Performance of Two-Equation Turbulence Models for Flat Plate Flows With Leading Edge Bubbles

2008 ◽  
Vol 130 (2) ◽  
Author(s):  
S. Collie ◽  
M. Gerritsen ◽  
P. Jackson

This paper investigates the performance of the popular k-ω and SST turbulence models for the two-dimensional flow past the flat plate at shallow angles of incidence. Particular interest is paid to the leading edge bubble that forms as the flow separates from the sharp leading edge. This type of leading edge bubble is most commonly found in flows past thin airfoils, such as turbine blades, membrane wings, and yacht sails. Validation is carried out through a comparison to wind tunnel results compiled by Crompton (2001, “The Thin Aerofoil Leading Edge Bubble,” Ph.D. thesis, University of Bristol). This flow problem presents a new and demanding test case for turbulence models. The models were found to capture the leading edge bubble well with the Shear-Stress Transport (SST) model predicting the reattachment length within 7% of the experimental values. Downstream of reattachment both models predicted a slower boundary layer recovery than the experimental results. Overall, despite their simplicity, these two-equation models do a surprisingly good job for this demanding test case.

2011 ◽  
Vol 274 ◽  
pp. 71-80
Author(s):  
Amar Berkache ◽  
Rabah Dizene

A numerical simulation is used to evaluate the curvature effects of the wall on features of the interaction between discrete jets and cross flow, and therefore on the efficiency of the cooling. The injection is realized in a turbulent limit layer through only one row of openings. Our study was especially based on the SST model that is efficient in the capture of the phenomena near and in the wall. Three turbulence models are used; the k-, the RSM and the SST on a flat plate crossed by throw in order to identify which of these models are more capable to capture the near wall interaction phenomena. Discrete jets are arranged across a surface exposed to a wall boundary layer of parallel compressible stream, as occurs in certain discrete-hole cooling systems for turbine blades. Comparisons of the results of this study are presented in the case of a flat plate crossed by throw inclined of 45° with a rate injection Ra=0.6. These results compared to experimental data proved the aptitude of the SST model, in relation to the other models in this case of problems. Applied for a NACA0012 profile, this model (SST) revealed us the distinct difference of features of the interaction in relation to the flat plate.


Author(s):  
Shane Colón ◽  
Mark Ricklick ◽  
Doug Nagy ◽  
Amy Lafleur

Abstract Thermal barrier coatings (TBC) found on turbine blades are a key element in the performance and reliability of modern gas turbines. TBC reduces the heat transfer into turbine blades by introducing an additional surface thermal resistance; consequently allowing for higher gas temperatures. During the service life of the blades, the TBC surface may be damaged due to manufacturing imperfections, handling damage, service spalling, or service impact damage, producing chips in the coating. While an increase in aerofoil temperature is expected, it is unknown to what degree the blade will be affected and what parameters of the chip shape affect this result. During routine inspections, the severity of the chipping will often fall to the discretion of the inspecting engineer. Without a quantitative understanding of the flow and heat transfer around these chips, there is potential for premature removal or possible blade failure if left to operate. The goal of this preliminary study is to identify the major driving parameters that lead to the increase in metal temperature when TBC is damaged, such that more quantitative estimates of blade life and refurbishing needs can be made. A two-dimensional computational Conjugate Heat Transfer model was developed; fully resolving the hot gas path and TBC, bond-coat, and super alloy solids. Representative convective conditions were applied to the cold side to emulate the characteristics of a cooled turbine blade. The hot gas path properties included an inlet temperature of 1600 K with varying Mach numbers of 0.30, 0.59, and 0.80 and Reynolds number of 5.1×105, 7.0×105, and 9.0×105 as referenced from the leading edge of the model. The cold side was given a coolant temperature of 750 K and a heat transfer coefficient of 1500 W/m2*K. The assigned thermal conductivities of the TBC, bond-coat, and metal alloys were 0.7 W/m*K, 7.0 W/m*K, and 11.0 W/m*K, respectively, and layer thicknesses of 0.50 mm, 0.25 mm, and 1.50 mm, respectively. A flat plate model without the presence of the chip was first evaluated to provide a basis of validation by comparison to existing correlations. Comparing heat transfer coefficients, the flat plate model matched within uncertainty to the Chilton-Colburn analogy. In addition, flat plate results captured the boundary layer thickness when compared with Prandtl’s 1/7th power-law. A chip was then introduced into the model, varying the chip width and the edge geometry. The most sensitive driving parameters were identified to be the chip width and Mach number. In cases where the chip width reached 16 times the TBC thickness, temperatures increased by almost 30% when compared to the undamaged equivalents. Additionally, increasing the Mach number of the incoming flow also increased metal temperatures. While the Reynolds number based on the leading edge of the model was deemed negligible, the Reynolds number based on the chip width was found to have a noticeable impact on the blade temperature. In conclusion, this study found that chip edge geometry was a negligible factor, while the Mach number, chip width, and Reynolds number based on the chip width had a significant effect on the total metal temperature.


Author(s):  
Matthew Lennie ◽  
Georgios Pechlivanoglou ◽  
David Marten ◽  
Christian Navid Nayeri ◽  
Oliver Paschereit

To certify a Wind Turbine the standard processes set out by the GL guidelines and the IEC61400 demand a large number of simulations in order to justify the safe operation of the machine in all reasonably probable scenarios. The result of this rather demanding process is that the simulations rely on lower fidelity methods such as the Blade Element Momentum (BEM) method. The BEM method relies on a number of simplified inputs including the coefficient of lift and drag polar data (usually referred to as polars). These polars are usually either measured experimentally, generated using tools such as XFoil or, in some cases obtained using 2D CFD. It is typical to then modify these polars in order to make them suitable for aeroelastic simulations. Some of these modifications include 360° angle of attack extrapolation methods and polar modifications to account for 3D effects. Many of these modifications can be perceived to be a black art due to the manual selection of coefficients. The polars can misrepresent reality for many reasons, for example, inflow turbulence can affect measurements obtained in wind tunnels. Furthermore, on real wind turbine blades leading edge erosion can reduce performance. Simulated polars can even vary significantly due to the choice of turbulence models. Stack these effects on top of the uncertainties caused by yaw error, pitch error and dynamic stall and one can clearly see an operating environment hostile to accurate simulations. Colloquial evidence suggests that experienced designers would account for all of these sources of errors methodically, however, this is not reflected by the certification process. A review of experimental data and literature was performed to identify some of the inaccuracies in wind turbine polars. Significant variations were found between a range of 2D polar techniques and wind tunnel measurements. A sensitivity study was conducted using the aeroelastic simulation code FAST (National Renewable Energy Laboratory) with lift and drag polars sourced using different methods. The results were post-processed to give comparisons the rotor blade fatigue damage; variations in accumulated damages reached levels of 164%. This variation is not disastrous but is certainly enough to motivate a new approach for certifying the aerodynamic performance of wind turbines. Such an approach would simply see the source of polar data and all post-processing steps documented and included in the checks performed by certification bodies.


Author(s):  
M J Crompton ◽  
R V Barrett

Detailed measurements of the separation bubble formed behind the sharp leading edge of a flat plate at low speeds and incidence are reported. The Reynolds number based on chord length ranged from 0.1 × 105 to 5.5 × 105. Extensive use of laser Doppler anemometry allowed detailed velocity measurements throughout the bubble. The particular advantages of laser Doppler anemometry in this application were its ability to define flow direction without ambiguity and its non-intrusiveness. It allowed the mean reattachment point to be accurately determined. The static pressure distribution along the plate was also measured. The length of the separation bubble was primarily determined by the plate incidence, although small variations occurred with Reynolds number because of its influence on the rate of entrainment and growth of the shear layer. Above about 105, the Reynolds number effect was no longer evident. The reverse flow boundary layer in the bubble exhibited signs of periodic stabilization before separating close to the leading edge, forming a small secondary bubble rotating in the opposite sense to the main bubble.


Author(s):  
Jörg Starzmann ◽  
Fiona R. Hughes ◽  
Alexander J. White ◽  
Marius Grübel ◽  
Damian M. Vogt

Condensing nozzle flows have been used extensively to validate wet steam models. Many test cases are available in the literature and in the past a range of numerical studies have dealt with this challenging task. It is usually assumed that the nozzles provide a one- or two-dimensional flow with a fully turbulent boundary layer. The present paper reviews these assumptions and investigates numerically the influence of boundary layers on dry and wet steam nozzle expansions. For the narrow nozzle of Moses and Stein it is shown that the pressure distribution is significantly affected by the additional blockage due to the side wall boundary layer. Comparison of laminar and turbulent flow predictions for this nozzles suggests that laminar-turbulent transition only occurs after the throat. Other examples are the Binnie nozzle and the Moore nozzles for which it is known that sudden changes in wall curvature produce expansion and compression waves that interact with the boundary layers. The differences between two- and three-dimensional calculations for these cases and the influence of laminar and turbulent boundary layers are discussed. The present results reveal that boundary layer effects can have a considerable impact on the mean nozzle flow and thus on the validation process of condensation models. In order to verify the accuracy of turbulence modelling a test case that is not widely known internationally is included within the present study. This experimental work is remarkable because it includes boundary layer data as well as the usual pressure measurements along the nozzle centreline. Predicted and measured boundary layer profiles are compared and the effect of different turbulence models is discussed. Most of the numerical results are obtained with the in-house wet steam RANS-solver, Steamblock, but for the purpose of comparison the commercial program ANSYS CFX is also used, providing a wider range of standard RANS-based turbulence models.


Author(s):  
D. Scott Holloway ◽  
James H. Leylek

This paper documents the computational investigation of the unsteady rollup and breakdown of a turbulent separated shear layer. This complex phenomenon plays a key role in many applications, such as separated flow at the leading edge of an airfoil at off-design conditions; flow through the tip clearance of a rotor in a gas turbine; flow over the front of an automobile or aircraft carrier; and flow through turbulated passages that are used to cool turbine blades. Computationally, this problem poses a significant challenge in the use of traditional RANS-based turbulence models for the prediction of unsteady flows. To demonstrate this point, a series of 2-D and 3-D unsteady simulations have been performed using a variety of well-known turbulence models, including the “realizable” k-ε model, a differential Reynolds stress model, and a new model developed by the present authors that contains physics that account for the effects of local unsteadiness on turbulence. All simulations are fully converged and grid independent in the unsteady framework. A proven computational methodology is used that takes care of several important aspects, including high-quality meshes (2.5 million finite volumes for 3-D simulations) and a discretization scheme that will minimize the effects of numerical diffusion. To isolate the shear layer breakdown phenomenon, the well-studied flow over a blunt leading edge (Reynolds number based on plate half-thickness of 26,000) is used for validation. Surprisingly, none of the traditional eddy-viscosity or Reynolds stress models are able to predict an unsteady behavior even with modifications in the near-wall treatment, repeated adaption of the mesh, or by adding small random perturbations to the flow field. The newly developed unsteady-based turbulence model is shown to predict some important features of the shear layer rollup and breakdown.


Author(s):  
Xueying Li ◽  
Jing Ren ◽  
Hongde Jiang

The complex structures in the flow field of gas turbine film cooling increase the anisotropy of turbulence making it difficult to accurately compute turbulent eddy viscosity and scalar diffusivity. An algebraic anisotropic turbulence model is developed while aiming at a more accurate modeling of the Reynolds stress and turbulent scalar flux. In this study the algebraic anisotropic model is validated by two in-house experiments. One is a leading edge with showerhead film cooling and the other is a vane with full coverage film cooling. Adiabatic film cooling effectiveness under different blowing ratios, density ratios and film cooling arrangements were measured using PSP technique. Four different turbulence models are tested and detailed analyses of computational simulations are performed. Among all the turbulence models investigated, the algebraic anisotropic model shows better agreement with the experimental data qualitatively and quantitatively. The algebraic anisotropic model gives a good prediction of the vortex strength and turbulence mixing of the jet, therefore improves the prediction of the scalar field.


Author(s):  
E. J. Walsh ◽  
F. Brighenti ◽  
D. M. McEligot

The evolution of the laminar boundary layer over a flat plate under a free stream turbulence intensity of 1.3% is analysed. The effect of free stream turbulence on the onset of transition is one of the important sources leading to bypass transition. Such disturbances are of great interest in engineering for the prediction of transition on turbine blades. The study concentrates on the early part of the boundary layer, starting from the leading edge, and is characterised by the presence of streamwise elongated regions of high and low streamwise velocity. It is demonstrated that the so called “Klebanoff modes” are not entirely representative of the flow structures, due to the time-averaged representations used in most studies. For the conditions of this investigation it is found that the urms and the peak disturbances remain constant in the early stages of the transition development. This region, in which the streaks strength is constant, is problematic for many theories as it is not known where on a surface to initiate a growth theory calculation, and hence the prediction of transition onset is difficult. The observation that a constant urms region exists within the boundary layer under these conditions may be the source of great difficulty in predicting transition onset under turbulence levels around 1%. This region suggests that the streaks are either continuously generated and damped, or do not grow during the early stage of transition, and highlights the importance of continuous influence of the free stream turbulence along the boundary layer edge. This work concludes that the first is more likely, and furthermore the measurements are shown to agree with recent direct numerical simulations.


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