Numerical simulation of stable flow dynamics of viscous film on spinning disk surface

Film flow on spinning disk surface exists extensively in chemical engineering operations, such as centrifugal graining, molecular distillation and spinning disk reactors. Flow dynamics of the film flow has a major impact on graining, reaction, heat and mass transfer rate. Theoretical model of stable film flow dynamics was established and verified by comparison of experimental results and numerical simulations. The effect of equivalent Froude number, dimensionless ratio of characteristic thickness over length ε, and casting size r_i on dimensionless film thickness distribution was studied, which a model of dimensionless hydraulic jump and synchronized zone radius was derived and verified by experiments. The results show that equivalent Froude number has little effect on film thickness distribution and occurrence of hydraulic jump phenomenon mainly depends upon ε and r_i. Increasing ε or decreasing r_i leads to appearance of hydraulic jump with a dimensionless hydraulic jump radius always at r=0.85. Mean radial velocity exhibited features of typical three zone distribution. Reducing casting size would extend injection zone and shrink acceleration zone, such that film flow goes directly to synchronized zone at dimensionless synchronized radius of 1.53 without evident acceleration. The results will provide theoretical reference for design and optimization of spinning disk reactors and centrifugal pelletizers.