Numerical solution of the three‐dimensional fluid flow in a rotating heterogeneous porous channel

A numerical solution to the problem of the three‐dimensional fluid flow in a long rotating heterogeneous porous channel is presented. A co‐ordinate transformation technique is employed to obtain accurate solutions over a wide range of porous media Ekman number values and consequent boundary layer thicknesses. Comparisons with an approximate asymptotic solution (for large values of Ekman number) and with theoretical predictions on the validity of Taylor–Proudman theorem in porous media for small values of Ekman number show good qualitative agreement. An evaluation of the boundary layer thickness is presented and a power‐law correlation to Ekman number is shown to well‐represent the results for small values of Ekman number. The different three‐dimensional fluid flow regimes are presented graphically, demonstrating the distinct variation of the flow field over the wide range of Ekman numbers used. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of thermal stratification on ekman flow stability

The stability of the Ekman thermally stratified boundary layer simulating the atmospheric boundary layer is studied theoretically. The system of thermohydrodynamic equations is solved in the Boussinesq approximation. Two mechanisms of development of the vortex structures, namely, thermal and dynamic, as well as their interaction, are investigated. It is shown that a sharp boundary on which the flow characteristics change qualitatively exists between various domains of the parameters corresponding to thermal and dynamic instabilities. Moscow. Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Akademii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 3, pp. 71–76, May–June, 1998. The work was carried out with financial support from the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (project No. 96-01-01118).     

Flow structures,nonlinear inertial waves and energy transfer in rotating spheres

We investigate flow structures, nonlinear inertial waves and energy transfer in a rotating fluid sphere, using a Galerkin spectral method based on helical-wave decomposition (HWD). Numerical simulations of flows in a sphere are performed with different system rotation rates, where a large-scale forcing is employed. For the case without system rotation, the intense vortex structures are tube-like. When a weak rotation is introduced, small-scale structures are reduced and vortex tubes tend to align with the rotation axis. As the rotation rate increases, a large-scale anticyclonic vortex structure is formed near the rotation axis. The structure is shown to be led by certain geostrophic modes. When the rotation rate further increases, a cyclone and an anticyclone emerge from the top and bottom of the boundary, respectively, where two quasi-geostrophic equatorially symmetric inertial waves dominate the flow. Based on HWD, effects of spherical confinement on rotating turbulence are systematically studied. It is found that the forward cascade becomes weaker as the rotation increases. When the rotation rate becomes larger than some critical value, dual energy cascades emerge, with an inverse cascade at large scales and a forward cascade at small scales. Finally, the flow behavior near the boundary is studied, where the average boundary layer thickness gets smaller when system rotation increases. The flow behavior in the boundary layer is closely related to the interior flow structures, which create significant mass flux between the boundary layer and the interior fluid through Ekman pumping.     

Note on the Finite Element Formulation of the Ekman Potential Flow Model for Wind Fields Over Complex Terrain

A finite element formulation to solve the Ekman potential flow model for wind fields over complex terrain is presented. Appropriate combinations of the boundary conditions on the artificial boundary surfaces are investigated in the formulation. Numerical examples show that the computed wind fields exhibit the typical features of the wind velocity profile in the Ekman boundary layer. Influence of the terrain topography is also observed.     

Hydrodynamic stability of the Ekman boundary layer including interaction with a compliant surface: a numerical framework

A model is developed for the interaction of the Ekman boundary layer with a compliant two-dimensional surface. To study the hydrodynamic instability of this interaction a new accurate numerical framework extending the compound matrix method is introduced. Preliminary results are presented on the implications of the compliant surface on the stability of the Ekman layer which show that the compliant surface has negligible effect on the critical Reynolds number.     

Study of the Log-Layer Structure in Wall Turbulence Over a Very Large Range of Reynolds Number

Studies of the logarithmic layer structure in turbulent boundary layers are presented that span three orders of magnitude change in Reynolds number. The experiments considered used two separate laboratory scale facilities, as well as the atmospheric surface layer at the SLTEST facility in Utah. Several experimental techniques were used in order to probe the three-dimensional nature of the flow structures. The main focus is on two-point correlation statistics at a given z/δ, which are found to agree well over all Reynolds numbers when scaled with an outer length-scale. Large-scale coherence recently noted in the logarithmic region of laboratory-scale boundary layers is also found to be present in the atmospheric surface layer flow. Recent findings regarding the influence of these large scale motions on the near-wall region are also presented.     

Similarity of apparently random structures in the outer region of wall turbulence

Structural similarities between samples of individual, apparently random structures in various wall-bounded turbulent flows are examined using a template-matching technique. Two-dimensional structural patterns obtained by particle image velocimetry in a turbulent boundary layer are sampled along streamwise lines to extract one-dimensional spatial series that are used as templates. These templates are correlated with time series data obtained in turbulent pipe flow, turbulent channel flow, and atmospheric boundary layer flow in order to determine the frequency and coherency with which similar structures occur. The results indicate that a small ensemble of templates from one flow can be concatenated to represent a large fraction of the entire velocity-time history of each of the other flows by using episodes during which the various templates correlate well. Thus, within the pipe flow, channel flow, and atmospheric boundary layer, one frequently finds detailed time series segments that coincide closely, i.e., in fine detail, with a handful of templates found in a laboratory boundary layer. This type of similarity, which includes seemingly random, fine details at large and small scales, is much stronger than similarity based on statistical comparisons. The individual templates that work best, i.e., those that most frequently yield episodes of high correlation, are segments of hairpin-vortex packets. The high frequency with which these particular structures occur suggests that they are common features of all wall-bounded turbulent flows, including turbulent flows at very high Reynolds number such as the atmospheric boundary layer.     

Ekman vortices and the centrifugal instability in counter-rotating cylindrical Couette flow

The finite length of a Taylor–Couette cell introduces endwall effects that interact with the centrifugal instability. We investigate the interaction between the endwall Ekman boundary layers and the vortical structures in a finite-length cavity with counter-rotating cylinders via direct numerical simulation using a three-dimensional spectral method. To analyze the nature of the interaction between the vortices and the endwall layers we consider four endwall boundary conditions: fixed endwalls, endwalls rotating with the outer cylinder, endwalls rotating with the inner cylinder, and stress-free endwalls. The vortical structure of the flow depends on the endwall conditions. The waviness of the vortices is suppressed only very near the endwall, primarily due to zero axial velocity at the endwall rather than viscous effects. In spite of their waviness and random behavior, the vortices generally stay inside of the v=0 isosurface by adjusting quickly to the radial transport of azimuthal momentum. The thickness and strength of the Ekman layer at the endwall match with that predicted from a simple theoretical approach.     

Turbulence Modeling for the Stable Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Implications for Wind Energy

The near-surface structure of atmospheric turbulence affects the design and operation of wind turbines and is especially difficult to predict under stably-stratified conditions. This study uses large-eddy simulation (LES) to explore properties of the stable boundary layer (SBL) using an explicit filtering and reconstruction turbulence modeling approach. Simulations of the atmospheric boundary layer over flat terrain, under both moderately and strongly stable conditions are performed. Results from high-resolution simulations are used to investigate SBL flow structures including mean profiles and turbulence statistics, which are relevant to wind energy applications. The applicability of power-law relations and empirical similarity formulations for predicting wind speed depend on the strength of stratification and are shown to be inadequate. Low-level jets form in the simulations. Under strong stability, vertical wind shear below the jet triggers intermittent turbulence. The associated sporadic “bursting” events are extremely energetic and last longer than the time scale of the largest eddies. Such phenomena can have adverse effects on turbine lifetime and performance.     

An Approach to Rotating Boundary Layers Based on Vector Radon Measures

In this paper we develop a new approach to rotating boundary layers via Fourier transformed finite vector Radon measures. As an application we consider the Ekman boundary layer. By our methods we can derive very explicit bounds for existence intervals and solutions of the linearized and the nonlinear Ekman system. For example, we can prove these bounds to be uniform with respect to the angular velocity of rotation which has proved to be relevant for several aspects (see introduction). Another advantage of our approach is that we obtain well-posedness in classes containing nondecaying vector fields such as almost periodic functions. These outcomes give respect to the nature of boundary layer problems and cannot be obtained by approaches in standard function spaces such as Lebesgue, Bessel-potential, Hölder or Besov spaces.     

Near-wake flow structure downwind of a wind turbine in a turbulent boundary layer

Wind turbines operate in the surface layer of the atmospheric boundary layer, where they are subjected to strong wind shear and relatively high turbulence levels. These incoming boundary layer flow characteristics are expected to affect the structure of wind turbine wakes. The near-wake region is characterized by a complex coupled vortex system (including helicoidal tip vortices), unsteadiness and strong turbulence heterogeneity. Limited information about the spatial distribution of turbulence in the near wake, the vortex behavior and their influence on the downwind development of the far wake hinders our capability to predict wind turbine power production and fatigue loads in wind farms. This calls for a better understanding of the spatial distribution of the 3D flow and coherent turbulence structures in the near wake. Systematic wind-tunnel experiments were designed and carried out to characterize the structure of the near-wake flow downwind of a model wind turbine placed in a neutral boundary layer flow. A horizontal-axis, three-blade wind turbine model, with a rotor diameter of 13 cm and the hub height at 10.5 cm, occupied the lowest one-third of the boundary layer. High-resolution particle image velocimetry (PIV) was used to measure velocities in multiple vertical stream-wise planes (x–z) and vertical span-wise planes (y–z). In particular, we identified localized regions of strong vorticity and swirling strength, which are the signature of helicoidal tip vortices. These vortices are most pronounced at the top-tip level and persist up to a distance of two to three rotor diameters downwind. The measurements also reveal strong flow rotation and a highly non-axisymmetric distribution of the mean flow and turbulence structure in the near wake. The results provide new insight into the physical mechanisms that govern the development of the near wake of a wind turbine immersed in a neutral boundary layer. They also serve as important data for the development and validation of numerical models.     

A study in transitional flat plate boundary layers: measurement and visualization

 This study is concerned with transition in flat plate boundary layer flow. Sets of results are obtained as follows: (1) Very clear pictures of the formation and the development of the butterfly-like structures rather than ∧-structures in the K-regime of boundary layer transition are obtained. (2) A chain of ring like vortices, which generate the high-frequency spikes on the time traces of velocity and still present periodical behaviour, at the tip of each ∧-vortex, which is the part of the butterfly-like structure, are visualized for the first time. (3) A wave-like structure is observed to occupy the whole boundary layer, extending from the near-wall region to the outer edge of the boundary layer. Received: 24 September 1998/Accepted: 24 April 1999     

Development of slow disturbances in a hypersonic boundary layer

The mechanisms of development of slow time-dependent disturbances in the wall region of a hypersonic boundary layer are established and a diagram of the disturbed flow patterns is plotted; the corresponding nonlinear boundary value problem is formulated for each of these regimes. It is shown that the main factors that form the disturbed flow are the gas enthalpy near the body surface, the local viscous-inviscid interaction level, and the type, either subsonic or supersonic, of the boundary layer as a whole. Numerical and analytical solutions are obtained in the linear approximation. It is established that enhancement of the local viscous-inviscid interaction or an increased role for the main supersonic region of the boundary layer makes the disturbed flow by and large “supersonic”: the upstream propagation of the disturbances becomes weaker, while their downstream growth is amplified. Contrariwise, local viscous-inviscid interaction attenuation or an increased role for the main subsonic region of the boundary layer has the opposite effect. Surface cooling favors an increased effect of the main region of the boundary layer while heating favors an increased wall region effect. It is also found that in the regimes considered disturbances travel from the turbulent flow region downstream of the disturbed region under consideration counter to the oncoming flow, which may be of considerable significance in constructing the nonlinear stability theory.     

Bifurcation of the stationary Ekman flow into a stable periodic flow

The two cases of stationary Ekman boundary layer flow of an incompressible fluid near i) a plane boundary and ii) a free surface with constant shear are considered. It is proven that a stable secondary flow in the form of traveling waves bifurcates from the stationary flow at a certain Reynolds number, and that the stationary flow is unstable above this number. The values of the critical Reynolds number and of the numbers that characterize the traveling wave are computed and compared with experimental values.     

Effect of an axial throughflow on buoyancy-induced flow in a rotating cavity

In this paper large-eddy simulation is used to study buoyancy-induced flow in a rotating cavity with an axial throughflow of cooling air. This configuration is relevant in the context of secondary air systems of modern gas turbines, where cooling air is used to extract heat from compressor disks. Although global flow features of these flows are well understood, other aspects such as flow statistics, especially in terms of the disk and shroud boundary layers, have not been studied. Here, previous work for a sealed rotating cavity is extended to investigate the effect of an axial throughflow on flow statistics and heat transfer. Time- and circumferentially-averaged results reveal that the thickness of the boundary layers forming near the upstream and downstream disks is consistent with that of a laminar Ekman layer, although it is shown that the boundary layer thickness distribution along the radial direction presents greater variations than in the sealed cavity case. Instantaneous profiles of the radial and azimuthal velocities near the disks show good qualitative agreement with an Ekman-type analytical solution, especially in terms of the boundary layer thickness. The shroud heat transfer is shown to be governed by the local centrifugal acceleration and by a core temperature, which has a weak dependence on the value of the axial Reynolds number. Spectral analyses of time signals obtained at selected locations indicate that, even though the disk boundary layers behave as unsteady laminar Ekman layers, the flow inside the cavity is turbulent and highly intermittent. In comparison with a sealed cavity, cases with an axial throughflow are characterised by a broader range of frequencies, which arise from the interaction between the laminar jet and the buoyant flow inside the cavity.     

A linear theory for Ekman's boundary layer according to a triple deck

The problem of the interaction between Ekman's classical boundary layer and that induced by a thermally non-homogeneous site shows that the latter is strongly linked to the order of magnitude of the horizontal scale of the site. Our purpose is the analysis of the local interaction equations (Boussinesq equations) starting from a triple-deck model. This analysis yields a system of quasi-linear equations for the viscous lower deck. The linear theory of this system shows that the thermal non-homogeneity has a significant influence on the Ekman boundary layer flow owing to the interactive nature of the triple-deck structure. The numerical solution of the quasi-linear system confirms to a large extent this influence. The numerical results are given in graph form. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Rotating electroosmotic flow of an Eyring fluid

A perturbation analysis is presented in this paper for the electroosmotic(EO) flow of an Eyring fluid through a wide rectangular microchannel that rotates about an axis perpendicular to its own. Mildly shear-thinning rheology is assumed such that at the leading order the problem reduces to that of Newtonian EO flow in a rotating channel, while the shear thinning effect shows up in a higher-order problem.Using the relaxation time as the small ordering parameter,analytical solutions are deduced for the leading-as well as first-order problems in terms of the dimensionless Debye and rotation parameters. The velocity profiles of the Ekman–electric double layer(EDL) layer, which is the boundary layer that arises when the Ekman layer and the EDL are comparably thin, are also deduced for an Eyring fluid. It is shown that the present perturbation model can yield results that are close to the exact solutions even when the ordering parameter is as large as order unity. By this order of the relaxation time parameter, the enhancing effect on the rotating EO flow due to shear-thinning Eyring rheology can be significant.     

Regime diagram of the development of long-wave near-wall disturbances in a hypersonic boundary layer

A regime diagram of the development of slow near-wall disturbances induced by an unsteady self-induced pressure perturbation in a hypersonic boundary layer is constructed for a disturbance wavelength greater than the boundary layer thickness. It is shown that the main factors shaping the perturbed flow are the gas enthalpy near the body surface, the intensity of the viscous-inviscid interaction, and the nature (sub- or supersonic) of the main part of the boundary layer. Nonlinear boundary-value problems are formulated for regimes in which the near-wall boundary layer region plays a decisive role. Numerical and analytical solutions are obtained in the linear approximation. It is shown that intensification of the viscous-inviscid interaction or an increase in the role of the supersonic main region of the boundary layer impart generally supersonic properties to the main part of the boundary layer, i.e. the upstream propagation of the disturbances is damped and the disturbance growth downstream becomes more intense. Damping of the viscous-inviscid interaction and an increase in the role of the subsonic main part of the boundary layer have the opposite effect. Surface cooling increases the effect of the main part of the boundary layer on the formation of pressure disturbances and surface heating leads to an increase in the effect of the near-wall boundary layer region. It is also shown that for the regimes considered disturbances propagate in a direction opposite to that of the free stream from the turbulent flow region located downstream of the local disturbance development region.Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Academii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 6, 2004, pp. 59–71. Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Bogolepov and Neiland.