The Effects of Turbulence Length Scale on the Performance of Piezoelectric Harvesters

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yiannis Andreopoulos ◽  
Amir H. Danesh-Yazdi ◽  
Oleg Goushcha ◽  
Niell Elvin
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Power Output ◽  
Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Mechanical Energy ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Analytical Description ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Linear Effect ◽  
Turbulence Length

Turbulent flows carry mechanical energy distributed over a range of temporal and spatial scales and their interaction with a thin immersed piezoelectric beam results in a strain field which generates electrical charge. This energy harvesting method can be used for developing self-powered electronic devices such as flow sensors. In the present experimental work, various energy harvesters were placed in a turbulent boundary layer or inside a decaying flow field of homogeneous and isotropic turbulence. The role of large instantaneous turbulent structures in this rather complex fluid-structure interaction is discussed in interpreting the electrical output results. The forces acting on the vibrating beams have been measured dynamically and a theory has been developed which incorporates the effects of mean local velocity, turbulence intensity, the relative size of the beam’s length to the integral length scale of turbulence, the structural properties of the beam and the electrical properties of the active piezoelectric layer to provide reasonable estimates of the mean electrical power output. Experiments have been carried out in which these fluidic harvesters are immersed first in inhomogeneous turbulence like that encountered in boundary layers developing over solid walls and homogeneous and isotopic turbulence for which a simplified analytical description exists. It was found that there is a non-linear effect of turbulence length scales on the power output of the fluidic harvesters.

scholarly journals A multifractal model for the momentum transfer process in wall-bounded flows

2017 ◽  
Vol 824 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. I. A. Yang ◽  
A. Lozano-Durán
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Cascade Process ◽  
Outer Length ◽  
Multifractal Formalism ◽  
Multiplicative Process ◽  
Stress Fluctuation

The cascading process of turbulent kinetic energy from large-scale fluid motions to small-scale and lesser-scale fluid motions in isotropic turbulence may be modelled as a hierarchical random multiplicative process according to the multifractal formalism. In this work, we show that the same formalism might also be used to model the cascading process of momentum in wall-bounded turbulent flows. However, instead of being a multiplicative process, the momentum cascade process is additive. The proposed multifractal model is used for describing the flow kinematics of the low-pass filtered streamwise wall-shear stress fluctuation $\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{l}^{\prime }$, where $l$ is the filtering length scale. According to the multifractal formalism, $\langle {\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}^{\prime }}^{2}\rangle \sim \log (Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}})$ and $\langle \exp (p\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}_{l}^{\prime })\rangle \sim (L/l)^{\unicode[STIX]{x1D701}_{p}}$ in the log-region, where $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}$ is the friction Reynolds number, $p$ is a real number, $L$ is an outer length scale and $\unicode[STIX]{x1D701}_{p}$ is the anomalous exponent of the momentum cascade. These scalings are supported by the data from a direct numerical simulation of channel flow at $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D70F}}=4200$.

Interaction of isotropic turbulence with shock waves: effect of shock strength

1997 ◽  
Vol 340 ◽  
pp. 225-247 ◽  
Author(s):  
SANGSAN LEE ◽  
SANJIVA K. LELE ◽  
PARVIZ MOIN
Keyword(s):  
Shock Wave ◽  
Shock Waves ◽  
Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Linear Analysis ◽  
Shock Capturing ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Theoretical Predictions ◽  
Unsteady Interaction ◽  
Thermodynamic Variables ◽  
Turbulence Length

As an extension of the authors' work on isotropic vortical turbulence interacting with a shock wave (Lee, Lele & Moin 1993), direct numerical simulation and linear analysis are performed for stronger shock waves to investigate the effects of the upstream shock-normal Mach number (M1). A shock-capturing scheme is developed to accurately simulate the unsteady interaction of turbulence with shock waves. Turbulence kinetic energy is amplified across the shock wave, and this amplification tends to saturate beyond M1 = 3.0. An existing controversy between experiments and theoretical predictions on length scale change is thoroughly investigated through the shock-capturing simulation: most turbulence length scales decrease across the shock, while the dissipation length scale (ρq3/ε) increases slightly for shock waves with M1<1.65. Fluctuations in thermodynamic variables behind the shock wave are nearly isentropic for M1<1.2, and deviate significantly from isentropy for the stronger shock waves, due to the entropy fluctuation generated through the interaction.

The PVC technique – a method to estimate the dissipation length scale in turbulent flows

1997 ◽  
Vol 352 ◽  
pp. 135-159 ◽  
Author(s):  
CHIH-MING HO ◽  
YITSHAK ZOHAR
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Average Length ◽  
Mixing Layer ◽  
Plate Boundary ◽  
Turbulent Shear ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Velocity Signal ◽  
Plane Mixing Layer ◽  
Zero Crossings

A time-averaged length scale can be defined by a pair of successive turbulent-velocity derivatives, i.e. [dnu(x)/ dxn]′/ [dn+1u(x)/ dxn+1]′. The length scale associated with the zeroth- and the first-order derivatives, u′/u′x, is the Taylor microscale. In isotropic turbulence, this scale is the average length between zero crossings of the velocity signal. The average length between zero crossings of the first velocity derivative, i.e. u′x/u′xx, can be reliably obtained by using the peak-valley-counting (PVC) technique. We have found that the most probable scale, rather than the average, equals the wavelength at the peak of the dissipation spectrum in a plane mixing layer (Zohar & Ho 1996). In this study, we experimentally investigate the generality of applying the PVC technique to estimate the dissipation scale in three basic turbulent shear flows: a flat-plate boundary layer, a wake behind a two-dimensional cylinder and a plane mixing layer. We also analytically explore the quantitative relationships among this length scale and the Kolmogorov and Taylor microscales.

Lagrangian Statistics of Droplet Velocity and Acceleration in Isotropic Turbulence

2009 ◽  
Author(s):  
Balaji Gopalan ◽  
Edwin Malkiel ◽  
Joseph Katz
Keyword(s):  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
High Speed ◽  
Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Droplet Diameter ◽  
Relative Size ◽  
Stokes Number ◽  
Droplet Velocity ◽  
Lagrangian Statistics ◽  
Oceanic Turbulence ◽  
Wide Range

The addition of dispersants, water and oil soluble surfactants that lower the interfacial tension of the crude oil, along with oceanic turbulence can breakdown oil spills into droplets. Knowledge of the dispersion rate of these droplets by oceanic turbulence is essential for the development of better models to assess the environmental impact of spills. The objective of this research is to study, experimentally, the dispersion of oil droplets in turbulent flows. The measurements are performed in a specialized laboratory facility that enables generation of carefully controlled, isotropic, homogeneous turbulence at a wide range of fully characterized intensities and length scales. The oil dispersion is visualized using high-speed inline digital holographic cinematography. Holographic data has been analyzed and Lagrangian statistics of droplet velocity, dispersion and acceleration has been calculated. As the relative size of the droplet diameter to the Kolmogorov length scale and its Stokes number increases, the acceleration autocorrelation shifts from dropping to zero faster than the fluid particles to slower.

Tooth Thickness Effect on the Performance of Gas Labyrinth Seals

1992 ◽  
Vol 114 (4) ◽  
pp. 790-795 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. L. Rhode ◽  
R. I. Hibbs
Keyword(s):  
Finite Difference ◽  
Computer Code ◽  
Thickness Effect ◽  
Turbulence Energy ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Labyrinth Seals ◽  
Cpu Time ◽  
Reservoir Conditions ◽  
Turbulence Length ◽  
Turbulence Length Scale

A previously validated finite difference computer code was revised to allow the specification of upstream and downstream reservoir conditions as boundary conditions, whereas the domain extends only from the seal inlet to outlet plane. As a result of this special revision, the required execution CPU time is approximately only one hour on a VAX 8650 computer for three-cavity, straight-through seals. A parametric study focusing on tooth thickness showed that streamwise swirl development was only slightly higher for the thickest tooth. Further, for straight-through seals it was found that leakage is almost independent of tooth thickness and that the second cavity yields a definite increase in turbulence energy and turbulence length scale over the first cavity.

Predicting Transition Without Empiricism or DNS

2002 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark W. Johnson
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Numerical Procedure ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Arbitrary Orientation ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Streamwise Direction ◽  
Laminar Boundary Layers ◽  
Experimental Values

A numerical procedure for predicting the receptivity of laminar boundary layers to freestream turbulence consisting of vortex arrays with arbitrary orientation has been developed. Results show that the boundary layer is most receptivity to those vortices which have their axes approximately in the streamwise direction and vortex wavelengths of approximately 1.2 δ. The computed near wall gains for isotropic turbulence are similar in magnitude to previously published experimental values used to predict transition. The new procedure is therefore capable of predicting the development of the fluctuations in the laminar boundary layer from values of the freestream turbulence intensity and length scale and hence determining the start of transition without resorting to any empirical correlation.

scholarly journals On the different contributions of coherent structures to the spectra of a turbulent round jet and a turbulent boundary layer

2001 ◽  
Vol 448 ◽  
pp. 367-385 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. B. NICKELS ◽  
IVAN MARUSIC
Keyword(s):  
Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Boundary Layer ◽  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Coherent Structures ◽  
Isotropic Turbulence ◽  
Structural Models ◽  
Spectral Measurements ◽  
Round Jet ◽  
Good Account ◽  
Single Size

This paper examines and compares spectral measurements from a turbulent round jet and a turbulent boundary layer. The conjecture that is examined is that both flows consist of coherent structures immersed in a background of isotropic turbulence. In the case of the jet, a single size of coherent structure is considered, whereas in the boundary layer there are a range of sizes of geometrically similar structures. The conjecture is examined by comparing experimental measurements of spectra for the two flows with the spectra calculated using models based on simple vortex structures. The universality of the small scales is considered by comparing high-wavenumber experimental spectra. It is shown that these simple structural models give a good account of the turbulent flows.

scholarly journals High-Fidelity Simulations of a Linear HPT Vane Cascade Subject to Varying Inlet Turbulence

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Richard Pichler ◽  
Richard D. Sandberg ◽  
Gregory Laskowski ◽  
Vittorio Michelassi
Keyword(s):  
Heat Flux ◽  
Turbulence Intensity ◽  
Side Surface ◽  
Suction Side ◽  
Transition Process ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Length Scales ◽  
Inflow Turbulence ◽  
High Turbulence ◽  
Turbulence Length

The effect of inflow turbulence intensity and turbulence length scales have been studied for a linear high-pressure turbine vane cascade at Reis = 590,000 and Mis = 0.93, using highly resolved compressible large-eddy simulations employing the WALE turbulence model. The turbulence intensity was varied between 6% and 20% while values of the turbulence length scales were prescribed between 5% and 20% of axial chord. The analysis focused on characterizing the inlet turbulence and quantifying the effect of the inlet turbulence variations on the vane boundary layers, in particular on the heat flux to the blade. The transition location on the suction side of the vane was found to be highly sensitive to both turbulence intensity and length scale, with the case with turbulence intensity 20% and 20% length scale showing by far the earliest onset of transition and much higher levels of heat flux over the entire vane. It was also found that the transition process was highly intermittent and local, with spanwise parts of the suction side surface of the vane remaining laminar all the way to the trailing edge even for high turbulence intensity cases.

The Effects of Freestream Turbulence, Turbulence Length Scale, and Exit Reynolds Number on Turbine Blade Heat Transfer in a Transonic Cascade

2010 ◽  
Vol 133 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
J. S. Carullo ◽  
S. Nasir ◽  
R. D. Cress ◽  
W. F. Ng ◽  
K. A. Thole ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Heat Transfer ◽  
Reynolds Number ◽  
Turbine Blade ◽  
Surface Heat ◽  
Length Scale ◽  
Freestream Turbulence ◽  
Surface Heat Transfer ◽  
Mach Numbers ◽  
Turbulence Length ◽  
Turbulence Length Scale

This paper experimentally investigates the effect of high freestream turbulence intensity, turbulence length scale, and exit Reynolds number on the surface heat transfer distribution of a turbine blade at realistic engine Mach numbers. Passive turbulence grids were used to generate freestream turbulence levels of 2%, 12%, and 14% at the cascade inlet. The turbulence grids produced length scales normalized by the blade pitches of 0.02, 0.26, and 0.41, respectively. Surface heat transfer measurements were made at the midspan of the blade using thin film gauges. Experiments were performed at the exit Mach numbers of 0.55, 0.78, and 1.03, which represent flow conditions below, near, and above nominal conditions. The exit Mach numbers tested correspond to exit Reynolds numbers of 6×105, 8×105, and 11×105, based on true chord. The experimental results showed that the high freestream turbulence augmented the heat transfer on both the pressure and suction sides of the blade as compared with the low freestream turbulence case. At nominal conditions, exit Mach 0.78, average heat transfer augmentations of 23% and 35% were observed on the pressure side and suction side of the blade, respectively.

Behaviour in flow: perspectives on the distribution and dispersion of meroplanktonic larvae in the water column

2001 ◽  
Vol 58 (1) ◽  
pp. 86-98 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Metaxas
Keyword(s):  
Water Column ◽  
Turbulent Flows ◽  
Larval Dispersal ◽  
Spatial Scales ◽  
Fluid Motion ◽  
Benthic Boundary Layer ◽  
Larval Distribution ◽  
Physical Measurements ◽  
Marine Benthic Invertebrates

For marine benthic invertebrates with meroplanktonic larvae, the relative importance of hydrodynamics and swimming behaviour in determining larval dispersal in the water column, particularly at small spatial scales, has not been determined. In the field, larval aggregations recorded at physical and biological discontinuities in the water column were attributed to hydrodynamics. Similar aggregations obtained in the absence of flow in the laboratory indicate a potentially significant role of behaviour. At large spatial scales, larval distribution in the plankton is mainly regulated by horizontal advection. However, the ability of larvae to behaviourally regulate their position at scales of micrometres to metres when exposed to turbulent fluid motion in the water column, as evidenced in the benthic boundary layer, is unknown. Evaluation of swimming in turbulent flows in the water column is an intriguing area of research, which involves several constraints. In the field, quantification of behaviour is limited by low success in tracking larvae and lack of appropriate observational tools. In the laboratory, the generation and quantification of flow regimes that are representative of those in the field remains a challenge. An approach that integrates biological and physical measurements within realistic ranges is necessary to advance our understanding of larval dispersal.

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