scholarly journals Unsteady forcing of turbulence by a randomly actuated impeller array

2021 ◽  
Vol 63 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
John M. Lawson ◽  
Bharathram Ganapathisubramani
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Angular Speed ◽  
Unsteady Motion ◽  
Stirred Tanks ◽  
Stirred Reactor ◽  
Small Influence ◽  
Velocity Increments ◽  
Point Velocity

AbstractWe investigate the unsteady forcing of turbulent flow in a well-stirred reactor using opposing arrays of pitched-blade impellers which randomly and independently reverse rotation. We systematically explore the dependence of the large-scale motions and the homogeneity and isotropy of the turbulence upon the forcing. We identify three dimensionless control parameters: the source fraction (the fraction of time spent in clockwise motion), the dimensionless forcing period and an impeller Reynolds number. We find the timescale of unsteady motion corresponds to the forcing period T, the average period of impeller reversal, independently of the impeller angular speed $$\varOmega$$ Ω and source fraction. As in jet-stirred tanks, unsteady forcing substantially increases the unsteady kinetic energy, energy dissipation, integral length scale and Taylor microscale Reynolds number ($$R_\lambda$$ R λ ) and improves the homogeneity and isotropy of the flow, provided the source fraction is chosen optimally and the forcing period is sufficiently large ($$\varOmega T > 10^3$$ Ω T > 10 3 ); impeller Reynolds number has a relatively small influence. The forcing period must be matched to angular speed: decreasing the forcing period below this threshold results in a less intense, more inhomogeneous turbulent flow. Spectra of two-point velocity increments demonstrate that unsteady energy injection is dominated by axial shear generated across impellers and becomes less prominent at smaller scales. However, even at $$R_\lambda \approx 354$$ R λ ≈ 354 , the signature of this unsteady forcing can still be detected in near-dissipation-range statistics. These observations provide insight into optimisation of forcing and the mechanism of energy transfer when using unsteady forcing to generate turbulence in confined vessels. Graphical abstract

Fully resolved numerical simulation of particle-laden turbulent flow in a horizontal channel at a low Reynolds number

2012 ◽  
Vol 693 ◽  
pp. 319-344 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xueming Shao ◽  
Tenghu Wu ◽  
Zhaosheng Yu
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Horizontal Channel ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Channel Height ◽  
Wall Region ◽  
Sediment Layer ◽  
Particle Settling ◽  
Volume Fractions

AbstractA fictitious domain method is used to perform fully resolved numerical simulations of particle-laden turbulent flow in a horizontal channel. The effects of large particles of diameter 0.05 and 0.1 times the channel height on the turbulence statistics and structures are investigated for different settling coefficients and volume fractions (0.79 %–7.08 %) for the channel Reynolds number being 5000. The results indicate the following. (a) When the particle sedimentation effect is negligible (i.e. neutrally buoyant), the presence of particles decreases the maximum r.m.s. of streamwise velocity fluctuation near the wall by weakening the intensity of the large-scale streamwise vortices, while increasing the r.m.s. of the streamwise fluctuating velocity in the region very close to the wall and in the centre region. On the other hand, the particles increase the r.m.s. of transverse and spanwise fluctuating velocities in the near-wall region by inducing the small-scale vortices. (b) When the particle settling effect is so substantial that most particles settle onto the bottom wall and form a particle sediment layer (SL), the SL plays the role of a rough wall and parts of the vortex structures shedding from the SL ascend into the core region and substantially increase the turbulence intensity there. (c) When the particle settling effect is moderate, the effects of particles on the turbulence are a combination of the former two situations, and the Shields number is a good parameter for measuring the particle settling effects (i.e. the particle concentration distribution in the transverse direction). The average velocities of the particle are smaller in the lower half-channel and larger in the upper half-channel compared to the local fluid velocities in the presence of gravity effects. The effects of the smaller particles on the turbulence are found to be stronger at the same particle volume fractions.

Partially filled pipes: experiments in laminar and turbulent flow

2018 ◽  
Vol 848 ◽  
pp. 467-507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henry C.-H. Ng ◽  
Hope L. F. Cregan ◽  
Jonathan M. Dodds ◽  
Robert J. Poole ◽  
David J. C. Dennis
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Free Surface ◽  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Pipe Flow ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Open Channel ◽  
Streamwise Velocity ◽  
Flow Depth ◽  
Secondary Motion ◽  
Laminar And Turbulent Flow

Pressure-driven laminar and turbulent flow in a horizontal partially filled pipe was investigated using stereoscopic particle imaging velocimetry (S-PIV) in the cross-stream plane. Laminar flow velocity measurements are in excellent agreement with a recent theoretical solution in the literature. For turbulent flow, the flow depth was varied independently of a nominally constant Reynolds number (based on hydraulic diameter, $D_{H}$; bulk velocity, $U_{b}$ and kinematic viscosity $\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}$) of $Re_{H}=U_{b}D_{H}/\unicode[STIX]{x1D708}\approx 30\,000\pm 5\,\%$. When running partially full, the inferred friction factor is no longer a simple function of Reynolds number, but also depends on the Froude number $Fr=U_{b}/\sqrt{gD_{m}}$ where $g$ is gravitational acceleration and $D_{m}$ is hydraulic mean depth. S-PIV measurements in turbulent flow reveal the presence of secondary currents which causes the maximum streamwise velocity to occur below the free surface consistent with results reported in the literature for rectangular cross-section open channel flows. Unlike square duct and rectangular open channel flow the mean secondary motion observed here manifests only as a single pair of vortices mirrored about the vertical bisector and these rollers, which fill the half-width of the pipe, remain at a constant distance from the free surface even with decreasing flow depth for the range of depths tested. Spatial distributions of streamwise Reynolds normal stress and turbulent kinetic energy exhibit preferential arrangement rather than having the same profile around the azimuth of the pipe as in a full pipe flow. Instantaneous fields reveal the signatures of elements of canonical wall-bounded turbulent flows near the pipe wall such as large-scale and very-large-scale motions and associated hairpin packets whilst near the free surface, the signatures of free surface turbulence in the absence of imposed mean shear such as ‘upwellings’, ‘downdrafts’ and ‘whirlpools’ are present. Two-point spatio-temporal correlations of streamwise velocity fluctuation suggest that the large-scale coherent motions present in full pipe flow persist in partially filled pipes but are compressed and distorted by the presence of the free surface and mean secondary motion.

scholarly journals Effect of Reynolds number and inflow parameters on mean and turbulent flow over complex topography

2016 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 237-254 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Kilpatrick ◽  
Horia Hangan ◽  
Kamran Siddiqui ◽  
Dan Parvu ◽  
Julia Lange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Flow Behaviour ◽  
Complex Topography ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Effective Roughness ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. A characterization of mean and turbulent flow behaviour over complex topography was conducted using a large-scale (1 : 25) model in the WindEEE Dome at Western University. The specific topographic feature considered was the Bolund Hill escarpment facing westerly winds. A total of eight unique inflow conditions were tested in order to isolate the impact of key parameters such as Reynolds number, inflow shear profile, and effective roughness, on flow behaviour over the escarpment. The results show that the mean flow behaviour was generally not affected by the Reynolds number; however, a slight increase in speed-up over the escarpment was observed for cases with lower inflow roughness. The shape of the inflow wind shear profile also had a minor impact on the mean flow near the escarpment. More significant effects were observed in the turbulent flow behaviour, where the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) over the escarpment was found be a strong function of inflow roughness and a weak function of the Reynolds number. The local change in the inflow wind shear was found to have the most significant influence on the TKE magnitude, which more closely approximated the full-scale TKE data, a result which had not been previously observed in wind tunnel modelling of this topography.

scholarly journals Investigation of the effect of Reynolds number and inflow parameters on mean and turbulent flow over complex topography

2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ryan Kilpatrick ◽  
Horia Hangan ◽  
Kamran Siddiqui ◽  
Dan Parvu ◽  
Julia Lange ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Wind Shear ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Flow Behaviour ◽  
Complex Topography ◽  
Mean Flow ◽  
Effective Roughness ◽  
The Mean ◽  
The Impact

Abstract. A characterization of mean and turbulent flow behaviour over complex topography was conducted using a large-scale (1:25) model of Bolund Hill in the WindEEE Dome at Western University. The specific topographic feature considered was an escarpment. A total of eight unique inflow conditions were tested in order to isolate the impact of key parameters such as Reynolds number, inflow shear profile and upstream effective roughness, on flow behaviour over the escarpment. The results show that the mean flow behaviour was generally not affected by the Reynolds number, however a slight increase in speed-up over the escarpment was observed for cases with lower upstream roughness. The shape of the inflow wind shear profile also had a minor impact on the mean flow near the escarpment. More significant effects were observed in the turbulent flow behaviour, where the turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) over the escarpment was found be a strong function of upstream roughness and a weak function of the Reynolds number. The local change in the upstream wind shear was found to have the most significant influence on the TKE magnitude, which more closely approximated the full-scale TKE data, and had not been previously observed in wind tunnel modelling of this topography.

Measurement of Hydrodynamic Frictional Drag on Superhydrophobic Flat Plates in High Reynolds Number Flows

2011 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elias Aljallis ◽  
Mohammad Amin Sarshar ◽  
Raju Datla ◽  
Scott Hunter ◽  
John Simpson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Surface Roughness ◽  
Contact Angle ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Drag Reduction ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Superhydrophobic Surfaces ◽  
Hydrodynamic Drag ◽  
Air Bubbles ◽  
Superhydrophobic Coating

In this paper, we report the characterization of large-scale superhydrophobic surfaces for hydrodynamic drag reduction in boundary layer flows using a high-speed towing tank system. For making superhydrophobic surfaces, flat aluminum plates (4 ft × 2 ft × 3/8 in, with sharpened leading/trailing edges) were prepared and coated with nano-structured hydrophobic particles. The static and dynamic contact angle measurements indicate that the coated surfaces correspond to a de-wetting (Cassie) state with air retained on the nano-structured surfaces. Hydrodynamic drag of the large-area superhydrophobic plates was measured to cover turbulent flows (water flow speeds up to 30 ft/s, Reynolds number in the range of 105−107) and compared with that of an uncoated bare aluminum control plate. Results show that an acceptable drag reduction was obtained up to ∼30% in the early stage of the turbulent regime which is due to reduced shear forces on the plates because of the lubricating air layer on the surface. However, in a fully developed turbulent flow regime, an increase in drag was measured which is mainly attributed to the amplified surface roughness due to the protrusions of air bubbles formed on the surface. Meanwhile, a qualitative observation suggests that the air bubbles are prone to be depleted during several runs of the high shear-rate flows, as revealed by streak lines of depleted air bubbles. This suggests that the superhydrophobic coating is unstable in maintaining the de-wetted state under dynamic flow conditions and that the increased drag results from the inherent surface roughness of the coating layer where the de-wetted state collapses to a wetted (Wenzel) state due to the depletion of air bubbles. However, it was also observed that the air bubbles would reform on the surface, with the same properties as a dry surface immersed in water, while the plate was kept statically immersed in water for 12 hours, suggesting that the superhydrophobic coating retains static stability for a de-wetted state. The experimental results illustrate that drag reduction is not solely dependent on the superhydrophobicity of a surface (e.g., contact angle and air fraction), but the morphology and stability of the surface air layer are also critical for the design and use of superhydrophobic surfaces for large-scale hydrodynamic drag reduction, especially in turbulent flow regimes.

Numerical and Experimental Analysis of Turbulent Flow in Corrugated Pipes

2010 ◽  
Vol 132 (7) ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrique Stel ◽  
Rigoberto E. M. Morales ◽  
Admilson T. Franco ◽  
Silvio L. M. Junqueira ◽  
Raul H. Erthal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Pressure Drop ◽  
Turbulent Flow ◽  
Friction Factor ◽  
Turbulence Models ◽  
Reynolds Numbers ◽  
Velocity Magnitude ◽  
Geometric Configurations ◽  
Corrugated Surfaces ◽  
Friction Factors

This article describes a numerical and experimental investigation of turbulent flow in pipes with periodic “d-type” corrugations. Four geometric configurations of d-type corrugated surfaces with different groove heights and lengths are evaluated, and calculations for Reynolds numbers ranging from 5000 to 100,000 are performed. The numerical analysis is carried out using computational fluid dynamics, and two turbulence models are considered: the two-equation, low-Reynolds-number Chen–Kim k-ε turbulence model, for which several flow properties such as friction factor, Reynolds stress, and turbulence kinetic energy are computed, and the algebraic LVEL model, used only to compute the friction factors and a velocity magnitude profile for comparison. An experimental loop is designed to perform pressure-drop measurements of turbulent water flow in corrugated pipes for the different geometric configurations. Pressure-drop values are correlated with the friction factor to validate the numerical results. These show that, in general, the magnitudes of all the flow quantities analyzed increase near the corrugated wall and that this increase tends to be more significant for higher Reynolds numbers as well as for larger grooves. According to previous studies, these results may be related to enhanced momentum transfer between the groove and core flow as the Reynolds number and groove length increase. Numerical friction factors for both the Chen–Kim k-ε and LVEL turbulence models show good agreement with the experimental measurements.

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