Numerical predictions of the bifurcation of confined swirling flows

The bifurcation of confined swirling flows was numerically investigated by employing both the k-? and algebraic stress turbulence models. Depending upon the branch solution examined, dual flow patterns were predicted at certain swirl levels. In the lower-branch solution which is obtained by gradually increasing the swirl level from a low-swirl flow, the flow changes with increasing swirl number from the low-swirl flow pattern to a high-swirl flow pattern. In the upper-branch solution which is acquired by gradually decreasing the swirl level from a high-swirl flow, on the other hand, the flow can maintain itself in the high-swirl flow pattern at the swirl levels where it exhibits the low-swirl flow pattern in the lower branch. The bifurcation of confined swirling flows was predicted with either the k-? model or the algebraic stress model being employed. Both the k-? and algebraic stress models result in comparable and sufficiently good predictions for confined swirling flows if high-order numerical schemes are used. The reported poor performance of the k-? model was clarified to be mainly attributable to the occurrence of the bifurcation and the use of low-order numerical schemes.     

Control volume finite element solution of confined turbulent swirling flows

A control volume finite element method that uses a triangular grid has been applied for solving confined turbulent swirling flows. To treat the velocity-pressure coupling, the vorticity-streamfunction formulation has been used. For turbulence effects the k-? model has been adopted. Consistent with the use of wall functions in the near-wall regions, a boundary condition for the calculation of the vorticity at computational boundaries is proposed and used effectively. The discretized equations are obtained by making use of an exponential interpolation function. Its use has been beneficial in reducing numerical diffusion. Comparisons of the current predictions with available experimental and numerical data from the literature showed generally fair agreement.     

Hot flow analysis of swirling sudden-expansion dump combustor

Hot flow of a sudden-expansion dump combustor with swirling is analysed by employing an infinite chemical reaction rate. Turbulence properties are closed using one type of algebraic Reynolds stress model and two types of κ–? model. One of the κ–? models includes a swirling effect modification to the ε-equation. Computations have been performed by the SIMPLE-C algorithm with a power-law scheme. The calculated results of the momentum fields and turbulence quantities for swirling flow are compared with the available experimental data. It is shown that the standard κ–? model gives poor prediction of the mean velocity, particularly the tangential velocity. For the hot flow analysis of a sudden-expansion dump combustor with swirling flow it is suggested that it is necessary to use the modified κ–? model or algebraic Reynolds stress model.     

Characterization of particle-laden, confined swirling flows by phase-doppler anemometry and numerical calculation

The particle dispersion characteristics in a confined swirling flow with a swirl number of approx. 0.5 were studied in detail by performing measurements using phase-Doppler anemometry (PDA) and numerical predictions. A mixture of gas and particles was injected without swirl into the test section, while the swirling airstream was provided through a co-flowing annular inlet. Two cases with different primary jet exit velocities were considered. For these flow conditions, a closed central recirculation bubble was established just downstream of the inlet.

The PDA measurements allowed the correlation between particle size and velocity to be obtained and also the spatial change in the particle size distribution throughout the flow field. For these results, the behaviour of different size classes in the entire particle size spectrum, ranging from about 15 to 80 μm, could be studied, and the response of the particles to the mean flow and the gas turbulence could be characterized. Due to the response characteristics of particles with different diameters to the mean flow and the flow turbulence, a considerable separation of the particles was observed which resulted in a streamwise increase in the particle mean number diameter in the core region of the central recirculation bubble. For the lower particle inlet velocity (i.e. low primary jet exit velocity), this effect is more pronounced, since here the particles have more time to respond to the flow reversal and the swirl velocity component. This also gave a higher mass of recirculating particle material.

The numerical predictions of the gas flow were performed by solving the time-averaged Navier-Stokes equations in connection with the well known kε turbulence model. Although this turbulence model is based on the assumption of isotropic turbulence, the agreement of the calculated mean velocity profiles compared to the measured gas velocities is very good. The gas-phase turbulent kinetic energy, however, is considerably underpredicted in the initial mixing region. The particle dispersion characteristics were calculated by using the Lagrangian approach, where the influence of the particulate phase on the gas flow could be neglected, since only very low mass loadings were considered. The calculated results for the particle mean velocity and the mass flux are also in good agreement with the experiments. Furthermore, the change in the particle mean diameter throughout the flow field was predicted approximately, which shows that the applied simple stochastic dispersion model also gives good results for such very complex flows. The variation of the gas and particle velocity in the primary inlet had a considerable impact on the particle dispersion behaviour in the swirling flow and the particle residence time in the central recirculation bubble, which could be determined from the numerical calculations. For the lower particle inlet velocity, the maximum particle size-dependence residence time within the recirculation region was considerably shifted towards larger particles.     

Calculation of complex near-wall turbulent flows with a low-Reynolds-number k-ϵ model

An improved low-Reynolds-number k-? model has been formulated and tested against a range of DNS (direct numerical simulation) and experimental data for channel and complex shear layer flows. The model utilizes a new form of damping function adopted to account for both wall proximity effects and viscosity influences and a more flexible damping argument based on the gradient of the turbulent kinetic energy on the wall. Additionally, the extra production of the inhomogeneous part of the viscous dissipation near a wall has been added to the dissipation equation with significantly improved results. The proposed model was successfully applied to the calculation of a range of wall shear layers in zero, adverse and favourable pressure gradients as well as backward-facing-step separated flows.     

Numerical simulation of swirling flow in diffusers

A reduced form of Navier–Stokes equations is developed which does not have the usual minimum axial step size restriction. The equations are able to predict accurately turbulent swirling flow in diffusers. An efficient single sweep implicit scheme is developed in conjunction with a variable grid size domain-conforming co-ordinate system. The present scheme indicates good agreement with experimental results for (1) turbulent pipe flow, (2) turbulent diffuser flow, (3) turbulent swirling diffuser flow. The strong coupling between the swirl and the axial velocity profiles outside of the boundary layer region is demonstrated.     

Development of a hybrid k-ε turbulence model for swirling recirculating flows under moderate to strong swirl intensities

A hybrid k-ε turbulence model, based on the concept that the modification of anisotropic effects should not be made in the flow regions inherent to small streamline curvatures, has been developed and examined with the swirling recirculating flows, with the swirl levels ranging from 0·6 to 1·23 in abrupt pipe expansion. A fairly satisfactory agreement of model predictions with the experimental data shows that this hybrid k-ε model can perform better simulation of swirling recirculating flows as compared to the standard k-ε model and the modified k-ε model proposed by Abujelala and Lilley.     

Modelling of particle-wall collisions in confined gas-particle flows

This paper demonstrates that numerical simulations of confined particulate two-phase flows require a detailed modelling of particle—wall collisions which includes the wall surface structure and the particle shape. These effects are taken into account by “irregular bouncing” models which are based on the statistical treatment of the collision process. In this study, results obtained using various “irregular bouncing” models based on the impulse equations for a particle—wall collision are considered and compared with experimental observations. The wall roughness is simulated by assuming that the particle collides with a virtual wall which has a randomly distributed inclination with respect to the plane, smooth wall. A Gaussian distribution for this random inclination showed the best agreement with experimental results. Numerical predictions of a turbulent two—phase flow in a vertical channel, where the particle phase is treated using a Lagrangian approach, showed that the different models applied for a particle-wall collision have a strong effect on the particle velocity fluctuations and the mass flux profiles in the region of fully developed flow. The numerical simulations using the irregular bouncing models yielded considerably higher values for the particle velocity fluctuations, which also agreed better with the experimental values. This effect was most pronounced for large particles, where the distance they need to respond to the fluid flow is larger than the characteristic dimension of the confinement. On the other hand, the motion of small particles is less affected by the choice of the wall-collision model. These effects of the wall roughness on the velocity fluctuations of the dispersed phase have not been considered in previous studies using irregular bouncing models.     

Computation of turbulent asymmetric wake

The development of asymmetric wake behind an aerofoil in turbulent incompressible flow has been computed using finite volume scheme for solving two-dimensional Navier-Stokes equations along with the k-ε model of turbulence. The results are compared with available experimental data. It is observed that the computed shift of the point of minimum velocity with distance is sensitive to the prescribed value of the normal component of velocity at the trailing edge of the aerofoil. Making the model constant C_u as a function of streamline curvature and changing the production term in the equation for ε, has only marginal influence on the results.     

Computation of strongly swirling confined flows with cubic eddy‐viscosity turbulence models

An investigation on the predictive performance of four cubic eddy‐viscosity turbulence models for two strongly swirling confined flows is presented. Comparisons of the prediction with the experiments show clearly the superiority of cubic models over the linear k–εmodel. The linear k–εmodel does not contain any mechanism to describe the stabilizing effects of swirling motion and as a consequence it performs poorly. Cubic models return a lower level of Reynolds stresses and the combined forced‐free vortex profiles of tangential velocity close to the measurements in response to the interaction between swirl‐induced curvature and stresses. However, a fully developed rotating pipe flow is too simple to contain enough flow physics, so the calibration of cubic terms is still a topic of investigation. It is shown that explicit algebraic stress models require fewer calibrations and contain more flow physics. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction of wake in a curved duct

Experimental data on the development of an aerofoil wake in a curved stream are compared with calculations based on the k-ε model of turbulence with standard constants and with the model constant C_μ dependent on the local curvature. The mean velocity profile is asymmetric, the half-width of the wake is more on the inner side of the curved duct than on the outer side, and the turbulent shear stress decreases rapidly on the outer side. The standard k-ε model is able to satisfactorily reproduce this behaviour. Making C_μ dependent on the local radius improves the agreement on the inner side but slightly worsens it on the outer side.     

环形通道内湍流旋流流动的数值模拟

本文应用一种考虑湍流－旋流相互作用及湍流脉动各向异性的新的代数Ｒｅｙｎｏｌｄｓ应力模型,对环形通道内的湍流旋流流动进行了数值模拟,研究了改主为旋流流数,进口轴向速度及半径比等参数对环形通道内湍流流动的影响,以及对强化环形通道内传热的作用。     

Computation of normal impinging jets in cross-flow and comparison with experiment

The PHOENICS code has been used to model the flow field surrounding subsonic and underexpanded jets impinging on a ground plane in the presence of a cross-flow, for cases with both a fixed ground plane and a ‘rolling road’. The standard k-ε turbulence model is used, without correction factors. It is confirmed that this overpredicts the free jet entrainment rate; the wall jet spreading rate is slightly underpredicted but the initial thickness is too high. Agreement with experiment is, nevertheless, much better than for previous calculations, showing the importance of the extent of the grid used. The ground vortex formed in cross-flow is shown to move with varying effective velocity ratio and with rolling road operation in the same manner as experimentally observed. Ground vortex self-similarity is also accurately predicted with the numerical modelling.     

Cubic eddy‐viscosity turbulence models for strongly swirling confined flows with variable density

An investigation on the predictive performance of cubic eddy‐viscosity turbulence models for strongly swirling confined flows with variable density is presented. Comparisons of the prediction with the experiments show some improvements of cubic models over the linear k–ε model. The linear k–ε model does not contain any mechanism to represent the interaction of swirl and density variation and as a consequence it performs poorly. With appropriate modelling, two‐equation cubic turbulence models can capture the subcritical nature of the flow, represent the azimuthal velocity profiles of combined forced‐free vortex motion, and predict the combined effects of swirl and density variation fairly well. However, the calibration of model coefficients is still a topic of investigation. Further amendments are also needed for the equations of k and ε to take into account the effects of swirl and density gradients correctly. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Prediction of turbulent wall shear flows directly from wall

The fully elliptic Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations have been used together with Lam and Bremhorst's low-Reynolds-number model, Chen and Patel's two-layer model and a two-point wall function method incorporated into the standard k-? model to predict channel flows and a backward-facig step flow. These flows enable the evaluation of the performance of different near-wall treatments in flows involving streamwise and normal pressure gradients, flows with separation and flows with non-equilibrium turbulence characteristics. Direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a channel flow with Re =3200 further provides the detailed budgets of each modelling term of the k and ?-transport equations. Comparison of model results with DNS data to evaluate the performance of each modelling term is also made in the present study. It is concluded that the low-Reynolds-number model has wider applicability and performs better than the two-layer model and wall function approaches. Comparison with DNS data further shows that large discrepancies exist between the DNS budgets and the modelled production and destruction terms of the ? equation. However, for simple channel flow the discrepancies are similar in magnitude but opposite in sign, so they are cancelled by each other. This may explain why, even when employing such an inaccurately modelled ?-equation, one can still predict satisfactorily some simple turbulent flows.     

Examination of wall damping for the k-ε turbulence model using direct simulations of turbulent channel flow

Handler, Hendricks and Leighton have recently reported results for the direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a turbulent channel flow at moderate Reynolds number. These data are used to evaluate the terms in the exact and modelled transport equations for the turbulence kinetic energy k and the isotropic dissipation function ε. Both modelled transport equations show significant imbalances in the high-shear region near the channel walls. The model for the eddy viscosity is found to yield distributions for the production terms which do not agree well with the distributions calculated from the DNS data. The source of the imbalance is attributed to the wall-damping function required in eddy viscosity models for turbulent flows near walls. Several models for the damping function are examined, and it is found that the models do not vary across the channel as does the damping when evaluated from the DNS data. The Lam-Bremhorst model and the standard van Driest model are found to give reasonable agreement with the DNS data. Modification of the van Driest model to include an effective origin yields very good agreement between the modelled production and the production calculated from the DNS data, and the imbalance in the modelled transport equations is significantly reduced.     

Computation of axisymmetric confined jets in a diffuser

The paper reports on a numerical study of turbulent confined jets in a conical duct with a 5° divergence. The flow has a large ratio of jet to ambient velocities at the entrance so that it gives rise to strong recirculation. The calculations are carried out with a general finite volume method designed for calculating incompressible elliptic flows with complex boundaries. Turbulence is simulated by the standard κ–? model. The sensitivity of the solution to numerical discretization errors is examined using three convection schemes, i.e. hybrid central/upwind differencing, QUICK and SOUCUP, on two grids consisting of 68 × 50 and 102 × 82 points respectively. An examination is also made of the influence of inlet boundary conditions on the predicted flow field. The computed results are compared with experimental data for mean axial velocity, turbulent shear stress and turbulent kinetic energy profiles. It is shown that the calculations reproduce the essential features of the flow observed in the experiments.     

Numerical simulation of axisymmetric turbulent flow in combustors and diffusers

Numerical studies of turbulent flow in an axisymmetric 45° expansion combustor and bifurcated diffuser are presented. The Navier-Stokes equations incorporating a k–? model were solved in a non-orthogonal curvillinear co-ordinate system. A zonal grid method, wherein the flow field was divided into several subsections, was developed. This approach permitted different computational schemes to be used in the various zones. In addition, grid generation was made a more simple task. However, treatment of the zonal boundaries required special handling. Boundary overlap and interpolating techniques were used and an adjustment of the flow variables was required to assure conservation of mass flux. Three finite differencing methods—hybrid, quadratic upwind and skew upwind—were used to represent the convection terms. Results were compared with existing experimental data. In general, good agreement between predicted and measured values was obtained.     

Numerical modelling of complex turbulent free‐surface flows with the SPH method: an overview

The gridless smoothed particle hydrodynamics (SPH) method is now commonly used in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and appears to be promising in predicting complex free‐surface flows. However, increasing flow complexity requires appropriate approaches for taking account of turbulent effects, whereas some authors are still working without any turbulence closure in SPH. A review of recently developed turbulence models adapted to the SPH method is presented herein, from the simplistic point of view of a one‐equation model involving mixing length to more sophisticated (and thus realistic) models like explicit algebraic Reynolds stress models (EARSM) or large eddy simulation (LES). Each proposed model is tested and validated on the basis of schematic cases for which laboratory data, theoretical or numerical solutions are available in the general field of turbulent free‐surface incompressible flows (e.g. open‐channel flow and schematic dam break). They give satisfactory results, even though some progress should be made in the future in terms of free‐surface influence and wall conditions. Recommendations are given to SPH users to apply this method to the modelling of complex free‐surface turbulent flows. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.