A robust methodology for RANS simulations of highly underexpanded jets

This work aims at developing/combining numerical tools adapted to the simulation of the near field of highly underexpanded jets. An overview of the challenging numerical problems related to the complex shock/expansion structure encountered in these flows is given and an efficient and low‐cost numerical strategy is proposed to overcome these, even on short computational domains. Based on common upwinding algorithms used on unstructured meshes in a mixed finite‐volume/finite‐element approach, it relies on an appropriate utilization of zonal anisotropic remeshing algorithms. This methodology is validated for the whole near field of cold air jets issuing from axisymmetric convergent nozzles and yielding various underexpansion ratios. In addition, the most usual corrections of the k–ε model used to take into account the compressibility effects on turbulence are precisely assessed. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Supersonic liquid jets: Their generation and shock wave characteristics

The generation of high-speed liquid (water and diesel fuel) jets in the supersonic range using a vertical single-stage powder gun is described. The effect of projectile velocity and mass on the jet velocity is investigated experimentally. Jet exit velocities for a set of nozzle inner profiles (e.g. straight cone with different cone angles, exponential, hyperbolic etc.) are compared. The optimum condition to achieve the maximum jet velocity and hence better atomization and mixing is then determined. The visual images of supersonic diesel fuel jets (velocity about 2000 m/s) were obtained by the shadowgraph method. This provides better understanding of each stage of the generation of the jets and makes the study of their characteristics and the potential for auto-ignition possible. In the experiments, a pressure relief section has been used to minimize the compressed air wave ahead of the projectile. To clarify the processes inside the section, additional experiments have been performed with the use of the shadowgraph method, showing the projectile travelling inside and leaving the pressure relief section at a velocity of about 1100 m/s. Received 23 January 2001 / Accepted 2 July 2001     

Numerical simulation of thermally and chemically nonequilibrium flows and heat transfer in underexpanded induction plasmatron jets

The results of numerical simulation are presented for thermally and chemically nonequilibrium air plasma flows in a plasmatron discharge channel and underexpanded dissociated and partially ionized air jets flowing past a cylindrical model with a blunt leading edge and cooled copper surface under the experimental conditions realized in a VGU-4 100 kW induction plasmatron (Institute for Problems in Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Sciences) (see, for example, [1, 2]). The nonequilibrium excitation of the vibrational degrees of freedom of the molecules in the modal approximation and the difference between the electron and translational heavy-particle temperatures are taken into account in the calculations. The calculated data on the heat transfer and pressure at the stagnation point are compared with the results obtained within the framework of the thermally equilibrium model. Comparison with the experimental data obtained in the Institute for Problem in Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (Laboratory for interaction between plasma and radiation and materials) and kindly provided for comparison purposes gives satisfactory agreement.     

Numerical calculations of supersonic underexpanded jets in a cocurrent flow with the use of parabolized Navier-Stokes equations

Results of a numerical study of three-dimensional supersonic jets propagating in a cocurrent flow are described. Averaged parabolized Navier-Stokes equations are solved numerically on the basis of a developed scheme, which allows calculations in supersonic and subsonic flow regions to be performed in a single manner. A jet flow with a cocurrent flow Mach number 0.05 ⩽ M_∞ ⩽ 7.00 is studied, and its effect on the structure of the mixing layer is demonstrated. The calculated results are compared with available experimental and numerical data. __________ Translated from Prikladnaya Mekhanika i Tekhnicheskaya Fizika, Vol. 49, No. 3, pp. 54–63, May–June, 2008.     

The structure of particle-laden,underexpanded free jets

Underexpanded, supersonic gas-particle jets were experimentally studied using the shadowgraph technique in order to examine the influence of the dispersed particles on the shape of the free jet and the structure of the imbedded shock waves. The particle mass loading at the nozzle exit was varied between zero and one, and two sizes of particles (i.e. spherical glass beads) with mean number diameters of 26 and 45 m were used. It was found that the Mach-disc moves upstream towards the orifice with increasing particle loading. The laser light sheet technique was also used to visualize the particle concentration distribution within the particle jet and the spreading rate of the particle jet. Furthermore, the particle velocity along the jet centerline was measured with a modified laser-Doppler anemometer. These measurements revealed that the particles move considerably slower than the gas flow at the nozzle exit. This is mainly the result of the particle inertia, whereby the particles are not accelerated to sonic speed in the converging part of the nozzle.In order to further explore the particle behavior in the free jet, numerical studies were performed by a combined Eulerian/Lagrangian approach for the gas and particle phases, including full coupling between the two phases. The numerical results showed that the application of different particle velocities at the nozzle exit as the inlet conditions, which were below the sonic speed of the gas phase has a significant influence on the free jet shape and the configuration of the shock waves. These results demonstrate that the assumption of equilibrium flow (i.e. zero slip between the phases) at the nozzle exit which has been applied in most of the previous numerical studies is not justified in most cases. Furthermore, the numerical calculations of the free jet shape and the particle velocity along the jet axis were compared with the measurements. Although correlations for rarefaction and compressibility effects in the drag coefficient were taken into account, the particle velocity along the center line was considerably overpredicted.This article was processed using Springer-Verlag T_EX Shock Waves macro package 1.0 and the AMS fonts, developed by the American Mathematical Society.     

Propagation characteristics of pressure disturbances originated by gas jets in fluidized beds

An experimental investigation has been carried out on velocities and amplitudes of pressure disturbances in fluidized beds made of 100–200 μm glass ballotini. Disturbances were originated by gas jetting in a 0.35 m i.d. fluidized bed. A fluidization tube 0.10 m i.d. has also been used. Different types of disturbances have been induced in the bed contained in this tube: injection of a freely rising bubble and of a captive bubble; injection of a bubble chain; and compression of the bed free surface. The dynamic wave character of the disturbances has been shown. Velocities and amplitudes of waves moving through the beds have been measured. In particular, wave velocities have been compared with theoretical results obtained by the application of “pseudo-homogeneous” and “separated phase flow” models.     

Internal streamwise action of saw-tooth sound waves on turbulent jets

The results of an experimental investigation of the acoustic field produced by turbulent subsonic jets under internal acoustic excitation are presented. It is shown that under the action of saw-tooth finite-amplitude waves the turbulent jets can radiate Mach waves into the ambient medium due to compact acoustic disturbances traveling along the jet at a velocity greater than the speed of sound in the surrounding space.Translated from Izvestiya Rossiiskoi Academii Nauk, Mekhanika Zhidkosti i Gaza, No. 5, 2004, pp. 153–158. Original Russian Text Copyright © 2004 by Pimshtein.     

Flow and breakup characteristics of elliptical liquid jets

This paper presents the results of an experimental study on liquid jets discharging from elliptical orifices into still ambient air. The experiments were conducted with a set of elliptical orifices of approximately same area of cross section but varying orifice aspect ratio using water and water–glycerol mixture as experimental fluids. The flow behavior of liquid jets was analyzed using their photographs captured by an imaging system. The measurements obtained for the elliptical liquid jets were compared with the circular liquid jets discharging from a circular orifice of the same area of cross section. Elliptical geometry of the orifice results in a flow process by which the emanating liquid jet periodically switches its major and minor axes as it flows downstream of the orifice. In this paper, we attempt to characterize the axis-switching process through its wavelength and amplitude. For a given elliptical orifice, the axis-switching process is dominantly seen in a particular range of flow conditions. The effects of the orifice aspect ratio and liquid viscosity on the axis-switching process are revealed through this study. The experimental results on jet breakup show that axis-switching process has a destabilizing effect on elliptical liquid jets within a particular range of flow conditions and it results in shorter breakup lengths compared to the circular jet. The extent to which axis-switching destabilizes the jet is dictated by the viscosity of liquid. An increase in orifice aspect ratio destabilizes elliptical liquid jets with low viscosity like water; however, this behavior seems to get obscured in water–glycerol mixture elliptical jets due to high viscosity.     

Linear instability characteristics of incompressible coaxial jets

The present study deals with the local linear instability of axisymmetric coaxial jets with a duct wall separating the two streams. The flow is assumed to be locally parallel, inviscid and incompressible. The objective of the work is to understand how the various parameters describing this flow geometry (i.e. boundary layers thicknesses at the exit, velocity ratio, wall thickness) may influence the instability of the flow and, in particular, the convective/absolute instability transition. A specific family of profiles is chosen for the modelling of the mean undisturbed flow and a spatial stability analysis is performed in order to identify the unstable modes and to assess how they are affected by the wake region behind the wall. An absolutely unstable mode is found, and its characteristics, depending on the velocity ratio and shear layers thicknesses, are determined. Results show that the absolute unstable mode is present only for a limited range of velocity ratios and that the corresponding frequency is almost constant if normalized with the mean velocity and wake thickness. This frequency value and the extension of the range of velocity ratios is similar to those found in the experiments on a similar geometry. Finally, a specific velocity ratio is found that maximizes the region at the jet exit for which an absolute instability behind the wall is present. This may increase the possibility for the onset of a global mode that may sustain the instability of the whole jet, enhancing considerably the mixing and entrainment characteristics between the two streams.     

Visualization of turbulent combustion of TNT detonation products in a steel vessel

Mixing and afterburning of TNT detonation products in a steel vessel are recorded by the use of the Schlieren visualization system and high speed photography. The vessel is filled with air or 50% oxygen enriched air. Overpressure histories at the vessel wall are also recorded by using pressure transducers. In these experiments nitrogen, air or 50% oxygen enriched air are used as vessel fillers. The Oppenheim-Kuhl theory of thermodynamics of closed systems is applied to estimate the released energy on the basis of pressure histories. Received 29 August 1999 / Accepted 21 January 2000     

Large Eddy Simulation of the sound field of a round turbulent jet

In this paper we will use Large Eddy Simulation (LES) to obtain the flow field of a turbulent round jet at a Reynolds number based on the jet orifice velocity of 11000. In the simulations it is assumed that the flow field is incompressible. The acoustic field of the jet is calculated with help of the Lighthill acoustic analogy. The coupling between the flow solver and the acoustic solver is discussed in detail. The Mach number used in the acoustic calculation was equal to 0.6. It is shown that the decay of the jet centerline velocity and centerline rms are in good agreement with experimental data of [12]. Furthermore, it is shown that the influence of the LES modeling on the acoustic field is very small, if the dynamic subgrid model is used.     

Flow and Heat Transfer in Underexpanded Air Jets Issuing from the Sonic Nozzle of a Plasma Generator

We present the results of an experimental investigation and numerical simulation of the gasdynamic structure of underexpanded dissociated-air jets and the heat transfer in these strongly nonequilibrium flows under the test conditions realized in the 100-kW electrodeless VGU-4 plasma generator of the Institute for Problems in Mechanics of the Russian Academy of Sciences (IPM RAS). The flow and heat transfer analysis is carried out on the basis of measurements of the static pressure in the plenum chamber, at the sonic nozzle exit, and on the low-pressure chamber wall, the stagnation pressure on the jet axis using a Pitot tube, and the heat transfer at the stagnation points of water-cooled models placed along the jet axis. The numerical simulation, based on complete Navier-Stokes equations, includes the calculation of (1) equilibrium air plasma flows in the discharge channel of the VGU-4 plasma generator; (2) underexpanded nonequilibrium dissociated-air jet outflow into the ambient space; and (3) axisymmetric jet flow past cylindrical models.     

Evolution of flow structure in impinging three-dimensional axial and radial jets

Direct numerical simulations of the flow field of an element of banks of impinging axial and radial slot jets for different Reynolds number are presented. Simulations have been obtained from the solution of the Navier–Stokes equations. Results show for the chosen geometry a transition from steady to periodic to chaotic flow with increasing Reynolds number. The transition Reynolds number is nearly 50% smaller for the radial jet than for the axial jet. Period doubling has been observed for both cases, but only the radial jet shows periodic windows of chaos. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

On the mixing of axi-symmetric ducted jets

Because of practical application to jet pumps, ejectors, furnaces and similar devices, the turbulent discharge of a round jet into a coaxial duct and the mixing patterns in the various regions into which the flow may be divided, are of considerable interest. In this paper the mixing of an incompressible jet with a similar fluid in a cylindrical tube is considered up to the plane which marks the disappearance of potential flow. Under the assumption of similarity of velocity profile and with neglect of the wall boundary layer and nozzle wake, the continuity and momentum equations, in integral form, are solved for the velocities and mixing region radii at any given section. Prandtl's momentum transfer hypothesis may be used to determine the dependence of these on distance downstream. By examining the various flow regimes in detail this analysis is formally able to cover ratios of primary to secondary flow velocities of from one to infinity and, similarly, all ratios of duct to nozzle diameters, thereby extending earlier investigations. It also corrects work on similar basis in which inappropriate linearisations were made. The ‘exact’ results constitute a basis from which extension to include additional effects may be made.     

Similarity solutions of round jets and plumes

Theκ-εturbulence model,considering the effect of buoyancy on turbulentkinetic energy and its dissipation rate,is adopted to present a mathematical model forround plumes and jets.There are similarity solutions in the uniform environment.Taking into account the conservation of momentum and heat flux.Finite AnalyticMethod is applied to obtain the similarity functions of velocity,temperature andturbulent kinetic energy.The agreement between the calculated and experimental datais good.     

Self sustained oscillations and collective behaviours in a lattice of jets

Strongly interacting aligned multiple jets are produced behind a perforated plate placed in a uniform flow. The performation patterns investigated experimentally are a square and a triangular lattice of holes with diametersd ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm and of mesh sizeM ranging from 2.54 mm to 25.4 mm. At moderate Reynolds numbers (Re=ud/<3000), each laminar jet develops instabilities causing its effective diameter to increase, thus leading the parallel jets to merge at a distanceL from the plate. The merging distanceL is shown to exhibit a low frequency self sustained oscillation around its mean value with a lateral correlation length much larger than the mesh size. Both the merging distanceL and the oscillation frequency are shown to be functions ofM and of the jet velocity. At larger values ofRe, the merging distance approaches a constant mean value and the amplitude of the oscillations becomes vanishingly small.At the scale of the mesh of the lattice, the oscillating phenomena is shown to result from the local confinement of the jet by its nearby neighbours. This observation is consistent with the fact that when the effect of the nearby jets is simulated by rigid walls, the frequency of the jet's oscillations is found to be of the same order. The influence of the hydrodynamical régime of the individual jets on the oscillations and the role of the lattice pattern on the collective behaviour is discussed on hand of an original model which focuses on the role of the recirculation zone on the delayed non linear saturation of the instabilities of the jet.     

双股燃气射流在充液室内扩展特性的实验研究

为了探索高温高压双股燃气射流在整装式液体工质中的扩展特性,设计了五级圆柱渐扩型观察室和圆柱型观察室,借助数字高速录像系统,观察了双股燃气射流在充液室中的扩展过程,对比了不同的观察室边界以及不同的参数条件对双股燃气射流扩展过程的影响。实验结果表明,圆柱渐扩型观察室结构更有助于改善气液的掺混特性,通过参数的合理匹配可以一定程度上控制双股燃气射流在三维充液室中的扩展过程。     

Diffusion flame analysis of twin plane jets via a kinetic theory approach

Diffusion flame solutions of twin plane jets based on a turbulent kinetic theory due to Chung and a Green function method by Hong are presented. The chemical reaction between fuel and oxidizer is assumed to be one-step, one-direction and infinitely fast. The solutions are obtained by direct integration over a constructed probability density function in velocity space. The probability density functions of reactants in transverse velocity space, species mass fraction distributions, turbulent transport of momentum and heat, temperature distributions and flame structure are also considered in this paper. The diffusion flame phenomena of the twin plane jets show that the interaction between the two jets is a dominant factor.     

Study of periodically excited bubbly jets by PIV and double optical sensors

Interactions between large coherent structures and bubbles in two-phase flow can be systematically observed in a periodically excited bubbly jet. Controlled excitation at fixed frequency causes large eddy structures to develop at regular intervals. Thus, interactions between large vortices and bubbles can be studied with PIV and double optical sensors (DOS) using phase-averaging techniques. A number of results on the time and space dependence of velocities and void fractions are presented revealing physical interactions between the liquid flow field and bubble movement as well as feedbacks from bubble agglomeration on the development of flow structures. A clear indication of bubble trapping inside the vortex ring is the generation of a bubble ring that travels with the same velocity as the vortex ring. The DOS results indicate clustering of the bubbles in coherent vortex structures, with a periodic variation of void fraction during the excitation period.