Helical vortices in swirl flow are studied theoretically and experimentally.A theory of helical vortices has been developed. It includes the following results: an analytical solution describing an elementary helical vortex structure – an infinitely thin filament; a solution for axisymmetrical vortices accounting for the helical shape of vortex lines and different laws of vorticity distribution; a formula for calculation of the self-induced velocity of helical vortex rotation (precession) in a cylindrical tube; an explanation of the zone with reverse flow (recirculation zone) arising in swirl flows; and the classification of vortex structures.The experimental study of helical vortices was carried out in a vertical hydrodynamical vortex chamber with a tangential supply of liquid through turning nozzles. Various vortex structures were formed owing to changing boundary conditions on the bottom and at the exit section of the chamber. The hypothesis of helical symmetry is confirmed for various types of swirl flow. The stationary helical vortex structures are described (most of them for the first time) the features of which agree with the results and predictions of the theoretical model developed. They are the following: a rectilinear vortex; a composite columnar vortex; helical vortices screwed on the right or on the left; a vortex with changing helical symmetry; a double helix – two entangled vortex filaments of the same sign.

A derivation of an expression for the self-induced velocity of a helical vortex filament with moderate and small pitch is presented for the cases of an infinite space as well as a space bounded by a cylindrical tube. This result supplements the known Kelvin’s formula for helix with large pitch in an infinite space.

Operating hydraulic turbines under part- or over-load conditions leads to the development of the precessing vortex rope downstream of the turbine runner. In a regime close to the best efficiency point (BEP), the vortex rope is very unstable because of the low residual swirl of the flow. However, strong pressure pulsations have been detected in the regime. These oscillations can be caused by self-merging and reconnection of a vortex helix with the formation of a vortex ring. The vortex ring moves along the wall of the draft tube and generates a sharp pressure pulse that is registered by pressure transducer. This phenomenon was investigated on a simplified draft tube model using a swirl generator consisting of a stationary swirler and a freely rotating runner. The experiments were performed at Reynolds number (Re) = 10⁵. The measurements involved a high-speed visualization technique synchronized with pressure measurements on the draft tube wall, which enables an analysis of the key stages of vortex ring formation by comparing it with the pressure on the draft tube wall. Quantitative information regarding the average velocity distribution was obtained via the laser Doppler anemometer (LDA) technique.