48
Rankine vortex
Fig. 3.5: Combination of a vortex with rigid-body
rotation and
a potential vortex (Lugt
).
Lugt, Hans J.: Vortex flow in nature and technology. Krieger publishing
company, Florida 1995; ISBN 0-89464-916-7
Approach
49
3.5 Rankine vortex
When we, in a third experiment, immerse the centrifuge filled with water into a tough
medium and let the centrifuge rotate, then inside the centrifuge a vortex with rigid-body
rotation forms and outside the centrifuge a potential vortex forms (Fig. 3.5).
It is obvious that one vortex always causes the other vortex with the opposite properties
and so the existence of one causes that of the other.
So in the first case, that of the vortex
with rigid-body rotation, outside the centrifuge potential vortices will form in the
surrounding air, whereas in the second case, that of the potential vortices, the turning rod
itself can be interpreted as a special case of a vortex with rigid-body rotation.
Hence in all conceivable experiments the condition always is fulfilled that in the centre of
the vortex the same state of "peace", that we can fix as "zero", prevails as in infinity.
When we take a tornado as an example, thus a whirlwind. In the "eye of the cyclone"
there's no wind at all. But when I go away from this spot, then I'm blown to the outside. I
can really feel the vortex with rigid-body rotation in the inside. If. however, I am standing
on the outside, then the potential vortex tries to pull me into the vortex. This potential
vortex is responsible for the structure and in the end also for the size of the tornado.
At the radius of the vortex, the place with the largest speed of the wind, an equilibrium
prevails. The vortex with rigid-body rotation and the potential vortex at this point are
equally powerful. Their power again is determined by the viscosity, which thereby fixes
the radius of the vortex!
Therefore meteorologists pursue with interest whether a tornado forms over land or over
water. Over the ocean for instance it sucks itself full with water. In that way the potential
vortex increases in power, the radius of the vortex gets smaller and the energy density
increases dangerously.
If the knowledge from hydrodynamics is transferred to the area of electromagnetism, then
the role of the viscosity is taken over by the electric conductivity. The well-known current
eddy occurs in the conductor, whereas its counterpart, the postulated potential vortex,
forms in the bad-conducting medium, with preference in the dielectric. The duality of both
vortices is expressed by the fact that the electric conductivity of the medium decides
whether current eddies or potential vortices can form and how fast they decay, i.e. convert
their energy into heat.
50
Vortex and anti-vortex
Fig. 3.6: Kirlian photograph of leaves
structured corona discharges
: (produced by students of electronics in the laboratory for power electronics of
the Author, University of Applied Sciences Furtwangen 1991)
: Kupfmuller, Karl: Einfuhrung in die theoretische Elektrotechnik,
Springer-Verlag Berlin, 12. Auflage 1988, page 453
: Kupfmuller, Karl: Einfuhrung in die theoretische Elektrotechnik,
Springer-Verlag Berlin, 12. Auflage 1988, page 208
Approach _____________________________________________________________ 51
3.6 Vortex and anti-vortex
Fig. 3.5 shows that vortex and dual anti-vortex mutually cause each other. In high tension
transmission lines we find a striking example for the combination of current eddy and
potential vortex. Within the conductor current eddies are formed. Thus the current density
increases towards the surface of the conductor (skin effect). Outside of the conductor, in
the air, the alternating fields find a very bad conducting medium. If one follows the text
book opinion, then the field outside the conductor should be an irrotational gradient field!
But this statement causes unsolvable problems.
When vortices occur inside the conductor, then for reasons of a detachment of the vortices
without jumps at the interface to the dielectric, also the fields in the air surrounding the
conductor must have the form and the properties of vortices. Nothing would be more
obvious as to also mathematically describe and interpret these so-called gradient fields as
vortex fields. When looking exact this argument even is mandatory!
The as laws of field refraction known boundary conditions
in addition demand
steadiness at the interface of the conductor to the dielectric and don't leave us any other
choice. If there is a vortex field on one side, then also the field on the other side is a vortex
field, otherwise we offend against the law! Here an obvious failure of the Maxwell theory
is present.
Outside the conductor, in the air, where the alternating fields find a very bad conducting
medium the potential vortex not only exists theoretical; it even shows itself. Dependent
among others on the frequency and the composition of the surface of the conductor, the
potenial vortices form around the conductor. When the thereby induced potentials exceed
the initial voltage, then impact ionisation takes place and the well-known corona
discharge is produced. Everyone of us can hear this as crackling and see the sparkling
skin with which high tension transmission lines cover themselves.
In accordance with the text books also a gradient field increases towards the surface of the
conductor, but an even shining would be expected and not a crackling. Without potential
vortices the observable structure of the corona would remain an unsolved phenomenon of
physics (Fig. 3.6).
But even without knowing the structure-shaping property of the potential vortices, that in
addition acts supporting and that we'll have to derive, it can be observed well that
especially roughness on the surface of the conductor stimulate the formation of vortices
and can produce vortices. If one is looking for a reason why with large frequency the very
short impulses of discharge always emerge from roughness
, then very probable
potential vortices are responsible for it. By means of a Kirlian photograph it can be
shown that the corona consists of structured separate discharges (Fig. 3.6).
With this the approach is motivated, formulated and given reasons for. The expositions
can't replace a proof, but they should stand a critical examination. Mathematical and
physical evidence will be furnished later.