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Figure 2: As liquid drains from a tank, the Coriolis force acts at right angles to the flow direction and so
sets up a vortex motion
Chemical Engineering
www.chemengonline.com
June 2016
Start to drain
Start to
drain: disk
prevents most
horizontal
motion
Start to drain:
cross does
not prevent
horizontal
motion
All horizontal
motion is
subject to
Coriolis
forces
Downward
motion not
subject to
Coriolis
forces
All horizontal
motion is
subject to
Coriolis
forces
Continued
horizontal
motion
results in
acceleration
Horizontal
motion only
for liquid
about to
leave tank
Continued
horizontal
motion
results in
acceleration
No vortex
formation
Vortex
extends
through one
or another
quadrant and
blocks the
outlet nozzle
Vortex cone
blocks the
outlet nozzle
Vortex breakers
www.chemengonline.com
June 2016
Authors
Jim Gregory is a process engineer at Fluor Corp. (100 Fluor
Daniel Dr., Greenville, SC 296072762; Email: jim.gregory@fluor.
com). He holds a B.A. in biophysics and a B.S.Ch.E. from the University of Connecticut, and an
M.Sc. in biochemical engineering
from Rutgers University. He has
experience in the design and operation of industrial microbiological processes ranging
from human-cell-line monoclonal antibodies to diesel
fuel.
Katy Lentz is a process engineer
at Fluor (100 Fluor Daniel Dr.,
Greenville, SC 29607-2762;
Phone: 864-281-4579; Email:
katy.lentz@fluor.com). She holds a
B.S.Ch.E. from the University of
Toledo, Ohio. She has experience
in the design and operation of
manufacturing and life sciences
processes including monoclonalantibody therapeutics, clean utilities, electrode manufacturing, carbon fiber, and bourbon production.
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