Numerical tracking and circulation time distribution in an infinite Taylorsystem

A numerical investigation was conducted to compute circulation time of elem entary fluid elements in a Taylor vortex reactor. Finite volume method usin g the SIMPLER algorithm is adopted to solve the conservative equations. The numerical code was first validated. The convective displacements were dete rmined by the three velocity components associated with the current locatio n of the particles. For a given initial fluid element, the numerical tracki ng gives the circulation time which corresponds to a complete rotation (2 p i). (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.