Gas Flow Simulations in Randomly Distributed Pebbles

Author(s):  
Xiang Zhao ◽  
Trent Montgomery ◽  
Sijun Zhang

In this paper, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) gas flow simulations are carried out for the pebble bed reactor. In CFD calculations, geometry modeling and physical modeling are crucial to CFD results. The effects of the treatments of the interpebble contacts on gas flow fields and heat transfer are examined. A sensitivity analysis for the gap size is conducted with two spherical pebbles, in which the interpebble region is modeled by means of two types of interpebble gap and two kinds of direct contact. Both large eddy simulation and Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes models are employed to investigate the turbulent effects. It is found that the flow fields and relevant heat transfer are significantly dependent on the modeling of the interpebble region. The calculations indicate the complex flow structures present within the voids between the fuel pebbles.

Author(s):  
Xiang Zhao ◽  
Trent Montgomery ◽  
Sijun Zhang

In this paper, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) gas flow simulations are carried out. In CFD calculations, geometry modeling and physical modeling are crucial to CFD results. The effects of the treatments of the inter-pebble contacts on gas flow fields and heat transfer are examined; a sensitivity analysis for the gap size is conducted with two spherical pebbles, in which the inter-pebble region is modeled by means of two types of inter-pebble gaps and two kinds of direct contacts. On the other hand, both of large eddy simulation (LES) and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models are employed to investigate the turbulent effects. It is found that the flow fields and relevant heat transfer are significantly dependent on the modeling of the inter-pebble regions. The calculations indicate the complex flow structures present within the voids between the fuel pebbles.


Author(s):  
Tong Li ◽  
Yibin Wang ◽  
Ning Zhao

The simple frigate shape (SFS) as defined by The Technical Co-operative Program (TTCP), is a simplified model of the frigate, which helps to investigate the basic flow fields of a frigate. In this paper, the flow fields of the different modified SFS models, consisting of a bluff body superstructure and the deck, were numerically studied. A parametric study was conducted by varying both the superstructure length L and width B to investigate the recirculation zone behind the hangar. The size and the position of the recirculation zones were compared between different models. The numerical simulation results show that the size and the location of the recirculation zone are significantly affected by the superstructure length and width. The results obtained by Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes method were also compared well with both the time averaged Improved Delayed Detached-Eddy Simulation results and the experimental data. In addition, by varying the model size and inflow velocity, various flow fields were numerically studied, which indicated that the changing of Reynolds number has tiny effect on the variation of the dimensionless size of the recirculation zone. The results in this study have certain reference value for the design of the frigate superstructure.


2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 7167
Author(s):  
Liang Xu ◽  
Xu Zhao ◽  
Lei Xi ◽  
Yonghao Ma ◽  
Jianmin Gao ◽  
...  

Swirling impinging jet (SIJ) is considered as an effective means to achieve uniform cooling at high heat transfer rates, and the complex flow structure and its mechanism of enhancing heat transfer have attracted much attention in recent years. The large eddy simulation (LES) technique is employed to analyze the flow fields of swirling and non-swirling impinging jet emanating from a hole with four spiral and straight grooves, respectively, at a relatively high Reynolds number (Re) of 16,000 and a small jet spacing of H/D = 2 on a concave surface with uniform heat flux. Firstly, this work analyzes two different sub-grid stress models, and LES with the wall-adapting local eddy-viscosity model (WALEM) is established for accurately predicting flow and heat transfer performance of SIJ on a flat surface. The complex flow field structures, spectral characteristics, time-averaged flow characteristics and heat transfer on the target surface for the swirling and non-swirling impinging jets are compared in detail using the established method. The results show that small-scale recirculation vortices near the wall change the nearby flow into an unstable microwave state, resulting in small-scale fluctuation of the local Nusselt number (Nu) of the wall. There is a stable recirculation vortex at the stagnation point of the target surface, and the axial and radial fluctuating speeds are consistent with the fluctuating wall temperature. With the increase in the radial radius away from the stagnation point, the main frequency of the fluctuation of wall temperature coincides with the main frequency of the fluctuation of radial fluctuating velocity at x/D = 0.5. Compared with 0° straight hole, 45° spiral hole has a larger fluctuating speed because of speed deflection, resulting in a larger turbulence intensity and a stronger air transport capacity. The heat transfer intensity of the 45° spiral hole on the target surface is slightly improved within 5–10%.


Author(s):  
James Tyacke ◽  
Richard Jefferson-Loveday ◽  
Paul Tucker

Nine Large Eddy Simulation (LES) methods are used to simulate flow through two labyrinth seal geometries and are compared with a wide range of Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solutions. These involve one-equation, two-equation and Reynolds Stress RANS models. Also applied are linear and nonlinear pure LES models, hybrid RANS-Numerical-LES (RANS-NLES) and Numerical-LES (NLES). RANS is found to have a maximum error and a scatter of 20%. A similar level of scatter is also found among the same turbulence model implemented in different codes. In a design context, this makes RANS unusable as a final solution. Results show that LES and RANS-NLES is capable of accurately predicting flow behaviour of two seals with a scatter of less than 5%. The complex flow physics gives rise to both laminar and turbulent zones making most LES models inappropriate. Nonetheless, this is found to have minimal tangible results impact. In accord with experimental observations, the ability of LES to find multiple solutions due to solution non-uniqueness is also observed.


2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 413-423 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. S. Hedges ◽  
A. K. Travin ◽  
P. R. Spalart

The flow around a generic airliner landing-gear truck is calculated using the methods of Detached-Eddy Simulation, and of Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes Equations, with the Spalart-Allmaras one-equation model. The two simulations have identical numerics, using a multi-block structured grid with about 2.5 million points. The Reynolds number is 6×105. Comparison to the experiment of Lazos shows that the simulations predict the pressure on the wheels accurately for such a massively separated flow with strong interference. DES performs somewhat better than URANS. Drag and lift are not predicted as well. The time-averaged and instantaneous flow fields are studied, particularly to determine their suitability for the physics-based prediction of noise. The two time-averaged flow fields are similar, though the DES shows more turbulence intensity overall. The instantaneous flow fields are very dissimilar. DES develops a much wider range of unsteady scales of motion and appears promising for noise prediction, up to some frequency limit.


Author(s):  
Anil K. Tolpadi ◽  
James A. Tallman ◽  
Lamyaa El-Gabry

Conventional heat transfer design methods for turbine airfoils use 2-D boundary layer codes (BLC) combined with empiricism. While such methods may be applicable in the mid span of an airfoil, they would not be very accurate near the end-walls and airfoil tip where the flow is very three-dimensional (3-D) and complex. In order to obtain accurate heat transfer predictions along the entire span of a turbine airfoil, 3-D computational fluid dynamics (CFD) must be used. This paper describes the development of a CFD based design system to make heat transfer predictions. A 3-D, compressible, Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes CFD solver with k-ω turbulence modeling was used. A wall integration approach was used for boundary layer prediction. First, the numerical approach was validated against a series of fundamental airfoil cases with available data. The comparisons were very favorable. Subsequently, it was applied to a real engine airfoil at typical design conditions. A discussion of the features of the airfoil heat transfer distribution is included.


2013 ◽  
Vol 13 (5) ◽  
pp. 1330-1356 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. H. Tang ◽  
G. X. Zhai ◽  
W. Q. Tao ◽  
X. J. Gu ◽  
D. R. Emerson

AbstractGases in microfluidic structures or devices are often in a non-equilibrium state. The conventional thermodynamic models for fluids and heat transfer break down and the Navier-Stokes-Fourier equations are no longer accurate or valid. In this paper, the extended thermodynamic approach is employed to study the rarefied gas flow in microstructures, including the heat transfer between a parallel channel andpressure-driven Poiseuille flows through a parallel microchannel andcircular microtube. The gas flow characteristics are studied and it is shown that the heat transfer in the non-equilibrium state no longer obeys the Fourier gradient transport law. In addition, the bimodal distribution of streamwise and spanwise velocity and temperature through a long circular microtube is captured for the first time.


Author(s):  
A. Kumar ◽  
P. B. Nair ◽  
A. J. Keane ◽  
S. Shahpar

This paper presents a probabilistic analysis of the effect of erosion on the performance of compressor fan blades. A realistic parametric CAD model is developed to represent eroded blades. Design of Experiments (DOE) techniques are employed to generate a set of candidate points, which are combined with a parametric geometry modeling and grid generation routine to produce a hybrid mesh. A multigrid Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) solver HYDRA with Spalart Allmaras turbulence model is used for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. The data generated is used to create a surrogate model for efficient uncertainty propagation. This method is applied to a typical Rolls Royce compressor fan blade section. Monte Carlo Simulation, using the surrogate model, is executed for the probabilistic analysis of the compressor fan blade. Results show upto 5% increase in pressure loss for the eroded compressor fan blades.


Author(s):  
Naseem Uddin ◽  
S. O. Neumann ◽  
B. Weigand

Turbulent impinging jet is a complex flow phenomenon involving free jet, impingement and subsequent wall jet development zones; this makes it a difficult test case for the evaluation of new turbulence models. The complexity of the jet impingement can be further amplified by the addition of the swirl. In this paper, results of Large Eddy Simulations (LES) of swirling and non-swirling impinging jet are presented. The Reynolds number of the jet based on bulk axial velocity is 23000 and target-to-wall distance (H/D) is two. The Swirl numbers (S) of the jet are 0,0.2, 0.47. In swirling jets, the heat transfer at the geometric stagnation zone deteriorates due to the formation of conical recirculation zone. It is found numerically that the addition of swirl does not give any improvement for the over all heat transfer at the target wall. The LES predictions are validated by available experimental data.


2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Singh ◽  
P. K. Panigrahi ◽  
G. Biswas

Abstract A numerical study of rib augmented cooling of turbine blades is reported in this paper. The time-dependent velocity field around a pair of symmetrically placed ribs on the walls of a three-dimensional rectangular channel was studied by use of a modified version of Marker-And-Cell algorithm to solve the unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes and energy equations. The flow structures are presented with the help of instantaneous velocity vector and vorticity fields, FFT and time averaged and rms values of components of velocity. The spanwise averaged Nusselt number is found to increase at the locations of reattachment. The numerical results are compared with available numerical and experimental results. The presence of ribs leads to complex flow fields with regions of flow separation before and after the ribs. Each interruption in the flow field due to the surface mounted rib enables the velocity distribution to be more homogeneous and a new boundary layer starts developing downstream of the rib. The heat transfer is primarily enhanced due to the decrease in the thermal resistance owing to the thinner boundary layers on the interrupted surfaces. Another reason for heat transfer enhancement can be attributed to the mixing induced by large-scale structures present downstream of the separation point.


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