameter in order to create
a swirling motion of the water entering the vessel during the free vortex experiment (Figure 8.1a).
An outlet is centrally positioned in the base of the vessel, and a set of push-in orifices of 8, 16, and
24 mm diameter (Figure 8.1b) is supplied to reduce the outlet diameter to a suitable value and
produce free vortices of different sizes. The vortex surface profile is determined by a measuring
caliper (Figure 8.1c) housed on a mounted bridge, that measures the diameter of the vortex at
various elevations. This provides the coordinate points that are required for plotting the free vortex
profile.

The forced vortex is created by positioning a bushed plug in the central hole of the vessel and
introducing the flow through 9 mm inlet tubes that are angled at 60° to the diameter. The water
inflow from these tubes impinges on a two-blade paddle. The water exits the vessel via the 12.5
mm angled inlet tubes that are used as entry tubes for the free vortex experiment. The two-bladed
paddle rotates on a vertical shaft supported by the bushed plug. A bridge piece mounted on top of
the vessel houses a series of needles (Figure 8.1d) to determine the coordinates of the forced vortex
profile.

A 3-way valve allows water to be diverted through the 12.5 mm inlet tubes for the free vortex
experiment, and 9 mm inlet tubes for the forced vortex experiment.

Figure 8.1: a) Free and forced vortex apparatus, b) push-in orifices, c) free vortex measuring
caliper, d) force vortex measuring probes
THEORY

Two types of vortices are distinguished in the dynamics of the motion: forced and free vortices.
The forced vortex is caused by external forces on the fluid, such as the impeller of a pump, and
the free vortex naturally occurs in the flow and can be observed in a drain or in the atmosphere of
a tornado.

FREE VORTEX

A free vortex is formed when water flows out of a vessel through a central hole in the base (Figure
8.2). The degree of the rotation depends on the initial disturbance. In a free cylindrical vortex, the
velocity varies inversely with the distance from the axis of rotation.

𝑘
𝑣= (1)
𝑟

The equation governing the surface profile is derived from the Bernoulli’s theorem:
𝑣2
+𝑧 =𝐶 (2)
2𝑔

Substituting Equation (1) into (2) will give a new expression:

𝑘2
+𝑧 =𝐶 (3)
2𝑔𝑟 2

or:
𝑘2
𝐶−𝑧 = (4)
2𝑔𝑟 2

𝐴
which is the equation of a hyperbolic curve of nature 𝑦 = (Figure 8.4)
𝑥2

This curve is asymptotic to the axis of rotation and to the horizontal plane through z=c.

FORCED VORTEX

When water is forced to rotate at a constant speed (𝜔) (Figure 8.2), the velocity will be also
constant and equal to:

𝑣 = 𝜔𝑟 (5)

The velocity head (or kinetic energy) can be calculated as:

 𝑣2
ℎ𝑐 = (6)
2𝑔

Substituting Equation (5) into (6) results in:

𝑟 2𝜔2
ℎ𝑐 = (7)
2𝑔

If the horizontal plane passing through the lowest point of the vortex is selected as datum, the total
energy is equal to:

𝐻 = ℎ0 + ℎ𝑐 (8)

where ho is the pressure head at the datum. Substituting hc from Equation (7) into (8) gives:
𝑟 2𝜔2
𝐻 = ℎ0 + (9)
2𝑔

At r=0: H=0, therefore, ho=0 , and

𝑟 2𝜔2
𝐻= (10)
2𝑔

This is the equation of the water surface profile, which is a parabola (Figure 8.4).

Figure 8.2: Free vortex (left) and forced vortex (right) produced in the lab
 Figure 8.3: Free and force vortex measuring probes

Figure 8.4: Surface profile of a free vortex (left) and a forced vortex (right)

EXPERIMENTAL PROCEDURE

This experiment will be performed in two parts: free vortex and forced vortex.

FREE VORTEX

Position the apparatus on the hydraulics bench so that the central outlet in the base of the vessel is
located over the weir trough.

• Adjust the feet to ensure that the apparatus is level.

• Push the 24 mm diameter orifice into the central outlet located in the base of the apparatus.
• Connect the inlet pipe of the apparatus (situated on the 3-way valve) to the hydraulics bench
outlet, using the flexible pipe provided.
• Close the apparatus outlet globe valve, and position the 3-way valve so that water flows into
the vessel via the 15-degree inlet ports.
• Close the bench outlet valve, and turn on the pump.
• Gradually open the bench valve, and allow the vessel to fill with water until water begins to
overflow through the cutouts.
• After the vessel is slightly overflowing, slowly open the outlet valve so that the water level
maintains a stable height. Note that you can also adjust the bench valve to maintain a constant
water level.
• After a constant water level has been achieved, measure the water surface profile, by adjusting
the measuring caliper to a desired radius, and then lower it into the vortex until the needles
evenly touch the walls of the vortex. At this point, record the height indicated by the caliper
and repeat the procedure for the remaining radii (Figure 8.5).
• After completing your measurements, close the bench valve, turn off the pump, drain the
apparatus, and repeat the process for the remaining two orifices.

Note: The vortex profile tends to wander, so the vortex diameter- measuring gauge arm should be
positioned at 90° to the main arm. This allows a meaningful vortex diameter measurement to be
made.

FORCED VORTEX

• Position the bushed plug into the outlet of the vessel and mount the two-blade paddle wheel
on the shaft, ensuring that the tapered edges of the blades angle upward.
• Adjust the 3-way valve so that water flows into the vessel via the 60-degree outlet ports. Turn
on the pump, open the bench control valve, and allow the vessel to fill with water until water
just begins to overflow through the cutouts. Note that the inlet may need to be adjusted in order
to achieve a low-profiled, calm vortex. Water will now flow through these ports and impinge
on the paddle wheel before flowing out of the apparatus via the two 15-degree ports.

• After the vessel is filled with water, adjust the outlet valve so that the water level remains
stable.
• After the water level is stable, measure the vortex surface profile. This is done by mounting
the measuring bridge to the vessel, and then lowering the needles until they are touching the
profile of the vortex. Lock them in place, then remove the bridge, and measure the height of
each needle. It is recommended that this be done with a graph or engineering paper.
• Record the time that it takes for the paddles to make 10 revolutions in the vessel. You can find
the angular velocity of the flow by dividing the number of revolutions by the time.
• Increase the inflow rate to achieve higher angular velocity, and repeat the process so that you
have four distinct vortex profiles. Note that as you increase the inflow, you will need to adjust
 the outlet flow to maintain the water level. As you increase the flow rate, change the count of
the revolutions to 20, 40, and 50.

Figure 8.5: Example of water surface profile in free vortex experiment

 RESULTS AND CALCULATIONS

RESULTS

Height of the vessel, D = mm

Use the following tables to record your measurements.

Raw data table: Free vortex

Radius 24 mm orifice 16 mm orifice 08 mm orifice
mm d H d H d H
10
20
30
50
70
90
110
145

Raw data table: Forced vortex

Number of Time Distance from Centre
Revolutions (t)
(N) sec Radius 0 30 50 70 90 110
mm mm mm mm mm mm
10 dn
Hm= dn –do
Hc

20 dn
Hm= dn –do
Hc
CALCULATIONS

Result Table: Free Vortex

Radius 24 mm 16 mm 08 mm
orifice orifice orifice
mm H H H
10
20
30
50
70
90
110
145

Result Table – Forced Vortex

Radius 10 Revolution 20 Revolution
mm Hm Hc Hm Hc
10
20
30
50
70
90
110
145

c= calculated; m= measured.