On the Beltramian motion of the bidirectional vortex in a conical cyclone

In this work, an exact Eulerian model is used to describe the steady-state motion of a bidirectional vortex in a conical chamber. This particular model is applicable to idealized representations of cyclone separators and liquid rocket engines with slowly expanding chamber cross-sections. The corresponding bulk motion is assumed to be non-reactive, rotational, inviscid and incompressible. Then, following Bloor & Ingham (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 178, 1987, pp. 507-519), the spherical Bragg-Hawthorne equation is used to construct a mathematical model that connects the solution to the swirl number and the cone divergence angle. Consequently, a self-similar formulation is obtained independently of the cone's finite body length. This enables us to characterize the problem using closed-form approximations of the principal flow variables. Among the cyclonic parameters of interest, the mantle divergence angle and the maximum cross-flow velocity are obtained explicitly. The mantle consists of a spinning cone that separates the circumferential inflow region from the central outflow. This interfacial layer bisects the fluid domain at approximately 60 per cent of the cone's divergence half-angle. Its accurate determination is proven asymptotically using two different criteria, one being preferred by experimentalists. Finally, recognizing that the flow in question is of the Beltramian type, results are systematically described over a range of cone angles and spatial locations in both spherical and cylindrical coordinates; they are also compared to available experimental and numerical data.