Abstract

The purpose of this experiment was to study the relationship between surface profile and
speed for a free vortex and surface profile with angular velocity for a forced vortex. In the
experiment of free vortex, water was pumped out through different orifice diameters of 24 mm, 16
mm, 12 mm and 8 mm to create different surface profiles. The diameter from centre, height, pitot
tube head difference and pressure head were recorded and calculated for each vortices formed. From
there, a graph of pressure head against 1/r2 was plotted, where the gradient was used in the
calculation of theoretical velocity. Both actual (experimental) and theoretical velocities were then
compared. Meanwhile, for the experiment of forced vortex, two trials were perfomed with each using
different water flow rates. A paddle was involved in the formation of the vortex. The angular
velocities were calculated and a graph comparing the actual height theoretical height against the
distance from centre was plotted.

1.0 Introduction
Liqiuds undergo rotational motion, where they move in a circular motion. A vortex is a region
within fluid where the flow moves within a circular motion about an axis. According to Kueh (2014),
water vortex is a phenomenon where water flow in swirl motion, always described by cylindrical
coordinates with tangential, radial and axial axis. In macroscopic level, such phenomenon is
common. A vortex could be observed in nature through tropical cyclones, which also referred to by
various names according to their location and strength, such as; typhoon and hurricane (Albert,2009).
Liquid vortex also occurs in many chemical engineering appliances, such as in centrifugal pump, in a
stirred vessel and in a cyclone-type separator (Coulson, 1999).
A free vortex is formed as water throughout a central hole in the base of a container. The
degree of vortex rotation is dependent to the speed of water flow. The form moves spirally as the
water moves towards the centre with stream line in motion so that the energy per unit mass remains
constant. While the water mass is rotating, the central hole is plugged, the flow of water in the
vertical plane ceases and the motion becomes one of a simple rotation in the horizontal plane and it is
known as free cylindrical vortex. Under steady condition, each particle will move with the same
angular velocity and there will not be any relative motion between the particles. Streamlines for such
a flow will be concentric circles and the total energy is constant along a streamline but varies from
one streamline to another.
When a cylinder containing water is rotated by an external force, a forced vortex is formed.
The motion of the fluid swirling rapidly is the vortex formed. A forced vortex flow is that in which
the fluid mass is made to rotate by means of some external force, which exerts a constant torque on
the fluid thus resulting for the whole mass of fluid to rotate at constant a angular velocity, . There is
always constant external torque required to be applied to the fluid mass resulting in an expenditure of
energy.

2.0 Objectives
2.1 Free Vortex
i.
To study the surface profile and speed.
ii.
To find the relationship between surface profile and speed.
2.2 Forced Vortex
i.
To study the surface profile and angular velocity.
ii.
To find the relationship between surface profile and total head.
3.0 Theory
3.1 Free Vortex
A vortex is the motion of many fluid particles around a common center. Free vortex contains
radial velocity towards the center. Water passes through each segments of diameter, and the energy at
any tube is constant, which then relates to:

p V
+
g 2g

+ z = constant

3.2 Forced Vortex

Forced vortex is formed when a body containing fluid is rotated by paddling. The total energy
is constant along a streamline. However it varies varies from streamline to streamline.
The equation of the free vortex related to the angular velocity is given by;

The radial pressure increases and shown by,

dp V
2
= = r
dr r
P2

r1

dp= rdr
2

P1

r2

1 2 2 2
p2p1= (r 2 r 1 )
2

By taking p 1=p2 ,whenr1=0,p2=pwhenr2=r1

p p0 2 2
= r
g 2 g
Because

p
=h
g

, so

2
hho= r
2g
2

2
h=ho + r
2g
The equation of forced vortex is represented by:

2 2

r
z=
2g

While the equation of distribution of total head can be represented by:

2 2

r
H=
2g

Where: z = surface profile

= angular velocity
r = radius
g = gravity
H = total head
The equation of acceleration of the radial,

ar = r

ar

and direction z,

az

is given by,

a z=g
The equation of angular velocity is calculated by:

2 x revolution
time ( s )

4.0 Apparatus and Materials

4.1 SOLTEQ Free and Forced Vortex (Model : FM42)
4.2 Stop watch
4.3 Power supply
4.4 Measuring gauge
4.5 Water
5.0 Procedure
5.1 Free Vortex
5.1.1 General start-up procedures were performed.
5.1.2 An orifice with diameter of 24 mm was selected and placed on the base of cylinder
5.1.3

tank.
The output valve was closed and the inlet 3-way valve was adjusted to let the water
flows into the tank from two pipes with 12.5 mm diameter. This results in the water

5.1.4

flow out through the orifice.

The pump was switched on and the control valve on the hydraulic bench was slowly
opened until the tank limit. Water level in the tank was maintained by adjusting the

5.1.5

control valve.
The vortex profile was collected by measuring the vortex diameter for several planes

using the profile measuring gauge when the water level is stable.
5.1.6 The profile measuring gauge was pushed down until the both of sharp point touches
5.1.7

the water surface.

The height, h (from the top of the profile measuring gauge to the bridge) was
recorded. The value of a (distance from the bridge to the surface of the water level)

5.1.8

was obtained.
The pitot tube was used to measure the velocity by sinking it into the water at the
depth of 5, from the water surface. The depth of the pitot tube in the water, H was

measured.
5.1.9 Steps 3 to 8 were repeated using another three orifice with diameter of 12mm, 16mm
and 8mm respectively.
5.1.10 The coordinates of vortex profile for all diameter of orifice were plotted in graph and
the gradient of the graph was calculated.
5.1.11 The graph of velocity which is calculated from the pitot tube reading versus the
radius of the profile was plotted
5.2 Forced vortex
5.2.1 The general start-up procedures were performed.
5.2.2 A closed pump with two pedals was placed on the base of the cylinder tank.

5.2.3

The output valve was closed and the inlet 3-way was adjusted to let the water flows
into the tank from two pipes with 9.0 mm diameter. The water will flow out through

5.2.4

another two pipes with 12.5 mm diameter.

The water flow out from the tank was ensured with the siphon effect by raising the

hose to above the water level in the tank.

5.2.5 The outlet hose was ensured to fill with water before letting the water to flow into
5.2.6

the sump tank in the hydraulic bench.

The angular speed of the pedals was measured by counting the number of circles in a

5.2.7
5.2.8
5.2.9
5.2.10
5.2.11

certain times.
The surface probe was pushed down until the sharp point touch the water surface.
The height, ho (from top of the measuring gauge to bridge) was measured.
Steps 4 to 8 were repeated with different volumetric flow rate.
The coordinates of vortex profile for different angular velocity was plotted.
The calculated vortex profile was plotted in the same graph.

6.0 Results
6.1 Free vortex
Orifice diameter = 24 mm
|Distance from bridge to water surface, a = 181 mm
Diameter
at centre,
D (mm)

Measure
d Height,
h (mm)

Pitot Tube
Head
Difference
, H (mm)

55

76

Pressure
Head /
Depth of
the Pitot
Tube, X
(mm)
73

Velocity,
(mm/s)

r
(mm)

r2 (mm2)

343.103

27.5

756.25

1 1
r 2 mm2

( )
3

53

74

75

420.214

26.5

702.25

49

69

12

80

485.222

24.5

600.25

48

68

15

81

542.494

25.0

625.00

r
(mm)

r2 (mm2)

25.0

625.00

Orifice diameter = 16 mm
Distance from bridge to water surface = 192 mm
Diameter Measure Pitot Tube Pressure Velocity,
at centre, d Height, Head
Head /
(mm/s)
D (mm)
h (mm)
Difference Depth of
, H (mm)
the Pitot
Tube, X
(mm)
50
104
5
34
313.209

1.3110
3
1.4210
3
1.6710
3
1.6010
1 1
r 2 mm2

( )
3

47

101

37

343.103

23.5

552.25

44

99

39

420.214

22.0

484.00

40

96

11

42

464.564

20.0

400.00

1.6010
3
1.8110
3
2.0710
3
2.5010

Orifice diameter = 12 mm
Distance from bridge to water surface = 201 mm
Velocity,
(mm/s)

r
(mm)

r2 (mm2)

Pressure
Head /
Depth of
the Pitot
Tube, X
(mm)
14

280.143

24.0

576.00

111

18

370.594

23.0

529.00

43

107

10

22

442.945

21.5

462.25

39

106

13

23

505.035

19.5

380.25

r
(mm)

r2 (mm2)

20.0

400.00

Diameter
at centre,
D (mm)

Measure
d Height,
h (mm)

Pitot Tube
Head
Difference
, H (mm)

48

115

46

1 1
r 2 mm2

( )
3

Orifice diameter = 8 mm
Distance from bridge to water surface = 208 mm
Diameter Measure Pitot Tube Pressure Velocity,
at centre, d Height, Head
Head /
(mm/s)
D (mm)
h (mm)
Difference Depth of
, H (mm)
the Pitot
Tube, X
(mm)
40
117
3
5
242.611

1.7410
3
1.8910
3
2.3510
3
2.6310
1 1
r 2 mm2

( )
3

37

113

313.209

18.5

342.25

33

112

10

370.594

16.5

272.25

29

110

11

12

464.564

14.5

210.25

2.5010
3
2.9210
3
3.6710
3
4.7610

6.2 Forced vortex

Distance from Centre
(mm)
0
30
70
110
No of Revolutions in
60 seconds
Angular Velocity
(rad/s)

h (cm)

1st 0
92
94
98
109
31

2nd
73
83
86
92
32

3rd
55
64
69
74
34

3.25

3.35

3.56

7.0 Sample Calculations

7.1 Free vortex
From Graph 1;

y 2 y 1
x 2x 1
79.475.0

0.001640.00140
gradient ,m=

m=18333.33mm

Thus,
2

k
=18333.33
2g
mm
k=18965.76
s
Theoretical velocity or calculated velocity,

18965.76
27.5
mm
689.664
s
v=

18965.76
26.5
mm
715.690
s
v=

v=

k
r

18965.76
24.5
mm
774.113
s
v=

Radius, r (mm)

Actual Velocity, v (mm/s)

27.5
26.5
24.5
25.0

343.103
420.214
485.222
542,494
7.2 Forced vortex
For the first volumetric flowrate;

angular velocity ,=

2 revolutions
60s

18965.76
25.0
mm
758.630
s
v=

Theoretical Velocity, v
(mm/s)
689.664
715.690
774.113
758.630

2 31
60
rad
3.25
s

Theoretical height from top of the surface probe to bridge,

(3.25 )2
h=92+
(30)2
2(9810)

w 2
h=h0 + r
2g

(3.25 )2 2
h=92+
( 70 )
2(9810)

(3.25 )2
h=92+
(110)2
2(9810)

Calculated values;
Distance from centre
(mm)
0
30
70
110
Angular velocity
(rad/s)

1
92.00
92.48
94.64
98.51

h (mm)
2nd
73.00
73.51
75.80
79.92

3rd
55.00
55.58
58.17
62.82

3.25

3.35

3.52

st

Full calculations are in the Appendices.

Data analyses were tabulated in Appendices.

8.0 Discussion
This experiment aims to investigate the relationship between surface profile and speed for
a free vortex and surface profile with angular velocity for a forced vortex. A free vortex is formed
when water flows out through a hole at the bottom of a tank while driven by the circular rotation
of a pumping water vessel. Here, the water flows out through different orifice diameters of 24
mm, 16 mm, 12 mm and 8 mm. Once the flow had stabilized, the diameter at centre, height, pitot
tube head difference and pressure head were recorded and calculated. From the results, 24 mm
orifice diameter gave the biggest vortex diameter, followed by the 16 mm, 12 mm and 8 mm.
This is because as diameter of orifice decreases, the vortex diameter also decreases. Also, the
theoretical velocities were calculated from the graph of pressure head against 1/r 2 that was
plotted.
Forced vortex on the other hand is formed when a liquid is rotated by a paddle within a
tank. The surface profile of forced vortex is a parabolic shape and is dependent to the angular
velocity of the rotation. The rotational speed of the paddle was measured by counting the number
of rotations in 60 seconds. Two trials were conducted where both used different flow rates of
water. The angular velocities were calculated where it was used to compare the actual and
theoretical values centre between by plotting a graph of height against distance from centre.
For both experiments, there shows a deviation between the experimental and theoretical
values. This is because there are a few errors that had occurred. One of the errors is that the end
of the measuring gauge was not able to measure the diamter at the center of the vortex as the
centre of the vortex was not in the middle of the tank. Besides that, the pitot tube did not sinked
into 5mm from the surface. This affected the results when calculating the velocity by using the

formula

2gH 0.5
V=

Also, the flow of water had not achieved asteady state. Lastly, the eyes were

not perpendicular to the reading scale and parallax error may have had occurred when the reading
was taken.
9.0 Conclusion
9.1 From the experiment conducted free vortex and forced vortex have their own surface profile.
9.2 For free vortex, the diameter of the vortex is proportional with the diameter of orifice and the
velocity is inversely proportional to the radius.
9.3 For forced vortex, the angular velocity is proportional to the water flow rate and the height
of vortex formed.

10.0

Recommendations
1.1 A stable flow of water should be obtained to get more accurate readings of the surface profile
by controlling the pump valve.
1.2 Dust free apparatus should be used.
1.3 Clear water without any particles should be used in the experiment.
1.4 Oiling and greasing of the parts such as the paddle should be done at regular intervals.

References
J.M Coulson & J. F Richardson , (1999), Chemical Engineering, Volume 1, Sixth Edition, Fluid Flow,
Heat Transfer and Mass Transfer, Butterworth Heinnemann

Tze Cheng Kueh, (April 2014), Numerical Analysis of Water Vortex Formation for the Water Vortex
Power Plant, retrieved from
http://pubs.rsc.org.ezaccess.library.uitm.edu.my/en/content/chapterpdf/2008/9781847558756-00031?
isbn=978-0-85404-156-5&pdate=2008-11-04&sercode=bk&page=search, at 24th December 2014
Albert Guijarro, (2009), The Origin of Chirality in the Molecules of Life: A Revision from Awareness
to the Current Theories and Perspectives of this Unsolved Problem, retrieved from
http://search.proquest.com.ezaccess.library.uitm.edu.my/docview/1507612529?pq-origsite=summon,
at 24th December 2014

APPENDICES
i. Data Analysis

Pressure Head VS 1/r2

82
80
78
76
Pressure Head, X (mm)

74
72
70
68
0

1/r2 (1/mm2 )
Graph 1

Pressure Head VS 1/r2

45
40
35
30
25
Pressure Head, X (mm)

20
15
10
5
0
0

1/r2 (1/mm2 )
Graph 2

Pressure Head VS 1/r2

25

20

15
Presssure Head, X (mm)
10

0
0

1/r2 (1/mm2 )
Graph 3

Pressure Head VS 1/r2

14
12
10
8
Pressure Head, X (mm)

6
4
2
0
0

1/r2 (1/mm2 )
Graph 4

ii.

Calculations for Free Vortex

From graph 2;

y 2 y 1
x 2x 1
41.037.0

0.002500.00181
gradient ,m=

m=5797.101mm
Thus,
2

k
=5797.101
2g
mm
k=10664.85
s

0.01

Theoretical velocity,

v=

10664.85
25.0
mm
426.594
s

k
r

10664.85
23.5
mm
453.823
s

v=

v=

10664.85
22.0
mm
484.766
s
v=

Radius, r (mm)

Actual Velocity, v (mm/s)

25.0
23.5
22.0
20.0

313.209
343.103
420.214
464.564

From graph 3;

y 2 y 1
x 2x 1
23.516.0

0.002600.00180
gradient ,m=

m=9375.00mm
Thus,

k
=9375.00
2g
mm
k=13562.36
s
Theoretical velocity,

v=

k
r

10664.85
20.0
mm
533.243
s
v=

Theoretical Velocity, v
(mm/s)
426.594
453.823
484.766
533.243

13562.36
24.0
mm
565.098
s
v=

13562.36
23.0
mm
589.660
s
v=

13562.36
21.5
mm
630.807
s
v=

Radius, r (mm)

Actual Velocity, v (mm/s)

24.0
23.0
21.5
19.5

280.143
370.594
442.945
505.035

13562.36
19.5
mm
695.506
s
v=

Theoretical Velocity, v
(mm/s)
565.098
589.660
630.807
695.506

From graph 4;

y 2 y 1
gradient ,m=
x 2x 1
10.49.20

0.004200.00360
3

m=2000mm
Thus,
2

k
=2000
2g

k=6264.18
Theoretical velocity,

6264.18
20.0
mm
313.209
s
v=

mm
s
v=

k
r

6264.18
18.5
mm
338.604
s
v=

6264.18
16.5
mm
379.647
s
v=

Radius, r (mm)

Actual Velocity, v (mm/s)

20.0
18.5
16.5
14.5

242.611
313.209
370.594
464.564

6264.18
14.5
mm
432.012
s
v=

Theoretical Velocity, v
(mm/s)
313.209
338.604
378.647
432.012

Velocity VS Radius
900
800
700
600

Velocity, v (mm/s)

500

Actual Velocity, v (mm/s)

400

Theoretical Velocity, v
(mm/s)

300
200
100
0
24

25

26

27

Radius, r (mm)
Graph 5

28

Velocity VS Radius
600
500
400
Actual Velocity, v (mm/s)
Velocity, v (mm/s)

300

Theoretical Velocity, v
(mm/s)

200
100
0
19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26
Radius, r (mm)
Graph 6

Velocity VS Radius
800
700
600
500
Actual Velocity, v (mm/s)
Velocity, v (mm/s)

400

Theoretical Velocity, v
(mm/s)

300
200
100
0
19 20 21 22 23 24 25
Radius, r (mm)
Graph 7

Velocity VS Radius
500
450
400
350
300
Velocity, v (mm/s)

Actual Velocity, v (mm/s)

250

Theoretical Velocity, v
(mm/s)

200
150
100
50
0
14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21
Radius, r (mm)
Graph 8

iii.

Calculations for Forced Vortex

For the 2nd volumetric flowrate;

angular velocity ,=

2 revolutions
60s

2 34
60
rad
3.35
s

Theoretical height from top of the surface probe to bridge,

( 3.35 )2
2
h=73+
(30)
2(9810)

( 3.35 )2 2
h=73+
( 70 )
2(9810)

w 2
h=h0 + r
2g

( 3.35 )2
2
h=73+
(110)
2(9810)

For the 3rd volumetric flowrate;

angular velocity ,=

2 revolutions
60s

2 34
60
rad
3.56
s

Theoretical height from top of the surface probe to bridge,

( 3.56 )2
2
h=55+
(30)
2(9810)

( 3.56 )2 2
h=55+
( 70 )
2(9810)

w 2
h=h0 + r
2g

( 3.56 )2
2
h=55+
(110)
2(9810)

h VS Distance from Centre

Actual h (mm)
Height fro Top of the Surface Probe to Bridge, h (mm)

Distance from Centre (mm)

Graph 9

theoretical h (mm)

h VS Distance from Centre

Actual h (mm)
Height fro Top of the Surface Probe to Bridge, h (mm)

Distance from Centre (mm)

Graph 10

Theoretical h (mm)

h VS Distance from Centre

Actual h (mm)
Height from Top of the Surface Probe to Bridge, h (mm)

Distance from Centre (mm)

Graph 11

Theoretical h (mm)