DRAG REDUCTION IN ARTIFICIALLY ROUGHENED PIPES

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The influence of an extremely rough surface on the drag reducing properties of polymer solutions is studied by pressure drop measurements in a rough pipe. It is shown that the onset of drag reduction for a homogeneous dilute polymer solution in a rough pipe occurs at the same wall shear stress as in a smooth pipe of the same diameter. In addition, the maximum drag reduction is almost the same in both types of pipes. Similar results are found for so-called heterogeneous drag reduction obtained by injecting a concentrated polymer solution in the centre of the pipe. The injected polymer solution, which is convected along the centre of the pipe as an elastic thread, disintegrates into fine polymer threads in the rough pipe leading to an increased drag reduction. In this case the injection of the same amount of polymer in the form of a concentrated solution is more effective than a homogeneous polymer solution.

This publication has 9 references indexed in Scilit: