In the present work, computational modeling and simulations of isothermal plane (linear) air jet velocity profile for slot diffusers are performed. Plane air jets are formed by linear slots or rectangular openings with a large aspect ratio. Numerical simulations are performed using the commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code ANSYS FLUENT. Three plane air jet flow simulations will be investigated such as free plane (linear) jets, attached jets, and air flow through a slot diffuser in a room setting. The purpose of simulating the free plane jet through a slot diffuser is to study the behavior of jet velocity profile that is not blocked by side walls or ceilings. The jet velocity profile is modified when obstructed by the walls and the air jet desires to attach to the surfaces along its path. For this reason, attached jet simulations through a slot diffuser will be conducted. The CFD study of plane air jet flows will eventually be extended to jet flows through a slot diffuser to a room to investigate the fluid flow behavior that enters a room under a ceiling. In addition, effects of two-equation turbulence models such as standard, renormalization group (RNG), and realizable k-ε on the CFD simulations will be investigated. Predicted velocity profiles and decays of free plane jet through a slot diffuser will be validated with a semi-empirical model [1]. Predicted velocity profiles of attached jet simulations will also be compared with a semi-empirical expression [2]. The slot diffuser air flow simulations will be compared with experimental data by the work of Chen and Srebric [3]. All simulations will be conducted at a specified inlet air velocity. The effects of grid resolution are also examined. It is established that the standard k-ε turbulence model best simulates attached and free jet flows. The standard k-ε turbulence model is applied to a room setting under isothermal conditions. The results are compared with non-isothermal experimental data [3]. It is shown that temperature which is a passive scalar has less influence on the flow pattern at a high air velocity than at a low air velocity in a room setting.
