Computational and Experimental Assessment of Turbulence Stimulation on Flow Induced Motion of Circular Cylinder

2015 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omer Kemal Kinaci ◽  
Sami Lakka ◽  
Hai Sun ◽  
Michael M. Bernitsas

In the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory (MRELab) of the University of Michigan, Flow Induced Motion (FIM) is studied as a means to convert marine hydrokinetic energy to electricity using the VIVACE energy harvester [1–4]. Turbulence stimulation in the form of sand-strips, referred to as Passive Turbulence Control (PTC), were added to oscillating cylinders in 2008 [5]. PTC enabled VIVACE to harness hydrokinetic energy from currents/tides over the entire range of FIM including VIV and galloping. In 2011, the MRELab produced experimentally the PTC-to-FIM Map defining the induced cylinder motion based on the location of PTC [6]. In 2013, the robustness of the map was tested and dominant zones were identified [7]. Even though the PTC-to-FIM Map has become a powerful tool in inducing specific motions of circular cylinders, several parameters remain unexplored. Experiments, though the ultimate verification tool, are time consuming and hard to provide all needed information. A computational tool that could predict the FIM of a cylinder correctly would be invaluable to study the full parametric design space. A major side-benefit of PTC was the fact that PTC enabled computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations to generate results in good agreement with experiments by forcing the location of the separation point [8]. This valuable tool, along with experiments, is used in this paper to investigate PTC design parameters such as width and thickness and their impact on flow features with the intent of maximizing FIM and, thus, hydrokinetic energy conversion.

Author(s):  
Hongrae Park ◽  
Michael M. Bernitsas ◽  
Eun Soo Kim

In the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory of the University of Michigan, selectively located surface roughness has been designed successfully to suppress vortex-induced vibrations (VIV) of a single cylinder by 60% compared to a smooth cylinder. In this paper, suppression of flow-induced motions of two cylinders in tandem using surface roughness is studied experimentally by varying flow velocity and cylinder center-to-center spacing. Two identical rigid cylinders suspended by springs with their axes perpendicular to the flow are allowed one degree of freedom motion transverse to the flow direction. Surface roughness is applied in the form of four roughness strips helically placed around the cylinder. Results are compared to smooth cylinders also tested in this work. Amplitude ratio A/D, frequency ratio fosc/fn,water, and range of synchronization are measured. Regardless of the center-to-center cylinder distance, the amplitude response of the upstream smooth cylinder is similar to that of an isolated smooth cylinder. The wake from the upstream cylinder with roughness is narrower and longer and has significant influence on the amplitude of the downstream cylinder. The latter is reduced in the initial and upper branches while its range of VIV-synchronization is extended. Galloping is suppressed in both cylinders. In addition, the amplitude of the upstream rough cylinder and its range of synchronization increase with respect to the isolated rough cylinder.


Author(s):  
Che-Chun Chang ◽  
Michael M. Bernitsas

Passive turbulence control (PTC) in the form of selectively applied surface roughness is used on a rigid circular cylinder supported by two end-springs in transverse steady flow. The flow-induced motions are enhanced dramatically reaching the limits of the experimental facility and motion mechanism at amplitude to diameter ratio A/D ≅ 3. In comparison to a smooth cylinder, in the fully turbulent shear layer flow regime at Reynolds number on the order of 100,000, PTC initiates VIV earlier at reduce velocity U* ≅ 4, reduces VIV amplitude depending on damping, and initiates galloping at U* ≅ 10 rather than 20. Thus, back-to-back VIV and galloping are achieved expanding the synchronization range of Flow Induced Motion (FIM) beyond U* ≅ 15 and the capabilities of the experimental set-up. The harnessed horizontal hydrokinetic power increased by a factor of four due to increased velocities in the synchronization range without any adjustment of the motion mechanism particulars.


Author(s):  
Omer Kemal Kinaci ◽  
Sami Lakka ◽  
Hai Sun ◽  
Ethan Fassezke ◽  
Michael M. Bernitsas

Vortex-induced vibrations (VIVs) are highly nonlinear and it is hard to approach the problem analytically or computationally. Experimental investigation is therefore essential to address the problem and reveal some physical aspects of VIV. Although computational fluid dynamics (CFDs) offers powerful methods to generate solutions, it cannot replace experiments as yet. When used as a supplement to experiments, however, CFD can be an invaluable tool to explore some underlying issues associated with such complicated flows that could otherwise be impossible or very expensive to visualize or measure experimentally. In this paper, VIVs and galloping of a cylinder with selectively distributed surface roughness—termed passive turbulence control (PTC)—are investigated experimentally and computationally. The computational approach is first validated with benchmark experiments on smooth cylinders available in the literature. Then, experiments conducted in the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory (MRELab) of the University of Michigan are replicated computationally to visualize the flow and understand the effects of thickness and width of roughness strips placed selectively on the cylinder. The major outcomes of this work are: (a) Thicker PTC initiates earlier galloping but wider PTC does not have a major impact on the response of the cylinder and (b) The amplitude response is restricted in VIV due to the dead fluid zone attached to the cylinder, which is not observed in galloping.


2020 ◽  
Vol 143 (3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mengyu Li ◽  
Christopher C. Bernitsas ◽  
Jing Guo ◽  
Hai Sun

Abstract Flow-induced oscillations/vibrations (FIO/V) of cylinders in tandem can be enhanced by proper in-flow spacing to increase hydrokinetic energy harnessing. In a farm of multiple cylinders in tandem, the effect of interference on harnessing efficiency arises. Three years of systematic experiments in the Marine Renewable Laboratory (MRELab) of the University of Michigan, on an isolated cylinder, and two and three cylinders in tandem have revealed that synergistic FIO can enhance oscillations of cylinders in close proximity. Two cylinders in tandem can harness 2.5–13.5 times the hydrokinetic power of one isolated cylinder. Three cylinders in tandem can harness 3.4–26.4 times the hydrokinetic power of one isolated cylinder. Negative impact on the harnessed energy by multiple cylinders, such as the shielding effect for the downstream cylinder/s, is possible. Specifically for the three-cylinder configuration, at a certain flow speed, the decrease in the power of the middle cylinder can be overcome by adjusting its stiffness and/or damping.


Author(s):  
Hai Sun ◽  
Eun Soo Kim ◽  
Marinos P. Bernitsas ◽  
Michael M. Bernitsas

Flow-induced motion (FIM) experiments of a single circular cylinder or multiple cylinders in an array involve several configuration and hydrodynamic parameters, such as diameter, mass, damping, stiffness, spacing, Reynolds number, and flow regime, and deviation from circular cross section. Due to the importance of the FIM both in suppression for structural robustness and in enhancement for hydrokinetic energy conversion, systematic experiments are being conducted since the early 1960s and several more decades of experimentation are required. Change of springs and dampers is time consuming and requires frequent recalibration. Emulating springs and dampers with a controller makes parameter change efficient and accurate. There are two approaches to this problem: The first involves the hydrodynamic force in the closed-loop and is easier to implement. The second called virtual damping and spring (Vck) does not involve the hydrodynamic force in the closed-loop but requires an elaborate system identification (SI) process. Vck was developed in the Marine Renewable Energy Laboratory (MRELab) of the University of Michigan for the first time in 2009 and resulted in extensive data generation. In this paper, the second generation of Vck is developed and validated by comparison of the FIM experiments between a Vck emulated oscillator and an oscillator with physical springs and dampers. The main findings are: (a) the Vck system developed keeps the hydrodynamic force out of the control-loop and, thus, does not bias the FIM, (b) The controller-induced lag is minimal and significantly reduced compared to the first generation of Vck built in the MRELab due to use of an Arduino embedded board to control a servomotor instead of Labview, (c) The SI process revealed a static, third-order, nonlinear viscous model but no need for dynamic terms with memory, and (d) The agreement between real and virtual springs and dampers is excellent in FIM including vortex-induced vibrations (VIVs) and galloping measurements over the entire range of spring constants and velocities tested (16,000 < Re < 140,000).


Author(s):  
Wei Wu ◽  
Michael M. Bernitsas ◽  
Kevin Maki

Two-dimensional RANS equations with the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model are used to simulate the flow and body kinematics of a rigid circular cylinder mounted on springs, transversely to a steady uniform flow in the high-lift, TrSL3 regime with 35,000<Re<130,000. Passive Turbulence Control (PTC) in the form of selectively distributed surface roughness is used to alter the cylinder Flow Induced Motion (FIM). Simulation is performed by using a solver based on the open source CFD tool OpenFOAM, which solves continuum mechanics problems with a finite volume discretization method. Roughness parameters of PTC are simulated modeling tests conducted in the Marine Renewable Energy Lab (MRELab) of the University of Michigan. The numerical tool is first tested on smooth cylinder in VIV and results are compared with available experimental measurements and RANS simulations. For the cylinder with PTC cases, the sandpaper grit (k) on the cylinder wall is modeled as a rough-wall boundary condition. Two sets of cases with different system parameters (spring constant, damping) are simulated and the results are compared with experimental data measured in the MRELab. The amplitude-ratio curve shows clearly three different branches, including the VIV initial and upper branches and a galloping branch, similar to those observed experimentally. Frequency ratio, vortex patterns, transitional behavior, and lift are also predicted well for PTC cylinders at such high Reynolds numbers.


Author(s):  
Chunhui Ma ◽  
Hai Sun ◽  
Marinos M. Bernitsas

Flow-induced vibrations (FIVs) of two tandem, rigid, circular cylinders with piecewise continuous restoring force are investigated for Reynolds number 24,000 ≤ Re ≤ 120,000 with damping, and restoring force function as parameters. Selective roughness is applied to enhance FIV and increase the hydrokinetic energy captured by the vortex-induced vibration for aquatic clean energy (VIVACE) converter. Experimental results for amplitude response, frequency response, interactions between cylinders, energy harvesting, and efficiency are presented and discussed. All experiments were conducted in the low-turbulence free-surface water (LTFSW) Channel of the MRELab of the University of Michigan. The main conclusions are as follows: (1) the nonlinear-spring converter can harness energy from flows as slow as 0.33 m/s with no upper limit; (2) the nonlinear-spring converter has better performance at initial galloping than its linear-spring counterpart; (3) the FIV response is predominantly periodic for all nonlinear spring functions used; (4) the influence from the upstream cylinder is becoming more dominant as damping increases; (5) optimal power harnessing is achieved by changing the linear viscous damping and tandem spacing L/D; (6) close spacing ratio L/D = 1.57 has a positive impact on the harnessed power in VIV to galloping transition; and (7) the interactions between two cylinders have a positive impact on the upstream cylinder regardless of the spacing and harness damping.


Author(s):  
Chunhui Ma ◽  
Hai Sun ◽  
Marinos M. Bernitsas

Flow Induced Motions (FIMs) of two tandem, rigid, circular cylinders with piecewise continuous restoring force are investigated for Reynolds number 24,000≤Re≤120,000 with damping, and restoring force function as parameters. Selective roughness is applied to enhance FIM and increase the hydrokinetic energy captured by the VIVACE (Vortex Induced Vibration for Aquatic Clean Energy) Converter. Experimental results for amplitude response, frequency response, interactions between cylinders, energy harvesting, and efficiency are presented and discussed. All experiments were conducted in the Low Turbulence Free Surface Water (LTFSW) Channel of the MRELab of the University of Michigan. The main conclusions are: (1) The nonlinear-spring, Converter can harness energy from flows as slow as 0.33 m/s with no upper limit. (2) The nonlinear-spring Converter has better performance at initial galloping than its linear-spring counterpart. (3) The FIM response is predominantly periodic for all nonlinear spring functions used. (4) The influence from the upstream cylinder is becoming more dominant as damping increases. (5) Optimal power harnessing is achieved by changing the linear viscous damping and tandem spacing L/D. (6) Close spacing ratio L/D = 1.57 has a positive impact on the harnessed power in VIV to galloping transition. (7) The interactions between two cylinders have a positive impact on the upstream cylinder regardless of the spacing and harness damping.


Author(s):  
Sun Hai ◽  
Michael M. Bernitsas ◽  
Chen Zhiyun

Abstract Flow Induced Oscillations (FIO) of cylinders in tandem can be enhanced by proper spacing to increase hydrokinetic energy harnessing. In a farm of multiple cylinders in tandem, the issue of the effect of interference on harnessing efficiency arises. Over the course of three years of development in the Marine Renewable Laboratory of the University of Michigan, systematic experiments on an isolated cylinder, and two and three cylinders in tandem have revealed that synergistic FIO can actually enhance oscillations of cylinders in close proximity. Two cylinders in tandem can harness 2.5–13.5 times the hydrokinetic power of one isolated cylinder. Three cylinders in tandem can harness 3.4–26.4 times the hydrokinetic power of one isolated cylinder.


Author(s):  
Carlo Cravero ◽  
Davide Marsano

Centrifugal blowers are widely used in automotive, heating, ventilating, air-conditioning and other industrial purposes. In fact, they allow high-pressure increase to a moderately high mass flow rate, despite the reduced overall dimensions of the system. Numerous authors have worked to increase the fluid dynamic efficiency of the impeller and the volute. However, the recent sound emission standards have imposed tighter constraints, making the noise reduction one of the most challenging target for the design. The reduction of the tonal noise is the main concern for these blowers because the noise at the first harmonic is clearly distinguishable in the noise spectrum. Techniques to reduce this peak generally rely on experimental measurements in aeroacoustics laboratory. In this work, a CFD procedure has been developed to accurately predict the tonal noise in radial bowers. The approach has been validated using real geometries and experimental data. Various turbulence models have been tested to find the best results without the use of excessive computational resources. Moreover, unsteady simulations of the 3D blower have been carried out to analyze the influence of the main geometric parameters on the tonal noise reduction. A parametric design code developed by the authors have been used to change the geometry in order to identify the effect of the main geometrical design parameters on both fluid dynamic and aeroacoustics performance.


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