Synchronization effects in rotors partially filled with fluid-influence on propulsion

In fluid-filled Rotors occur self-excited vibrations induced by surface waves of the fluid. A characteristic property is the instability over an interval of angular velocity above the natural frequency of the system. One explanation is the occurrence of synchronization effects between fluid waves and the critical rotor speed.

The behaviour of rotors partly filled with fluid was mostly studied under the aspect of stability in steady-state conditions. For non-steady-state investigations, discrete models with reduced number of degrees of freedom and reasonable ability to model the system behaviour are desirable for observer-based real-time control.

This paper analyses a model based on a laval rotor and shows synchronization effects between fluid waves and rotor model and its influence on the rotor propulsion. (© 2016 Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)