Drag Reduction Characteristics of Polyacrylamide in a Rotating Disk Apparatus

Abstract

The drag reduction efficiency of Polyacrylamide has been tested in this study with different parameters using rotating disc apparatus. The polymer is tested at various concentrations (500, 700, 1000, 1500 and 2000) ppm and under turbulent conditions at different rotation speed up to 3000 rpm. The results show that maximum percent of drag reduction is (28, 30, 33, 35 and 36) % for the above concentrations respectively. The mechanical degradation of the polymer with time is also investigated and analyzed using empirical exponential decay function. The fractional exponential decay equation was found to fit the experimental data of low polymer concentration, while better fitting of single exponential decay model is found for experimental data of higher polymer concentration. The drag reduction decrease with increasing polymer concentration.