An experimental and theoretical study of flow in a vortex controlled diffuser

The flow inside a vortex controlled diffuser was studied experimentally and theoretically. The experimental side of the study included the following: (1) The selection of a suitable laser Doppler velocimeter for the measurement of the mean velocity and the Reynolds' stresses. (2) An experimental optimisation of the geometry of a diffuser model was conducted. The results were used in the design of the diffuser model which was later used for the measurement with the LDV. (3) The distribution of the statin pressures the components of the mean velocity and the Reynolds' stresses in the diffuser model were measured. The results wore presented and discussed. Tile analysis of the results established a comprehensive hypothesis about the flow mechanism. This enhanced the present knowledge about the flow behaviour inside this particular diffuser. (4) Suggestions for further development of the design of the diffuser were proposed.