3D Numerical Simulation of the Driver Effect of a Curved Scoop on the Flow Field in a Gas Centrifuge

In order to figure out the driver effect of a curved scoop on three-dimensional flow field in a gas centrifuge (GC), a double-chamber GC was used as the research object. 3D Navier–Stokes equations were solved by the semidiscrete finite volume method with high precision. Numerical results show that there are a bow-shaped shock wave and a detached-body shock wave being generated around the scoop. After the shock wave enters the separation chamber, it moves along a spiral trajectory, which leads to the disturbance of physical variables. Compared with other positions in the rotor, the gas pressure close to the side wall undergoes a more obvious change. The significant axial velocity disturbance is distributed close to the artificial inner boundary, but the main mass transfer of gas occurs near the side wall. The variation of angular integration of axial mass flux in radial direction indicates that there are 3 axial circulations in the separation chamber.