Flow friction on co-rotating parallel-disk assemblies with forced through-flow

The power requirement for a rotating parallel-disk assembly with through-flow is experimentally studied. The flow velocity at the test core exit is measured using a traverse hot-wire probe, from which the exit kinetic energy is determined. A traverse pitot tube is utilized to monitor the velocity distribution in the inlet duct from which the flow rate is evaluated. The total pressure characteristics, fluid power transmission, rotor efficiency and moment coefficient (i.e. power number) are determined from the measurements of static pressures, rotational speed and torque. It is disclosed that the onset of stall propagation, a unique characteristics of shear pump, can be detected from a total pressure plot.