Concentration of very fine silts in a steady vortex

Abstract

The presence of fine sediment particles in a steady horizontal vortex is examined theoretically and experimentally. Starting from an homogeneous mixture, particles denser than the surrounding fluid are moved outside of the vortex core by centrifugal action. As a sediment concentration gradient gradually builds up across the vortex, a diffusive flux opposite to the centrifugal flux is induced. Equilibrium is reached when the two fluxes are equal. Theoretical relationships describing the suspended sediment concentration profiles in a steady Rankine vortex are verified with experimental data.