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This experimental and numerical study addresses a flow of water and sunflower oil. This flow is driven by the rotating lid in a sealed vertical cylinder. The experiments were performed in a glass container with a radius of 45 mm and a height of 45 mm with the water volume fraction of 20%. Different densities and immiscibility of liquids provide the stable and sharp interface. At the rest, the interface is flat and horizontal. As the rotation speeds up, a new water-flow cell emerges near the bottom center. This cell expands and occupies almost the entire water domain while the initial water circulation shrinks into a thin layer adjacent to the interface. The water, rising near the container axis, strongly deforms the interface (upward near the axis and downward near the sidewall). A new oil-flow cell emerges above the interface near the axis. This cell disappears as the interface approaches the lid. The water separates from the sidewall, reaches the lid, and forms a column. As the rotation is decreased, the scenario reverses, but the flow states differ from those for the increasing rotation, i.e., a hysteresis is observed. The numerical simulations agree with the experiment and help explain the flow metamorphoses.

This numerical study describes the eddy emergence and transformations in a slow steady axisymmetric air–water flow, driven by a rotating top disk in a vertical conical container. As water height (Formula presented.) and cone half-angle (Formula presented.) vary, numerous flow metamorphoses occur. They are investigated for (Formula presented.), and (Formula presented.). For small (Formula presented.), the air flow is multi-cellular with clockwise meridional circulation near the disk. The air flow becomes one cellular as (Formula presented.) exceeds a threshold depending on (Formula presented.). For all (Formula presented.), the water flow has an unbounded number of eddies whose size and strength diminish as the cone apex is approached. As the water level becomes close to the disk, the outmost water eddy with clockwise meridional circulation expands, reaches the interface, and induces a thin layer with anticlockwise circulation in the air. Then this layer expands and occupies the entire air domain. The physical reasons for the flow transformations are provided. The results are of fundamental interest and can be relevant for aerial bioreactors.

This numerical study analyzes the development of eddies in a slow steady axisymmetric air-water flow in a sealed semispherical container, driven by a rotating top disk. As the water height, Hw, increases, new flow cells emerge in both water and air. First, an eddy emerges near the axis-bottom intersection. Then this eddy expands and reaches the interface, inducing a new cell in the air flow. This cell appears as a thin near-axis layer which then expands and occupies the entire air domain. As the disk rotation intensifies at Hw = 0.8, the new air cell shrinks to the axis and disappears. The bulk water circulation becomes separated from the interface by a thin layer of water counter-circulation. These changes in the flow topology occur due to (a) competing effects of the air meridional flow and swirl, which drive meridional motions of opposite directions in water, and (b) feedback of water flow on the air flow. In contrast to flows in cylindrical and conical containers, there is no interaction with Moffatt corner vortices here.

This numerical study explains the eddy formation and disappearance in a slow steady axisymmetric air–water flow in a vertical truncated conical container, driven by the rotating top disk. Numerous topological metamorphoses occur as the water height, Hw, and the bottom-sidewall angle, α, vary. It is found that the sidewall convergence (divergence) from the top to the bottom stimulates (suppresses) the development of vortex breakdown (VB) in both water and air. At α = 60°, the flow topology changes eighteen times as Hw varies. The changes are due to (a) competing effects of AMF (the air meridional flow) and swirl, which drive meridional motions of opposite directions in water, and (b) feedback of water flow on AMF. For small Hw, the AMF effect dominates. As Hw increases, the swirl effect dominates and causes VB. The water flow feedback produces and modifies air eddies. The results are of fundamental interest and can be relevant for aerial bioreactors.

The numerical study of the steady axisymmetric air-water flow in a vertical sealed cylinder, driven by the rotating top disk, describes topological transformations as the rotation intensifies. The air meridional flow (AMF) and swirl induce meridional motions of opposite directions in water. For slow (fast) rotation, the effect of AMF (swirl) dominates. For very fast rotation, large-scale regions of clockwise meridional circulation in air and water are separated by a thin layer of anticlockwise circulation adjacent to the interface in water. This pattern develops for other fluids as well. Physical reasoning behind the flow evolution is provided.