Laminar Inward Flow of an Incompressible Fluid Between Rotating Disks, With Full Peripheral Admission

The laminar flow of an incompressible Newtonian fluid, radially inward between parallel co-rotating disks is considered. The through-flow is supported by an externally applied pressure difference between the outer periphery and a circular fluid exhaust hole at an inner radius. The fluid supplied at the outer periphery is considered with arbitrary velocity components, such that the tangential component may be greater or less than the disk peripheral velocity. A sufficiently complete problem statement is formulated from the Navier-Stokes’ equations. The problem has three parameters: a Reynolds number, a flow-rate parameter, and a peripheral tangential velocity component parameter. A numerical method of solution is detailed and typical numerical results are given illustrating the phenomena that occur in the inlet region for various inlet conditions. It is shown that the solution becomes the asymptotic solution given by previous investigators at interior radii following the inlet. Correspondence between the complete solution given herein and the earlier asymptotic solutions is established as dependent on corresponding values of Reynolds number and flow rate only. The results are discussed from the point of view of application of the solution in the development of multiple-disk turbines.