Primary Vortex Research Articles

Unsteady analysis of jet impingement under vibration conditions

The vibration of thermodynamic machinery will affect its cooling system. In this research, a high-resolution simulation of jet impingement was performed to quantify the unsteady turbulent convection under vibration conditions. A newly developed Self-Adaptive Turbulence Eddy Simulation (SATES) method was used. The Reynolds number was Re = 23000, the jet-to-wall distance was fixed at H/D = 2, and the vibrating frequency of the impinging wall f varied from 0 to 200 Hz. Compared with the static wall case, the maximum enhancement of the stagnation point and area averaged Nusselt number within r/D = 1 could reach up to 5% due to the larger primary vortices, whereas it could reduce the heat transfer by 10% beyond r/D = 3 due to the suppression of the wall vortices development. Based on the unsteady analysis and Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) pattern, the modes controlled by vibration were recognized and their contributions to the heat transfer performance were also evaluated. The introduction of the vibration promoted the development of the primary vortices and changed the radial alternating motion to a vertical alternating motion at the wall jet region. The former was beneficial for the heat transfer, while the latter was unfavorable.

Synoptic‐scale and mesoscale controls for tornadogenesis on cold fronts: Shear‐zone vortex‐genesis in a developing frontal wave

AbstractHigh‐resolution model simulations and radar observations are used to investigate the onset of vortex‐genesis in a tornadic narrow cold‐frontal rain band (NCFR). The timing and location of vortex‐genesis was strongly constrained by a developing frontal wave, which tracked northeast across the United Kingdom and Ireland on 17 October 2011. In the simulations, vortices occurred preferentially during the early stages of wave development and just down‐front of the wave centre, where large increases in vertical vorticity occurred in concert with decreases in the cross‐frontal confluence. Vortex‐genesis ceased as the frontal wave matured, due to the onset of frontal fracture. Two distinct scales of vortex‐genesis are documented: primary vortex‐genesis on the meso‐γ‐scale, and secondary vortex‐genesis on the miso‐scale. We show that horizontal shearing instability is the most likely vortex‐genesis mechanism, consistent with previous theoretical work on the stability of vertical vortex strips in the presence of horizontal stretching deformation. Secondary vortices occurred along the braid regions between primary vortices where the shear zone became particularly narrow and intense. In the model, these vortices developed extremely rapidly (from small perturbations to maximum vertical vorticity in 5–15 min) and the strongest exhibited near‐surface vertical vorticity maxima approaching 10−1 s−1. Vortices of both scales were associated with characteristic local perturbations in the NCFR and we show, by comparison with radar reflectivity data, that primary and secondary vortices were likely present in the real NCFR. Tornado reports were associated with small NCFR perturbations like those associated with the secondary vortices in the model simulations. Analysis of the sub‐structure of individual simulated vortices suggests that tornado‐genesis is most likely within a region of intense near‐surface vertical vorticity stretching at the north or northwest flank of the secondary vortices.

Evolution of wake structures behind oscillating hydrofoils with combined heaving and pitching motion

The wake of an oscillating teardrop hydrofoil with combined heaving and pitching motion was studied numerically at Reynolds number of 8000 and Strouhal numbers of $St=0.21{-}0.94$ . The lower Strouhal number exhibited high efficiency propulsion with small thrust generation. However, larger thrust generation at high $St$ required more power, which lowered the propulsive efficiency. Quantitative assessment of vortex evolution, along with qualitative investigation of the formation and interaction of primary structures, revealed the association with elliptic instability characteristics for both co-rotating and counter-rotating vortex structures in both wakes. With respect to advection of the leading-edge vortex, the pressure distribution further depicted evidence of spanwise instability with distinct temporal evolution along the suction and pressure surfaces of the oscillating foil. Three-dimensional assessment of wake structures located downstream of the trailing edge depicted the existence of dislocations associated with primary vortex ‘rollers’. At low $St$ , these were limited to fine spanwise corrugations (valleys and bulges) on weaker leading edge rollers, which enlarged as the rollers advected downstream. In contrast, at high $St$ , the wake exhibited conjoint hairpin-horseshoe vortex structures that led to stronger deformations on the coupled vortex rollers. The statistical characteristics of secondary structures resembled the long wavelength mode and mode A identified previously for purely pitching and heaving foils, respectively. They also mimicked mode B for stationary cylinders. Novel wake models are introduced based on a complete vivid three-dimensional depiction of coherent wake structures.

Mean flow and turbulence characteristics of a nocturnal downburst recorded on a 213 m tall meteorological tower

AbstractThis study presents rare measurements and analysis of a nocturnal thunderstorm downburst on the 213 m tall Cabauw tower in The Netherlands. The event occurred on 12 March 2008 between 02:00 and 03:00 UTC and was measured using four ultrasonic 10-Hz anemometers positioned at 3, 60, 100, and 180 m above ground level. 1-second gusts in the outflow exceeded 30 m s−1 at 60 m and above. This wind event was accompanied by an abrupt change of wind direction from southwest to west. While the shift in wind direction corresponded with the change of upwind surface roughness, the time series of turbulence intensity and other turbulence characteristics were not affected. The statistical properties of this event were compared against the largest European database of thunderstorm winds measured in the Mediterranean. The study also demonstrated that primary and secondary vortex structures—secondary vortex being rarely observed in actual downbursts—developed at the forward edge of the cold outflow. The estimated diameter of the downdraft was 1200 m at 70 m above ground. The measured velocity profiles and friction velocity were compared against theoretical predictions of the Monin-Obukhov Similarity Theory (MOST). MOST without stratification adjustment overestimated measured friction velocity twofold. Alternative values for surface roughness during the outflow were derived based on the measured friction velocity and MOST-based fit of measured velocity profiles. Ceilometer and radar measurements were supplementary data in this analysis.

Numerical Investigation on Combustion-Enhancement Strategy in Shock–Fuel Jet Interaction

Multidimensional numerical simulations are performed to investigate the evolution and formation of unburned fuels for a shock–fuel jet interaction scenario. A full set of Navier–Stokes equations with detailed chemical mechanisms are solved, and the results are analyzed through the Lagrangian method with the goal of improving combustion efficiency in supersonic flows. The flame morphology of a two-dimensional (2-D) non-premixed reactive shock–bubble interaction is first simulated and studied, in which unburned hydrogen is found to prevent efficient combustion. By applying the Lagrangian particle tracking method, most of the unburned hydrogen wrapped into the primary vortex turns out to be initially located upon the symmetry line of the bubble. Motivated by the idea of breaking the primary vortex, this study designs a novel geometry of a concentric bubble, which improves combustion efficiency to 94.4% in contrast to a solid fuel bubble (74%) due to multivortex interaction and a thick bridge structure. With the consistency between qualitative and quantitative 2-D and three-dimensional (3-D) flow dynamics, the idea of a 2-D concentric-bubble configuration is effectively extended to a 3-D coaxial jet interacting with oblique shock despite the existence of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability.

Characteristics of shock tube generated compressible vortex rings at very high shock Mach numbers

Compressible vortex rings are usually formed at the open end of a shock tube. They show exciting flow phenomena during their formation, evolution, and propagation depending on the shock Mach number (Ms) and exit flow conditions. This study considers high shock tube pressure ratio (PR) cases showing hitherto unknown, spectacular flow structures. With hydrogen as a driver section gas at high PR, a supersonic compressible vortex ring having vortex ring Mach number (Mv) >1 is obtained for the first time. The formation of multiple triple points and the corresponding slipstream shear layers and, thus, multiple counter-rotating vortex rings (CRVRs) behind the primary vortex ring at different radial locations, in addition to the usual CRVRs, appears to be a unique characteristic for high Mach number vortex rings. During the formation stage, a vortex layer of reverse circulation than that of the primary vortex ring gets generated from the outer wall of the shock tube. The instability of such a vortex layer creates another series of opposite circulation vortices, which later interfere with the primary vortex core considerably. Also, a near stationary slipstream vortex and multiple fast-moving tiny vortices of opposite circulation to the slipstream vortex are observed near the central zone. Mechanisms for the formation of these complex vortical structures are identified. The implications of these phenomena on the vortex ring's geometric and kinematic characteristics, such as ring diameter, core diameter, circulation, and translational velocity, are discussed in detail, illustrating their differences with low vortex ring Mach number cases considering 0.31 < Mv < 1.08.

Stationary solutions of incompressible viscous flow in a wall-driven semi-circular cavity

Stationary numerical solutions of incompressible viscous flow inside a wall-driven semicircular cavity are presented. After a conformal mapping of the geometry, using a body-fitted mesh, the Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically. The stationary solutions of the flow in a wall-driven semi-circular cavity are computed up to Re = 24000. The present results are in good agreement with the published results found in the literature. Our results show that as the Reynolds number increases, the sizes of the secondary and tertiary vortices increase, whereas the size of the primary vortex decreases. At large Reynolds numbers, the vorticity at the primary vortex centre increases almost linearly stating that Batchelor’s mean-square law is not valid for wall-driven semi-circular cavity flow. Detailed results are presented and also tabulated for future references and benchmark purposes.

Detached eddy simulations and tomographic PIV measurements of flows over surface combatant 5415 at straight-ahead and static drift conditions

A coupled experimental and computational study is performed to discuss the overall trend in surface combatant 5512 forces and moment and flow pattern with the change in hull drift angle (β) from straight-ahead (β = 0°) to static drift β = 10°–20° conditions. The local flow measurements were performed using tomographic particle image velocimetry (TPIV), which involved uncertainties ranging from <1% to 17% and the uncertainties decreased with the vortex progression. The surge force increased quadratically with the drift angle, whereas the sway force and yaw moment increased cubically. The wave elevation showed diverging wave pattern from both starboard and port sides. The wave angle increased and decreased on the port and starboard sides, respectively, with the increase in β. But the total wave envelop angle remained almost constant. Both experiments and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) predictions showed very similar vortical structures. The β = 0° flow showed structures emanating from the sonar dome, forebody keel, and bilge keel aligned which progressed along the hull. The static drift flows showed structures emanating from the sonar dome tip, bilge keel tip, and aft body keel which advected away from the hull. The primary vortices for the static drift case were circular and showed Gaussian or bell-shaped planar distribution. The vortex strength increased with β, and decreased with progression as vortices diffused. The momentum deficit in vortex core was sustained for β = 0° due to interaction with boundary layer. Whereas for β = 10° and 20°, the deficit increased due to turbulence generation in the core because of helical instability. The TPIV measurements, for the first time, provided detailed measurements for the progression of the vortical structures and associated mean and turbulent flow characteristics for ship flows. However, they have larger uncertainties near the hull, which limits analysis of the vortex onset characteristics. Future work should focus on time resolved particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) to address these issues.

Effect of Tip Clearance Size on Tubular Turbine Leakage Characteristics

To study the effect of tip clearance on unsteady flow in a tubular turbine, a full-channel numerical calculation was carried out based on the SST k–ω turbulence model using a power-plant prototype as the research object. Tip leakage flow characteristics of three clearance δ schemes were compared. The results show that the clearance value is directly proportional to the axial velocity, momentum, and flow sum of the leakage flow but inversely proportional to turbulent kinetic energy. At approximately 35–50% of the flow direction, velocity and turbulent kinetic energy of the leakage flow show the trough and peak variation law, respectively. The leakage vortex includes a primary tip leakage vortex (PTLV) and a secondary tip leakage vortex (STLV). Increasing clearance increases the vortex strength of both parts, as the STLV vortex core overlaps Core A of PTLV, and Core B of PTLV becomes the main part of the tip leakage vortex. A “right angle effect” causes flow separation on the pressure side of the tip, and a local low-pressure area subsequently generates a separation vortex. Increasing the gap strengthens the separation vortex, intensifying the flow instability. Tip clearance should therefore be maximally reduced in tubular turbines, barring other considerations.

Solving steady-state lid-driven square cavity flows at high Reynolds numbers via a coupled improved element-free Galerkin–reduced integration penalty method

Steady-state two-dimensional lid-driven square cavity flows at high Reynolds numbers are solved in this communication using a velocity-based formulation developed in the context of the improved element-free Galerkin–reduced integration penalty method (IEFG–RIPM). The analyses based on the IEFG–RIPM are performed under a standard Galerkin weak-formulation, i.e. without the need of introducing streamline-upwind or pressure stabilizing terms in order to suppress the appearance of non-physical oscillations. Solutions in a wide range of high Reynolds numbers are successfully achieved, and the results obtained have exhibited an excellent agreement with mesh-based solutions reported in the literature. The numerical performance of the proposed IEFG–RIPM in the solution of such benchmark problem has been analysed in terms of velocity distribution, streamline patterns, vorticity and pressure contours, and also in terms of the properties of primary and secondary vortices. The outcomes of this study demonstrate the potential of the IEFG–RIPM as a feasible and reliable numerical technique for the analysis of lid-driven square cavity flows at high Reynolds numbers, allowing the fulfilment of accuracy and stability numerical requirements demanded in the solution of this benchmark problem in a remarkably simple manner.

Mitigating Wake Turbulence Risk During Final Approach via Plate Lines

To mitigate the risk of wake vortex encounters during final approach, so-called plate lines have been developed. Wake vortices generated by landing aircraft induce secondary vortices at the plates’ surfaces that approach the primary vortices and trigger premature wake vortex decay. Each plate line consists of several upright plates being installed underneath the approach slope. While the plate line extends perpendicular to the flight direction, its individual plates are oriented in parallel to the runway centerline. To obtain the approval of the authorities for the installation of the plate lines at runway 16 of Vienna International Airport, the plate design had to comply with airport requirements like obstacle clearance, stability, and frangibility. During a six-month campaign, wake vortex behavior of about 9500 landings with and without plates was measured simultaneously by three lidars complemented by a comprehensive suite of meteorological instrumentation. The analysis of over 1000 measured wake vortex evolutions indicates that the plate lines reduce the lifetimes of the vortices in a safety corridor along the final approach by 22–37% depending on the aircraft type. This corresponds to a reduction of vortex circulation by about 50% for the most relevant International Civil Aviation Organization separation (Medium behind Heavy).

Enhancement of wake vortex decay by air blowing from the ground

It is well-known that the long-lasted aircraft wake vortex above the airport runway jeopardizes flight safety. Therefore, the research on the enhancement of wake vortex decay is pretty much essential. The previous studies suggest that the wake decay process can be improved by introducing artificial perturbations [1]. For example, the plate lines on the ground can trigger the helical secondary vortex structures (SVS), propagating along with the primary vortices. As a result, the vortex decay will be enhanced. In the present research, active flow control methods on wake vortex decay, like air blowing or suction, are studied. Blowing/suction zones are embedded on the ground to generate airflow below the wake vortex tubes. Different sizes and shapes of the blowing/suction zones are tested. The large eddy simulation (LES) method is used to quantitatively investigate the blowing/suction effects on wake vortex decay. Furthermore, the coherent vortex structures observed and the acceleration mechanism on wake decay caused by active flow control are studied carefully. According to the present research, it is found that with a small blowing velocity (1.79 m/s) and a short blowing duration (13.15 s), the aircraft wake strength can be roughly reduced by 50% at t⁎=1. Based on the simulation results, it is revealed that the apparent effect on the wake vortex development is due to the detached vortex generated near the blowing zone rather than the blowing flow itself. Besides, a detached vortex with a scale of 0.2b0 is needed to achieve a better wake decay enhancement.

Experimental study on a zigzagging bubble using tomographic particle image velocimetry with shadow image reconstruction

For decades, it has been proven by numerous experiments and simulations that a single bubble freely rises in an unstable path and shape in a surface tension force dominant regime. Using time-resolved tomographic particle image velocimetry combined with three-dimensional shadow image reconstruction, the present study experimentally provides a full three-dimensional diagnosis of the shape and wake structures of a zigzagging bubble. An ellipsoidal bubble with an equivalent diameter of deq = 5.47 mm freely rising in stagnant water is investigated at a terminal Reynolds number of 1390 with a zigzag path. The results show a typical double-threaded vortex structure generated during the initial ascending stage. In the regular zigzagging stage, a four-ring mode of vortex generation is observed, which is composed of alternatively discharged and induced hairpin vortices. Thanks to the volumetric measurement, the shedding or inducing mechanism of complicated wake structures is clearly achieved. We speculate that the secondary shape oscillation of the bubble is excited by the shedding of the primary hairpin vortex. Frequencies of the bubble trajectory, variation of velocity, and bubble shape oscillation are analyzed in detail. Their associated harmonics are classified to indicate the interactions between the bubble and the wakes.

Detecting vortical structures in time-resolved volumetric flow fields

The detection of three-dimensional coherent vortical structures that get advected as well as deformed with time is a challenge. However, it is critical for the statistical analysis of these vortices, for example, the quasi-streamwise vortices (QSVs) in the near field of a turbulent shear layer, where cavitation inception typically occurs. These structures exhibit underlying correlations among different properties that can be derived from the velocity gradients. Exploiting these correlations, a pseudo-Lagrangian vortex detection method is proposed that uses k-means clustering based on vorticity magnitude and direction, values of λ2, strain rate structure, axial stretching, and location. The method facilitates the finding that QSVs have pressure minima that are lower than those in the surrounding flow, including the primary spanwise vortices. These minima typically appear after a period of axial stretching and before contraction events.

Encapsulation of a highly hydrophilic drug in polymeric particles: A comparative study of batch and microfluidic processes

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of microfluidics on the quality attributes of metformin hydrochloride-loaded poly lactic-co-glycolic acid polymeric particles (MFH-PLGA PPs) when compared to a traditional double emulsion batch method. The relationship of encapsulation and loading efficiencies, yield %, particle size, surface morphology, and release profile with process and formulation variables were determined using design of experiments (DoE). The effects of the dispersal method of the primary (sonication vs. vortex) or secondary emulsion (microfluidics vs. batch), polyvinyl alcohol concentration (PVA), and drug to polymer ratio were investigated. The PPs’ size was impacted by both the PVA concentration and the type of primary and secondary emulsion dispersion methods. Microfluidics significantly increased the PPs’ yield %, particle size, encapsulation, and loading efficiencies. The higher loaded microfluidic-based PPs had more burst release, following first-order release kinetics when compared to the lower loaded batch-based particles, which followed the Korsmeyer-Peppas model for release kinetics. Microfluidic-based PPs exhibited a smooth, porous, more uniform, and larger particle size with hollow structure than the batch-based PPs with a matrix-like structure. In conclusion, we have elucidated the effect of microfluidics on the quality attributes of MFH-PLGA PPs and their comparison to the traditional batch technique.

Wake structure and evolution of flow over a finned circular cylinder

This paper reports the results of a numerical investigation into the flow over a circular cylinder evenly attached with rectangular ribs around its circumference and the associated near-wall vortex structure as well as the evolution of wake flow. The effect of the number of ribs (n) ranging from 1 to 12 is examined in a low Reynolds number range of 60–180. Five kinds of near-wall vortices are identified with the presence of rectangular ribs, including quasi-stagnation vortices, subordinate vortices, inter-rib vortices, inter-rib quasi-stagnation vortices, and dynamic inter-rib vortices. These near-wall vortices and their evolution are sensitive to Re as well as n. With the introduction of ribs, each boundary layer experiences multiple separations that increase from 2 to 4 as n increases from 1 to 12. The intermittent emergency of the last separation is attributed to the switching of the final separation between two adjacent ribs. Furthermore, the duration of the last separation depends on Re and the evolution of dynamic inter-rib vortices. The hydrodynamic coefficients and vortex shedding frequency are closely related to the vortex formation length (Lf*) and wake width (W*). The different variation of Lf* and W* with Re is possibly associated with the appearance and number of subordinate vortices. In addition, the fluctuation of W* is mainly attributed to the switching of boundary layer separation point. The wake flow experience two evolutions as the vortices are convected downstream: the transition from one-row primary vortex street to the two-layered vortices, and the transition from two-layered vortices to the secondary vortex street. The latter is only observed in the wake of a finned cylinder with 3–5 ribs at Re = 180, while the two-layered vortices are decayed in the far wake in other cases.

Large-Eddy Simulation Analyses of Heated Urban Canyon Facades

Thermal convective flows are common phenomena in real urban canyons and strongly affect the mechanisms of pollutant removal from the canyon. The present contribution aims at investigating the complex interaction between inertial and thermal forces within the canyon, including the impacts on turbulent features and pollutant removal mechanisms. Large-eddy simulations reproduce infinitely long square canyons having isothermal and differently heated facades. A scalar source on the street mimics the pollutant released by traffic. The presence of heated facades triggers convective flows which generate an interaction region around the canyon-ambient interface, characterised by highly energetic turbulent fluxes and an increase of momentum and mass exchange. The presence of this region of high mixing facilitates the pollutant removal across the interface and decreases the urban canopy drag. The heating-up of upwind facade determines favourable convection that strengthens the primary internal vortex and decreases the pollutant concentration of the whole canyon by 49% compare to the isothermal case. The heating-up of the downwind facade produces adverse convection counteracting the wind-induced motion. Consequently, the primary vortex is less energetic and confined in the upper-canyon area, while a region of almost zero velocity and high pollution concentration (40% more than the isothermal case) appears at the pedestrian level. Finally, numerical analyses allow a definition of a local Richardson number based on in-canyon quantities only and a new formulation is proposed to characterise the thermo-dynamics regimes.

Investigation of the Normal Blowing Approach to Controlling Wingtip Vortex Using LES

The characteristics and control of a wingtip vortex are of great significance when considering drag reduction and flight safety of transportation aircrafts. The associated aerodynamic phenomenon resulting from rolling up of a wingtip vortex includes boundary layer flow, shear layer separation, and vortex breakdown, while the interaction of a wingtip vortex with the airframe causes induced drag, wingtip noise, etc. This paper studies a normal blowing method utilized to control the wingtip vortex. Large eddy simulation (LES) technique applied to a straight NACA0012 wing having a chord length ( c ) of 0.4 m is adopted for this study. The Reynolds number based on the chord length is 1.6 × 10 6 and the angle of attack is 12°. The computational approach utilized the dynamic Smagorinsky-Lilly subgrid model for 3D simulations. Normal blowing from a high aspect ratio jet from the wingtip lower surface was used to control the wingtip vortex. From 0.05c to 0.30c, the blowing slit width was 1 mm, with the slit exit treated as a velocity inlet boundary condition which supplied the blowing jet with a momentum coefficient of 0.28%. Results of axial velocity and span-wise pressure distribution of the clean airfoil presented good agreement with known experimental data. LES results indicate that normal blowing suppresses the primary vortex strength, while the vortex core radius, maximum induced velocity, axial vorticity flux, and pressure peak of the primary vortex are reduced by 25%, 28%, 46%, and 52%, respectively. Flow field structures before and after blowing show that blowing suppresses the shedding, coiling, and convergence of the free vortex layers near the primary vortex. This study also shows that normal blowing generates a jet-induced vortex at the location of the secondary vortex, while backflow, volume expansion, and spiral burst can be observed in the jet-induced vortex. The bursting jet-induced vortex destroys the jet-like flow structure of the primary vortex at the trailing edge.

CFD Analysis and Taguchi-Based Optimization of the Thermohydraulic Performance of a Solar Air Heater Duct Baffled on a Back Plate

In this paper, a solar air collector duct equipped with baffles on a back plate was numerically investigated. The Reynolds number (Re) was varied from 5000 to 20,000, the angle baffle (a) from 30° to 120°, the baffle spacing ratio (Pr) from 2 to 8, and the baffle blockage ratio (Br) from 0.375 to 0.75 to examine their effects on the Nusselt number (Nu), the friction factor (f), and the thermohydraulic performance parameter (η). The 2D numerical simulation used the standard k-ε turbulence model with enhanced wall treatment. The Taguchi method was used to design the experiment, generating an orthogonal array consisting of four factors each at four levels. The optimization results from the Taguchi method and CFD analysis showed that the optimal geometry of a = 90°, Pr = 6, and Br = 0.375 achieved the maximum η. The influence of Br on all investigated parameters was considerable because as Br increased, a larger primary vortex region was formed downstream of the baffle. At Re = 5000 and the optimal geometry parameters, a maximum η of 1.01 was reached. A baffle angle between 60° and 90° achieved a high Nusselt number due to the impingement heat transfer.

Subwavelength Acoustic Vortex Beams Using Self-Demodulation

Acoustic vortices with subwavelength dimensions and tunable topological charge are theoretically and experimentally synthesized at distances far beyond the Rayleigh diffraction length of the source, using self-demodulation. A dual helical acoustic source is used to generate two primary confocal vortex beams at different frequencies and different topological charges. As a consequence of the conservation of angular momentum during nonlinear wave mixing, a self-demodulated vortex beam at the difference frequency emerges, keeping the spatial features of the primary vortex beams and a topological charge that is the difference of their topological charges. We report subdiffractive vortices the characteristic size of which is 18 times smaller than its wavelength at a distance 2.8 times the Rayleigh diffraction length. The generation and focusing of subwavelength vortices paves the way for long-range communication, biomedical, and wave-matter interaction applications.