The velocity field in a macroscale multi-inlet vortex reactor (MIVR) used in “flash nanoprecipitation (FNP)” process for producing functional nanoparticles was investigated using stereoscopic particle image velocimetry (SPIV). Based on the experimental data, a simple model was proposed to describe the average velocity field within the reactor. In the model, the axial and azimuthal velocities could be well described by the combination of two coflowing Batchelor vortices. In this model, six dimensionless coefficients are identified by nonlinear curve fitting, and their dependence on Reynolds number can be linearly described. This simple model is able to accurately predict the mean velocity field within the confined turbulent swirling flow based purely on Reynolds number.
Turbulent mixing in the confined swirling flow of a multi‐inlet vortex reactor