Prediction of flow-generated noise produced by acoustic and aerodynamic interactions of multiple in-duct elements

Flow-generated noise problem caused by in-duct elements is due to the complicated acoustic and turbulent interactions of multiple in-duct flow noise sources. The approach of partially coherent sound fields used previously by Mak and Yang [C.M. Mak, J. Yang, Flow-generated noise radiated by the interaction of two strip spoilers in a low speed flow ducts, Acta Acust united with Acustica 88 (2002) 861–868] and Mak [C.M. Mak, A prediction method for aerodynamic sound produced by multiple elements in air ducts, J Sound Vib 287 (2005) 395–403] is adopted to formulate the sound powers produced by interactions of multiple elements at frequencies below and above the cut-on frequency of the lowest transverse duct mode. The study indicates that the level and spectral distribution of the additional acoustic energy produced by the interactions of multiple elements can be predicted based on the measured data with respect to the interactions. The proposed method can form a basis of a generalized prediction method for flow-generated noise produced by multiple elements. The application of the proposed method is supported by two engineering examples.     

A turbulence-based prediction technique for flow-generated noise produced by in-duct elements in a ventilation system

A number of investigators have tried to develop a generalized prediction method for flow-generated noise produced by in-duct elements in a ventilation system. Most of these prediction methods relied on limited data obtained from conventional measurement techniques that require the use of an expensive and specially combined acoustic and aerodynamic experimental facility. An alternative to using a specialised and aerodynamic facility that is currently gaining favour in building engineering is using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software packages. CFD is a powerful design tool that is able to predict the behaviour of fluid flow regimes. With the aid of CFD, Mak and Oldham have developed a predictive technique that is based on the relationship between the acoustic power radiated, due to the interaction of air flow and a spoiler, and the turbulent kinetic energy generated in the region of the spoiler. Based on the results of CFD simulation of relevant configurations, the technique has been adopted to normalize the published experimental data of Nelson and Morfey, who produced a normalized spectrum for predicting the sound power level of flow-noise produced by the strip spoilers in a rectangular air duct. In this paper, the theoretical basis of this technique was reviewed and revised. A collapse of data from the simulation models were obtained against the experimental data of Oldham and Ukpoho. The data collapse for a damper were generally excellent at most Strouhal numbers. The data collapse for an orifice plate were generally excellent at lower Strouhal numbers but was less efficient at higher Strouhal numbers where considerable scatter was observed.     

Development of a prediction method for flow-generated noise produced by duct elements in ventilation systems

Flow-generated noise generated on the quiet side of the primary attenuators of a ventilation system is the result of interaction between air flow and duct discontinuities. It is of engineering importance to predict the flow-generated noise caused by air duct elements in ventilation systems at the design stage. However, all prediction methods are based upon an isolated in-duct element that is very different from a real ventilation system. Until recently, Mak and Yang have produced a prediction method for flow-generated noise produced by the interaction of two elements in air ducts. In this paper, an attempt has been made to modify their equations so that their predictive equations can possibly be used to predict noise produced by “real” duct discontinuities. By comparing their predictive values with the experimental results of Oldham and Ukpoho, their validity can be proved. The modified Mak-Yang predictive equations, therefore, provide a basis for permitting a more accurate prediction of flow-generated noise produced by various configurations of two in-duct elements and duct dimensions.     

上下并联轴流风机室外机气动声学预测模型

本文基于CFD模拟方法,分析了空调器室外机上下并联轴流风机系统噪声源分布,建立了室外机气动声学预测方法.研究发现,上下并联轴流风机系统由宽频和离散频率噪声组成,宽频噪声是影响室外机噪声总声压级的重要因素.涡声分析表明,涡脱落噪声是宽频噪声的主要影响因素.基于CFD的叶片尾缘涡脱落噪声预测方法计算得到宽频声压误差为2 dB,考虑离散频率影响时,室外机A计权总声压级预测误差小于2 dBA.基于CFD的点源时域预测模型,捕捉到了上下并联轴流风机系统的离散频率噪声峰值,且在上下叶轮前二阶谐波处预测值与实验值吻合较好.     

A restricted nonlinear large eddy simulation model for high Reynolds number flows

Recent numerical studies of the restricted nonlinear (RNL) model have demonstrated its ability to reproduce important features of wall turbulence despite a severe reduction in the number of degrees of freedom. In these prior studies, the RNL model included full resolution of the viscous term. In this work, we extend the RNL model to arbitrarily high Reynolds numbers by developing a RNL large eddy simulation (LES) framework along with a method to systematically identify an appropriate streamwise wavenumber support based on spectral properties of wall turbulence. This method leads to a band-limited RNL–LES system which is successful in reproducing some of the most important statistical features captured in previous low to moderate Reynolds number simulations, e.g. the mean velocity and second-order moment profiles. The RNL–LES framework offers a new approach to understanding the connection between coherent structures and the momentum transfer mechanisms of wall turbulence at arbitrarily high Reynolds numbers, where resolution of the viscous terms can become computationally expensive even with the relatively low computational complexity afforded through the dynamical restriction of the RNL model.     

Simulation of diesel spray combustion using LES and a multicomponent vapourisation model

Diesel spray and combustion in a constant-volume engine cylinder was simulated by a large eddy simulation (LES) approach coupling with a multicomponent vapourisation (MCV) modelling. The simulation focused on the inclusion of the interaction between fuel spray and gas-phase turbulence flow at the sub-grid scale. The LES was based on the dynamic structure sub-grid model, and an additional source term was added to the filtered momentum equation to account for the effect of drop motion on the gas-phase turbulence. The multicomponent drop vapourisation modelling was based on the continuous thermodynamics approach using a gamma distribution to describe the complex diesel fuel composition and was capable of predicting a more complex drop vapourisation process. The effect of gas-phase turbulence flow on the fuel drop vapourisation process was evaluated through the solution of the gas-phase moments of the distribution in the present LES framework. A non-evaporative spray in a constant-volume engine cylinder was first simulated to examine the behaviours of LES, in comparison with a Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulation based on the RNG k–? model. More realistic diesel spray structures and improved agreement on liquid penetration length with the corresponding experimental data were predicted by the LES, using a grid resolution close to that of RANS. A more comprehensive simulation of diesel spray and combustion in cylindrical combustor was also performed. Predicted distributions of soot particles were compared to the experimental image, and improved agreement with the experimental data was also observed by using the present LES and MCV models. Consequently, results of the present models proved that improved overall performance of the fuel spray simulation can be achieved by the LES without a significant increase in the computational load compared to the RANS.     

DYNAMIC RESPONSE OF WIND-EXCITED BUILDING USING CFD

Computational wind engineering as a new branch of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has been developed recently to evaluate the interaction between wind and buildings numerically. In the present study, a systematic examination of wind effects on tall buildings and flow condition around buildings has been carried out using commercially available CFD software FLUENT 5. Both renormalization group (RNG) k-ε method and large eddy simulation (LES) with the Smagorinsky model are adopted as turbulence models and the results are compared with the wind-tunnel measurements. The weighted amplitude wave superposition (WAWS) method is used to generate atmospheric wind turbulence. The RNG k-ε method can predict the vortex shedding phenomenon well when compared with experiments for uniform flow input, but fails to predict the shedding frequency accurately for fluctuating incoming flow. On the other hand, the LES model shows reasonably good agreement with experiment in predicting vortex-shedding phenomenon for both uniform and fluctuating flows at inlet. Random-vibration based theory is employed for estimating r.m.s. response of tall buildings and the results compared well with the experimental results for a square building.     

机翼后缘噪声预测研究

机翼后缘噪声是飞机重要的机体噪声源之一。本文基于CFD(Computational Fluid Dynamic)数值模拟和Ffcows Williams-Hall理论,研究应用了一种预测干净机翼后缘气动噪声的方法。采用Menter’s SSTκ-ω湍流模型对翼型和机翼进行N-S方程数值模拟得到后缘附近的湍流特征速度和特征长度,再利用Serhat Hosder的预估方法计算后缘噪声强度级。本文首先计算了NACA0012翼型在7种不同状态的后缘噪声,计算结果与实验值比较,符合很好,从而证明了本文采用的方法的可行性和正确性;然后研究了两个亚音速翼型(NACA 0009,NACA 0012),两个超临界翼型(SC(2)- 0710,SC(2)-0714),EET机翼的不同参数对后缘噪声强度级的影响,得出了对降低后缘噪声有参考意义的结论。     

Subgrid modelling for particle-LES by Spectrally Optimised Interpolation (SOI)

This paper focuses on Large-Eddy simulation of particle-laden flow. We present a novel model for the effect of unresolved scales on the particles. The model can be regarded as an extension of the approximate deconvolution method towards higher wavenumbers. The basis of the model is a specific interpolation method which is constructed such that the spectrum seen by the particles attains a model spectrum. Thus, the model is called Spectrally Optimised Interpolation (SOI). The model is developed and tested in the framework of homogeneous isotropic turbulence. A comparison of SOI against ADM [J.G.M. Kuerten, Subgrid modelling in particle-laden channel flow, Phys. Fluids 18 (2006) 025108] shows that in particular in coarse LES, SOI is far more accurate than ADM. The computational costs for SOI are comparable to fourth order interpolation. Possible extensions of the model for general flows are briefly sketched.     

各向同性紊流能量衰减的大涡模拟

在多重网格驱动的,高效且得到充分验证的有限体积方法的基础上发展了可压缩流大涡模拟的方法.空间离散采用Jameson的中心格式附加二阶和四阶耗散的方法,时间推进则采用了双时间步长的方法.亚格子剪切应力张量和亚格子热通量用Smagorinsky模型进行模拟.通过对各向同性紊流能量衰减的模拟来验证本方法的准确性和高效性,模拟得到的能量谱和紊流动能衰减历程与过滤后的CBC实验数据吻合良好.     

Fast prediction of aerodynamic noise induced by the flow around a cylinder based on deep neural network

Accurate and fast prediction of aerodynamic noise has always been a research hotspot in fluid mechanics and aeroacoustics. The conventional prediction methods based on numerical simulation often demand huge computational resources, which are difficult to balance between accuracy and efficiency. Here, we present a data-driven deep neural network (DNN) method to realize fast aerodynamic noise prediction while maintaining accuracy. The proposed deep learning method can predict the spatial distributions of aerodynamic noise information under different working conditions. Based on the large eddy simulation turbulence model and the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings acoustic analogy theory, a dataset composed of 1216 samples is established. With reference to the deep learning method, a DNN framework is proposed to map the relationship between spatial coordinates, inlet velocity and overall sound pressure level. The root-mean-square-errors of prediction are below 0.82 dB in the test dataset, and the directivity of aerodynamic noise predicted by the DNN framework are basically consistent with the numerical simulation. This work paves a novel way for fast prediction of aerodynamic noise with high accuracy and has application potential in acoustic field prediction.     

Prediction of Liner Metal Temperature of an Aeroengine Combustor with Multi-Physics Scale-Resolving CFD

Computational Fluid Dynamics is a fundamental tool to simulate the flow field and the multi-physics nature of the phenomena involved in gas turbine combustors, supporting their design since the very preliminary phases. Standard steady state RANS turbulence models provide a reasonable prediction, despite some well-known limitations in reproducing the turbulent mixing in highly unsteady flows. Their affordable cost is ideal in the preliminary design steps, whereas, in the detailed phase of the design process, turbulence scale-resolving methods (such as LES or similar approaches) can be preferred to significantly improve the accuracy. Despite that, in dealing with multi-physics and multi-scale problems, as for Conjugate Heat Transfer (CHT) in presence of radiation, transient approaches are not always affordable and appropriate numerical treatments are necessary to properly account for the huge range of characteristics scales in space and time that occur when turbulence is resolved and heat conduction is simulated contextually. The present work describes an innovative methodology to perform CHT simulations accounting for multi-physics and multi-scale problems. Such methodology, named U-THERM3D, is applied for the metal temperature prediction of an annular aeroengine lean burn combustor. The theoretical formulations of the tool are described, together with its numerical implementation in the commercial CFD code ANSYS Fluent. The proposed approach is based on a time de-synchronization of the involved time dependent physics permitting to significantly speed up the calculation with respect to fully coupled strategy, preserving at the same time the effect of unsteady heat transfer on the final time averaged predicted metal temperature. The results of some preliminary assessment tests of its consistency and accuracy are reported before showing its exploitation on the real combustor. The results are compared against steady-state calculations and experimental data obtained by full annular tests at real scale conditions. The work confirms the importance of high-fidelity CFD approaches for the aerothermal prediction of liner metal temperature.     

Adaptation of mesoscale turbulence parameterisation schemes as RANS closures for ABL simulations

The present study presents different k-ε turbulence closures for atmospheric boundary layer flows using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations that are consistent with inflow conditions from numerical weather prediction (NWP) simulations. Eight different mesoscale turbulence parameterisation schemes of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model are covered. To ensure consistency between the NWP and CFD simulations, different closure coefficients of the k ? ε turbulence model for each NWP scheme are proposed. This is achieved by combining production–dissipation closure coefficient relationships based on the Monin–Obukhov similarity theory and the formulation based on the Coriolis parameter proposed by Detering and Etling. The proposed methodology has been implemented in the open source CFD toolbox OpenFOAM and is demonstrated at near-neutral stability conditions for the classical Askervein Hill case.     

A LES/PDF simulator on block-structured meshes

A block-structured mesh large-eddy simulation (LES)/probability density function (PDF) simulator is developed within the OpenFOAM framework for computational modelling of complex turbulent reacting flows. The LES/PDF solver is a hybrid solution methodology consisting of (i) a finite-volume (FV) method for solving the filtered mass and momentum equations (LES solver), and (ii) a Lagrangian particle-based Monte Carlo algorithm (PDF solver) for solving the modelled transport equation of the filtered joint PDF of compositions. Both the LES and the PDF methods are developed and combined to form a hybrid LES/PDF simulator entirely within the OpenFOAM framework. The in situ adaptive tabulation method [S.B. Pope, Computationally efficient implementation of combustion chemistry using in situ adaptive tabulation, Combust. Theory Model. 1 (1997), pp. 41–63; L. Lu, S.R. Lantz, Z. Ren, and B.S. Pope, Computationally efficient implementation of combustion chemistry in parallel PDF calculations, J. Comput. Phys. 228 (2009), pp. 5490–5525] is incorporated into the new LES/PDF solver for efficient computations of combustion chemistry with detailed reaction kinetics. The method is designed to utilise a block-structured mesh and can readily be extended to unstructured grids. The three-stage velocity interpolation method of Zhang and Haworth [A general mass consistency algorithm for hybrid particle/finite-volume PDF methods, J. Comput. Phys. 194 (2004), pp. 156–193] is adapted to interpolate the LES velocity field onto particle locations accurately and to enforce the consistency between LES and PDF fields at the numerical solution level. The hybrid algorithm is fully parallelised using the conventional domain decomposition approach. A detailed examination of the effects of each stage and the overall performance of the velocity interpolation algorithm is performed. Accurate coupling of the LES and PDF solvers is demonstrated using the one-way coupling methodology. Then the fully two-way coupled LES/PDF solver is successfully applied to simulate the Sandia Flame-D, and a turbulent non-swirling premixed flame and a turbulent swirling stratified flame from the Cambridge turbulent stratified flame series [M.S. Sweeney, S. Hochgreb, M.J. Dunn, and R.S. Barlow, The structure of turbulent stratified and premixed methane/air flames I: Non-swirling flows, Combust. Flame 159 (2012), pp. 2896–2911; M.S. Sweeney, S. Hochgreb, M.J. Dunn, and R.S. Barlow, The structure of turbulent stratified and premixed methane/air flames II: Swirling flows, Combust. Flame 159 (2012), pp. 2912–2929]. It is found that the LES/PDF method is very robust and the results are in good agreement with the experimental data for both flames.     

Application of frequency-domain linearized Euler solutions to the prediction of aft fan tones and comparison with experimental measurements on model scale turbofan exhaust nozzles

Although it is widely accepted that aircraft noise needs to be further reduced, there is an equally important, on-going requirement to accurately predict the strengths of all the different aircraft noise sources, not only to ensure that a new aircraft is certifiable and can meet the ever more stringent local airport noise rules but also to prioritize and apply appropriate noise source reduction technologies at the design stage. As the bypass ratio of aircraft engines is increased - in order to reduce fuel consumption, emissions and jet mixing noise - the fan noise that radiates from the bypass exhaust nozzle is becoming one of the loudest engine sources, despite the large areas of acoustically absorptive treatment in the bypass duct. This paper addresses this ‘aft fan’ noise source, in particular the prediction of the propagation of fan noise through the bypass exhaust nozzle/jet exhaust flow and radiation out to the far-field observer. The proposed prediction method is equally applicable to fan tone and fan broadband noise (and also turbine and core noise) but here the method is validated with measured test data using simulated fan tones. The measured data had been previously acquired on two model scale turbofan engine exhausts with bypass and heated core flows typical of those found in a modern high bypass engine, but under static conditions (i.e. no flight simulation). The prediction method is based on frequency-domain solutions of the linearized Euler equations in conjunction with perfectly matched layer equations at the inlet and far-field boundaries using high-order finite differences. The discrete system of equations is inverted by the parallel sparse solver MUMPS. Far-field predictions are carried out by integrating Kirchhoff's formula in frequency domain. In addition to the acoustic modes excited and radiated, some non-acoustic waves within the cold stream-ambient shear layer are also captured by the computations at some flow and excitation frequencies. By extracting phase speed information from the near-field pressure solution, these non-acoustic waves are shown to be convective Kelvin-Helmholtz instability waves. Strouhal numbers computed along the shear layer, based on the local momentum thickness also confirm this in accordance with Michalke's instability criterion for incompressible round jets with a similar shear layer profile. Comparisons of the computed far-field results with the measured acoustic data reveal that, in general, the solver predicts the peak sound levels well when the farfield is dominated by the in-duct target mode (the target mode being the one specified to the in-duct mode generator). Calculations also show that the agreement can be considerably improved when the non-target modes are also included, despite their low in-duct levels. This is due to the fact that each duct mode has its own distinct directionality and a non-target low level mode may become dominant at angles where the higher-level target mode is directionally weak. The overall agreement between the computations and experiment strongly suggests that, at least for the range of mean flows and acoustic conditions considered, the physical aeroacoustic radiation processes are fully captured through the frequency-domain solutions to the linearized Euler equations and hence this could form the basis of a reliable aircraft noise prediction method.     

Application of similarity laws to the blade passage sound of centrifugal fans

This paper is concerned with similarity laws governing the harmonic components of the sound radiated from centrifugal fans. Measurements are made with two precisely similar fans having impellers of 140 mm and 280 mm diameter. The experimental apparatus used is in accordance with the in-duct method suggested in a recent ISO-proposal [1]. The present experimental results verify Weidemann's [2] formulation of similarity laws, which describes the radiated sound pressure as a product of non-dimensional terms. The experiments also prove that it is possible to extrapolate data from a model fan to other geometrically similar fans of different size.     

Validation of flow simulation and gas combustion sub-models for the CFD-based prediction of NOx formation in biomass grate furnaces

While reasonably accurate in simulating gas phase combustion in biomass grate furnaces, CFD tools based on simple turbulence–chemistry interaction models and global reaction mechanisms have been shown to lack in reliability regarding the prediction of NO_x formation. Coupling detailed NO_x reaction kinetics with advanced turbulence–chemistry interaction models is a promising alternative, yet computationally inefficient for engineering purposes. In the present work, a model is proposed to overcome these difficulties. The model is based on the Realizable k–? model for turbulence, Eddy Dissipation Concept for turbulence–chemistry interaction and the HK97 reaction mechanism. The assessment of the sub-models in terms of accuracy and computational effort was carried out on three laboratory-scale turbulent jet flames in comparison with the experimental data. Without taking NO_x formation into account, the accuracy of turbulence modelling and turbulence–chemistry interaction modelling was systematically examined on Sandia Flame D and Sandia CO/H₂/N₂ Flame B to support the choice of the associated models. As revealed by the Large Eddy Simulations of the former flame, the shortcomings of turbulence modelling by the Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) approach considerably influence the prediction of the mixing-dominated combustion process. This reduced the sensitivity of the RANS results to the variations of turbulence–chemistry interaction models and combustion kinetics. Issues related to the NO_x formation with a focus on fuel bound nitrogen sources were investigated on a NH₃-doped syngas flame. The experimentally observed trend in NO_x yield from NH₃ was correctly reproduced by HK97, whereas the replacement of its combustion subset by that of a detailed reaction scheme led to a more accurate agreement, but at increased computational costs. Moreover, based on results of simulations with HK97, the main features of the local course of the NO_x formation processes were identified by a detailed analysis of the interactions between the nitrogen chemistry and the underlying flow field.     

Studies of the flow and turbulence fields in a turbulent pulsed jet flame using LES/PDF

A turbulent piloted jet flame subject to a rapid velocity pulse in its fuel jet inflow is proposed as a new benchmark case for the study of turbulent combustion models. In this work, we perform modelling studies of this turbulent pulsed jet flame and focus on the predictions of its flow and turbulence fields. An advanced modelling strategy combining the large eddy simulation (LES) and the probability density function (PDF) methods is employed to model the turbulent pulsed jet flame. Characteristics of the velocity measurements are analysed to produce a time-dependent inflow condition that can be fed into the simulations. The effect of the uncertainty in the inflow turbulence intensity is investigated and is found to be very small. A method of specifying the inflow turbulence boundary condition for the simulations of the pulsed jet flame is assessed. The strategies for validating LES of statistically transient flames are discussed, and a new framework is developed consisting of different averaging strategies and a bootstrap method for constructing confidence intervals. Parametric studies are performed to examine the sensitivity of the predictions of the flow and turbulence fields to model and numerical parameters. A direct comparison of the predicted and measured time series of the axial velocity demonstrates a satisfactory prediction of the flow and turbulence fields of the pulsed jet flame by the employed modelling methods.     

Kinetic modeling of a high power fast-axial-flow CO2 laser with computational fluid dynamics method

A new computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method for the simulation of fast-axial-flow CO2 laser is developed.The model which is solved by CFD software uses a set of dynamic differential equations to describe the dynamic process in one discharge tube.The velocity,temperature,pressure and turbulence energy distributions in discharge passage are presented.There is a good agreement between the theoretical prediction and the experimental results.This result indicates that the parameters of the laser have significant effect on the flow distribution in the discharge passage.It is helpful to optimize the output of high power CO2 laser by mastering its kinetic characteristics.