Turbulent transport in an inclined jet in crossflow

The present study experimentally investigates a turbulent jet in crossflow relevant to film cooling applications. The jet is inclined at 30°, and its mean velocity is the same as the crossflow. Magnetic resonance imaging is used to obtain the full three-dimensional velocity and concentration fields, whereas Reynolds stresses are obtained along selected planes by Particle Image Velocimetry. The critical role of the counter-rotating vortex pair in the mixing process is apparent from both velocity and concentration fields. The jet entrainment is not significantly higher than in an axisymmetric jet without crossflow, because the proximity of the wall inhibits the turbulent transport. Reynolds shear stresses correlate with velocity and concentration gradients, consistent with the fundamental assumptions of simple turbulence models. However the eddy viscosity is strongly anisotropic and non-homogeneous, being especially low along the leeward side of the jet close to injection. Turbulent diffusion acts to decouple mean velocity and concentration fields, as demonstrated by the drop in concentration flux within the streamtube issued from the hole. Volume-averaged turbulent diffusivity is calculated using a mass–flux balance across the streamtube emanating from the jet hole, and it is found to vary slowly in the streamwise direction. The data are compared with Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes simulations with standard k − ε closure and an optimal turbulent Schmidt number. The computations underestimate the strength of the counter-rotating vortex pair, due to an overestimated eddy viscosity. On the other hand the entrainment is increasingly underpredicted downstream of injection. To capture the correct macroscopic trends, eddy viscosity and eddy diffusivity should vary spatially in different ways. Therefore a constant turbulent Schmidt number formulation is inadequate for this flow.     

Turbulent Scalar Mixing in a Skewed Jet in Crossflow: Experiments and Modeling

Turbulent mixing of an inclined, skewed jet injected into a crossflow is investigated using MRI-based experiments and a high-fidelity LES of the same configuration. The MRI technique provides three-dimensional fields of mean velocity and mean jet concentration. The 30° skew of the jet relative to the crossflow produces a single dominant vortex which introduces spanwise asymmetries to the velocity and concentration fields. The turbulent scalar transport of the skewed jet is investigated in further detail using the LES, which is validated against the experimental measurements. Mixing is found to be highly anisotropic throughout the jet region. Isotropic turbulent diffusivity and viscosity are used to calculate an optimal value of the turbulent Schmidt number, which varies widely over the jet region and lies mostly outside of the typically accepted range 0.7 ≤ S c _t ≤ 0.9. Finally, three common scalar flux models of increasing complexity are evaluated based on their ability to capture the anisotropy and predict the scalar concentration field of the present configuration. The higher order models are shown to better represent the turbulent scalar flux vector, leading to more accurate calculations of the concentration field. While more complex models are better able to capture the turbulent mixing, optimization of model constants is shown to significantly affect the results.     

Scale resolving simulations of a high-temperature turbulent jet in a cold crossflow: Comparison of two approaches

A high-temperature turbulent jet in a cold crossflow is investigated with the help of two scale-resolving simulation approaches. This work aims at improving the methodologies used to predict the thermal footprint of exhaust gases issuing from helicopter engines onto the fuselage. Specific attention is brought to the capability of scale resolving simulations to correctly reproduce flow dynamics and turbulent mixing. Mean flow features, turbulent quantities and temperature fields are compared and validated against wind tunnel test measurements. In addition, the present work highlights the importance of synthetic turbulence injection at pipe inlet to obtain a fair prediction of both flow dynamics and temperature field.     

Round turbulent jet in a crossf low

We examine the discharge of a turbulent jet from a round opening into an infinite uniform crossflow and find the form of the jet centerline and the distribution of the maximum velocities in the jet along the axis. It is shown that the calculated jet axes and velocity distributions agree well with the experimental values for different ratios of the velocity at the source exit to the crossflow velocity and for different angles of entry of the jet into the crossflow. The study [1] formed the basis for the proposed semiempirical theory.     

横向紊动射流的数值与实验研究进展

横向紊动射流作为流体运动的一种重要类型,广泛存在于如: 燃气轮机气膜冷却、锅炉燃烧室等的燃烧控制, V/STOL(垂直或短距离起落)飞机、废气排放的控制等工程实际应用中.由于射流的存在,增加了流场的复杂性,流场中同时存在射流剪切层涡、马蹄形涡系、反向旋涡对和尾迹涡等4种涡系结构,这对流体力学理论研究具有重要意义.长期以来,研究人员从理论分析、实验测量和数值模拟方面对横向紊动射流进行了大量的研究工作,目前已经认识了流场中的许多流动特性和流动机理.从数值模拟和实验研究两个方面,比较并分析了国内外横向紊动射流研究的现状和研究结果,评述了不同湍流模型以及不同的实验测量方法对横向紊动射流的预测能力,讨论了存在的问题并对该领域的研究方向进行了展望.      

Stochastic Simulation of Scalar Mixing Capturing Unsteadiness and Small-scale Structure Based on Mean-flow Properties

A key limitation of Reynolds-Average Navier-Stokes (RANS) simulation of mixing and reaction in turbulent flows is the lack of resolution of small-scale structure and associated unsteadiness. Various subgrid models formulated in state space have been developed to complement the RANS solution in this regard. We here introduce a physical-space formulation that captures unsteady advective and diffusive processes at all scales of the turbulent flow. The approach is a 3D construction based on the Linear Eddy Model (LEM), involving three orthogonally intersecting arrays of 1D LEM domains, and coupled so as to capture the 3D character of fluid trajectories. To illustrate the model performance of the 3D LEM-based formulation, here termed LEM3D, multi-stream mixing in a turbulent round jet is simulated using measured mean-flow properties as input. Comparison to scalar cross-correlation coefficients and other measured properties of this mixing configuration indicate that the LEM3D approach, in conjunction with flow properties that are provided by steady-state models, is a useful representation of complex turbulent mixing processes that would otherwise be difficult to capture within a steady-state CFD framework.     

Concentration fluctuations in a turbulent jet

Using Spalding's model of turbulence in a turbulent shear flow, we have calculated the root-mean-square value of the concentration fluctuations inside a turbulent jet. Although we used the same equations and the same solution technique as Spalding, we have not been able to find precisely his numerical results derived for a jet issuing into a fluid at rest with the same density as the jet. The differences between our numerical results, Spalding's numerical results and the experimental data of Becker, Hottel and Williams are fairly small only if the initial values of the turbulence energy and the mixing length inside the jet and the turbulence in the ambient fluid are taken into account in the model. For a turbulent jet issuing into a turbulently flowing surrounding stream of different density, we found that the relative concentration fluctuations can increase considerably. This brings out the importance of taking into account property variables in analysing turbulent mixing processes.     

Dynamics of the flowfield generated by the interaction of twin inclined jets of variable temperatures with an oncoming crossflow

The present paper examines the common configuration of “twin inclined jets in crossflow” that is widely present in several industrial and academic, small and large-scale applications. It is particularly found in aerodynamic and engineering applications like VTOL aircrafts, the combustion mixing process and other chemical chambers. It can also be found in some domestic applications like chimney stacks or water discharge piping systems in rivers and seas. The twin jets considered in this work are elliptic as inclined with a 60° angle and arranged inline with the oncoming crossflow according to a jet spacing of three diameters. They are examined experimentally in a wind tunnel. The corresponding data is tracked by means of the particle image velocimetry technique in order to obtain the different instantaneous and mean dynamic features (different velocity components, vortices, etc.). The same case is numerically reproduced by the resolution of the Navier–Stokes equations by means of the finite volume method together with the Reynolds stress model second order turbulent closure model. A non-uniform mesh system tightened close to the emitting nozzles is also adopted. The comparison of the measured and calculated data gave a satisfying agreement. Further assumptions are adopted later in order to improve the examined configuration: a non-reactive fume is injected within the discharged jets and the jets’ temperature is varied with reference to a constant mainstream temperature. Our aim is to evaluate precisely the impact of this temperature difference on the flow field, particularly on the dynamics of the jets in a crossflow. This parameter, namely the temperature difference, proved mainly to accelerate the discharged jet plumes in the direction of the main flow, which enhanced the mixing, particularly in the longitudinal direction. The mixing in the other directions was also increased due to the weaker density of the jets, which enabled them to progress relatively unhindered before undergoing the impact of the crossflow.     

The effect of a single vortex generator jet on the characteristics of a turbulent boundary layer

A flat plate experiment was performed in a water tunnel to determine the effects of a vortex generator jet on the characteristics of a turbulent boundary layer at various wall normal locations. The results show that the characteristic distributions of the turbulent fluctuation quantities are nearly unaffected by the induced vortex structures neither in the steady nor in the dynamic blowing case. The shear layer interaction between the turbulent main flow and the jet flow produces less turbulent fluctuations than it is expected from a turbulent free jet flow. Thus, the mixing process of this flow control strategy is based only on a large-scale momentum transport superimposed by the turbulent fluctuation quantities. This allows a separation of scales for physical interpretation and numerical simulations.     

Promotion of Turbulent Thermal Mixing of Hot and Cold Airflows in T-junction

An experimental study has been conducted on the promotion and control of turbulent thermal mixing of hot and cold airflows in a T-junction with rectangular cross sections, which simulates the HVAC unit for automobile air-conditioning system. In order to promote the turbulent thermal mixing, small jets have been blown into the main channel at the upstream edge of the T-junction in the direction of 45° against the main flow. Turbulence intensity in the upper part of the thermal mixing layer can be increased with these jets, and consequently the turbulent mixing of hot and cold airflows is promoted effectively. Moreover, it has been found that the degree of thermal mixing can be controlled by changing the jet velocity.     

Effect of Nozzle Exit Turbulence on the Column Trajectory and Breakup Location of a Transverse Liquid Jet in a Gaseous Flow

This study examines the effect of fully developed turbulent flow at the exit of nozzle/injector on the trajectory and column breakup location of a liquid jet injected transverly into a gaseous crossflow. Liquid jet trajectory and column breakup for different nozzle geometries at different velocities of liquid jet and crossflow are analytically and experimentally Investigated. Shadowgraph imaging technique is used to determine the jet trajectory and breakup location of a transverse liquid jet in a uniform airflow. Particle image velocimetry (PIV) is used to measure the near-field velocity profile of a liquid jet discgarged into a quiescent atmosphere. The experimental results show a higher penetration and breakup height for the liquid jet ensuing from a nozzle with a smaller length to diameter ratio. This is due to the surface irregularities of the liquid column of a turbulent jet, which breaks up and consequently follows the cross airflow sooner. In order to capture the effect of turbulence, the analytical trajectory correlation developed in our previous studies is modified to account for the discharge coefficient of a nozzle. The discharge coefficient is estimated indirectly by comparing the liquid column trajectory predicted by the modified analytical correlation with that determined experimentally. The indirectly determined discharge coefficient is then used in the analytical correlation for predicting the breakup height of a transverse liquid jet. The results predicted using this approach are in good agreement with the experimental data of the present study at standard temperature and pressure (STP) test conditions.     

Effects of Small- and Large-Scale Structures in a Piloted Jet Diffusion Flame

Laser Doppler Anemometry (LDA) and Planar Laser-Induced Fluorescence (PLIF) measurements have been performed in a turbulent nonpremixed jet flame. One of the features of this configuration is a central co-axial fuel jet surrounded by a turbulent annular air flow. The whole is placed within a low-speed coflowing air stream. This three-flow system with turbulent primary air differs from flow systems used for nonpremixed jet flames reported in the literature and is very useful for obtaining information on the mixing process between fuel and primary air. Next to the characterization of the velocity field, special attention has been paid to the conditional seeding of the central fuel jet and of the annular air flow. Together with visualizations of the OH radical, an important combustion intermediate which is formed during combustion, and the NO radical, which is seeded to the central jet flow, the resulting statistics reveal the properties of small- and large-scale structures in the flame.     

Measurements of turbulent flow in axially finned rod bundles

The hydraulic characteristics in subchannels of axially finned rod bundles installed in the Korea Multipurpose Research Reactor (KMRR) were measured using one-component laser-Doppler velocimetry (LDV). Pressure drops for each component, time mean axial velocity, and axial turbulent intensity were measured. Then the friction factors in rod bundles were estimated from the measured pressure drops. The turbulent crossflow mixing rate between neighboring subchannels was evaluated from the measured data. The results show that (1) the friction factors for axially finned rod bundles are less than those given by Moody's correlation for smooth tubes, and (2) as the flow develops, the turbulent crossflow mixing rate between neighboring subchannels decreases and, in the developed region, the values level out.     

The stability and development of tip and root vortices behind a model wind turbine

An inclined turbulent jet discharging a passive scalar into a turbulent crossflow is investigated under conditions of favorable, zero and adverse streamwise pressure gradient. Experiments are conducted in water by means of magnetic resonance velocimetry and magnetic resonance concentration measurements. The velocity ratio and density ratio are equal to one for all cases. The flow configuration is relevant to film cooling technology, the molecular properties of the fluid being immaterial in the fully turbulent regime. Under favorable pressure gradient (FPG), the streamwise acceleration tilts the jet trajectory toward the wall, which would be beneficial for the film cooling performance. However, the counter-rotating vortex pair is strengthened in the accelerating flow by streamwise stretching. Also, the crossflow boundary layer is significantly thickened by increasingly adverse pressure gradient, which affects the mass transfer from the jet. Overall, the more intense counter-rotating vortices and the thinner boundary layer associated with increasingly FPG enhance the scalar dispersion into the main flow, hampering the film cooling performance in terms of surface effectiveness.     

Turbulent flow through bifurcated nozzles

A finite-element model has been used to study steady-state turbulent flow through bifurcated submerged-entry nozzles with oversized ports typical of those used in the continuous casting of steel. Both 2D and 3D simulations have been performed with the commercial code FIDAP, using the standard K–? turbulence model. Predicted velocities from 3D simulations compare reasonably with experimental measurements using a hot-wire anemometer conducted in a physical water model, where severe turbulent fluctuations are present. Results show that a 2D simulation can also capture the main flow characteristics of the jet existing the nozzle and requires two orders of magnitude less computer time than the 3D simulation. A model combining the nozzle and mould was set up to study the effect of the outlet boundary conditions of the nozzle on the jet characteristics. This modelling technique will assist in the design of submerged-entry nozzles, especially as applied to enhance steel quality in the continuous casting process. Further, the model will provide appropriate inlet boundary conditions for a separate numerical model of the mould.     

Testing an Improved Artificial Viscosity Advection Scheme to Minimise Wiggles in Large Eddy Simulation of Buoyant Jet in Crossflow

Obtaining accurate and wiggle free Large Eddy Simulation (LES) results of high Re configurations with obstacles is a challenge, especially when the resolution is moderate. This study focusses on LES of buoyant jet in crossflow (JICF). The zone in front of the jet is sensitive for wiggle formation because the jet acts as an obstacle. Only 10 grid cells over the diameter of the jet at outflow are used in order to be able to simulate very large mixing areas with limited CPU power. The resolution increases rapidly to 30–50 cells over the diameter of the bend over jet further downstream. This study tests an artificial viscosity advection scheme with sixth order dissipation, called AV6, which dissipates wiggles adequately with almost no dissipation on physical relevant scales. This desirable behaviour is demonstrated by a Fourier analysis of the Advection-Diffusion equation and turbulent flow simulations. AV6 is a mix of, and improvement over, the artificial viscosity scheme of Jameson et al. (1981) with fourth order dissipation, here called AV4, and a fifth order upwind scheme (UPW5) of Wicker and Skamarock (Mon Weather Rev 130:2088, 2002). AV6 is a robust, simple and easy to implement advection scheme and the total computational time of a simulation with AV6 is only a few percent more than with the second order central scheme (CDS2). Three realistic turbulent flow problems, relevant for buoyant JICF, are used to compare the performance of AV6 with CDS2, AV4 and UPW5 with each other and with experiments. Different grid resolutions and sub-grid scale models are used. The three test cases are a non-buoyant JICF, a buoyant jet in weak coflow, and a buoyant JICF. Of all tested advection schemes, AV6 produces best results and is preferred for LES of buoyant JICF.     

Large-eddy Simulation of Film Cooling Flows with Variable Density Jets

The present paper investigates the impact of the velocity and density ratio on the turbulent mixing process in gas turbine blade film cooling. A cooling fluid is injected from an inclined pipe at α=30° into a turbulent boundary layer profile at a freestream Reynolds number of Re_∞ = 400,000. This jet-in-a-crossflow (JICF) problem is investigated using large-eddy simulations (LES). The governing equations comprise the Navier–Stokes equations plus additional transport equations for several species to simulate a non-reacting gas mixture. A variation of the density ratio is simulated by the heat-mass transfer analogy, i.e., gases of different density are effused into an air crossflow at a constant temperature. An efficient large-eddy simulation method for low subsonic flows based on an implicit dual time-stepping scheme combined with low Mach number preconditioning is applied. The numerical results and experimental velocity data measured using two-component particle-image velocimetry (PIV) are in excellent agreement. The results show the dynamics of the flow field in the vicinity of the jet hole, i.e., the recirculation region and the inclination of the shear layers, to be mainly determined by the velocity ratio. However, evaluating the cooling efficiency downstream of the jet hole the mass flux ratio proves to be the dominant similarity parameter, i.e., the density ratio between the fluids and the velocity ratio have to be considered.     

Mixing and coherent vortices in turbulent coaxial jets

Direct numerical simulations associated with mixing in constant-density round coaxial jets are performed. They are validated by comparison against laboratory experiments. The mixing process is studied by seeding a passive tracer first in the outer annular jet, then in the inner jet. We demonstrate the important role played by coherent vortices in the mixing mechanisms. The turbulent mixing exhibits an intermittent character as a consequence of fluid ejections caused by the counter-rotating streamwise vortices. We quantify also the domination of the outer jet and show that the fluid issuing from the central jet remains confined. To cite this article: G. Balarac, M. Si-Ameur, C. R. Mecanique 333 (2005).     

Experimental and numerical analysis of the jet dispersion from a bent chimney around an obstacle

An experimental study and a numerical modelling analysis were carried out simultaneously to study the flow field structure issuing from a chimney around an obstacle. The main purpose of this study is to evaluate the impact of the jet emitted from a chimney (bent or straight) on the dynamics and the turbulent features of the surrounding flow. The consideration of these features is particularly pertinent to the understanding of mixing between the interacting flows which may be very important in controlling pollutant dispersion in the atmosphere. The experimental data are depicted by means of a PIV technique; whereas the numerical three-dimensional model is simulated through the resolution of the different governing Navier–Stokes equations. The volume finite method, together with the second order turbulent closure model (RSM), was adopted. Variations in obstacle form (cylindrical or parallelepiped) and chimney configuration (bent or straight) were tested and features studied were: the global jet plume, the windward and leeward jet spread; the size, location and magnitude of the reverse flow region; the penetration and the deflection of the jet trajectory around the obstacle. All these considerations allowed us to characterize well the impact of the injection of the jet emitted from the chimney within the crossflow, and its spreading around the obstacle and within the whole domain. Such characterization is very important with regard to pollutant dispersion and consequently to the environmental impact. Indeed, the different species contained within the emitted fumes are mainly directed by the velocity components and their mixing and progression within the domain and around the obstacle are closely related.     

Self-sustained global oscillations in a jet in crossflow

A jet in crossflow with an inflow ratio of 3, based on the maximum velocity of the parabolic jet profile, is studied numerically. The jet is modeled as an inhomogeneous boundary condition at the crossflow wall. We find two fundamental frequencies, pertaining to self-sustained oscillations in the flow, using full nonlinear direct numerical simulation (DNS) as well as a modal decomposition into global linear eigenmodes and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) modes; a high frequency which is characteristic for the shear-layer vortices and the upright vortices in the jet wake, and a low frequency which is dominant in the region downstream of the jet orifice. Both frequencies can be related to a region of reversed flow downstream of the jet orifice. This region is observed to oscillate predominantly in the wall-normal direction with the high frequency, and in the spanwise direction with the low frequency. Moreover, the steady-state solution of the governing Navier?CStokes equations clearly shows the horseshoe vortices and the corresponding wall vortices further downstream, and the emergence of a distinct counter-rotating vortex pair high in the free stream. It is thus found that neither the inclusion of the jet pipe nor unsteadiness is necessary to generate the characteristic counter-rotating vortex pair.