Large Eddy Simulations of the Flow in the Near-Field Region of a Turbulent Buoyant Helium Plume

Large eddy simulations are conducted in the near-field region of a large turbulent buoyant helium plume. The CFD package FireFOAM is applied to that purpose. The transient and mean flow dynamics are discussed as a function of grid resolution, with and without the use of the standard Smagorinsky subgrid scale (SGS) model. Small scale structures, formed at the edge of the plume inlet due to baroclinic and gravitational mechanisms and subject to flow instabilities, interact with large scale features of the flow, resulting in a puffing cycle. In general, the LES calculations reproduce the main features of the turbulent plume, with better agreement when the Smagorinsky type SGS model is applied. In particular, the puffing cycle is recovered in the simulations with correct frequency. The mean and rms values of the velocity components are well predicted with use of the SGS model, even on relatively coarse meshes. Agreement for the species mass fraction (mean and rms values) is less satisfactory, but in line with results found in the literature.