Wing-Wake Interaction of Insect-Like Flapping Wing in Hover: Effect of Aspect Ratio and Kinematics at Re~104

In this paper, the effect of wing aspect ratio and kinematics on wing-wake interaction at Re∼104, which matched the flight regime of flapping-wing micro air vehicle (FWMAV), was investigated. The dynamically scaled-up robotic model submerged in a water tank environment revealed that the wing-wake interaction augmented lift across a decrease in both aspect ratio and wing pitching duration. At such high Re, a time-course digital particle image velocimetry (DPIV) measurement showed the entire flow was strongly dominated by trailing-edge vortices (TEV). A pair of counter-rotating TEV was found to induce a jetlike flow towards the windward side of the wing at stroke reversal. The transfer of momentum from the accelerated flow to the wing caused the enhanced lift. The size of the pair vortex decreased for an increase in both aspect ratio and wing pitching duration. The size of the TEV pair was the key feature found to generate the observed aerodynamic force characteristics.

Experimental Analysis of Turbulent Wake Development Behind a Permeable Cylinder

To investigate the effect of permeability on turbulent wake behind a cylinder in uniform flow, we conduct particle image velocimetry on turbulent wake behind permeable cylinders, which are made of mesh sheets, of different permeabilities and compare the results with those for a solid cylinder. For relatively lower permeability, turbulent wake is quite similar to the case for a solid cylinder except for a slight shift in the streamwise direction of the reversed flow region implying turbulent Kármán vortex shedding. On the other hand, for higher permeability, the structure of turbulence is qualitatively different. More concretely, turbulent Kármán vortices disappear. Interestingly, however, the momentum deficit for such flow is comparable with that of a solid cylinder. This considerable momentum deficit can be understood with isotropic turbulence caused by the flow penetrating through the mesh constructing the cylinders. These results imply that turbulent wake behind a permeable cylinder involves dynamics both of wake and grid turbulence and the latter one dominates when permeability is sufficiently high.

The Effect of Model Parameters on CFD Simulation of a Thermosyphon

Both numerical and experimental studies have previously been carried out to investigate the heat transfer performance of the two-phase closed thermosyphon (TPCT). This paper investigates the performance of a commercially available computational fluid dynamics (CFD) solver (Ansys FLUENT) to predict the complex flow behavior of TPCTs, with special focus on modeling of the mass transfer phase change process. The present study uses four different sets of mass transfer coefficients for condensation and evaporation within a previously documented phase change model to determine their impact on the simulation results. The mass transfer coefficients effectively control the rate of transfer from liquid to vapor phase during evaporation and vice versa during condensation. The choice of coefficients is assumed to represent a balance between numerical accuracy and stability. A baseline simulation is performed for which both the evaporation and condensation coefficients are equal and set to default values. Three additional simulations vary the magnitude of the coefficients and adopt relative values based on density ratio following a recommended method that has been previously found to be effective for these simulations. Initial results show that the case with the highest coefficient of evaporation and coefficient for condensation based on the density ratio is in good agreement with available experimental data of overall thermal resistance of the TPCT., with predictive capability degrading as the values of the coefficients are reduced. Additionally, the 3D CFD models implemented in this study appear to successfully predict the phase change process and vital flow behavior inside the TPCTs, at least in a qualitative sense.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Modelling of a Load Sensing Proportional Valve

In this paper, two 3D CFD models of a load sensing proportional valve are contrasted. The models were developed with two different software, Simerics PumpLinx® and ANSYS Fluent®. In both cases the mesh was dynamically modified based on the fluid forces acting on the local compensator. In the former, a specific template for valves was used, in the latter a user-defined function was implemented. The models were validated in terms of flow rate and pressure drop for different positions of the main spool by means of specific tests. Two configurations were tested: with the local compensator blocked and free to regulate. The study has brought to evidence the reliability of the CFD models in evaluating the steady-state characteristics of valves with complex geometry.

PIV and POD Investigations of Coherent Vortices Downstream Circular or Rectangular Obstacles Located Between Two Parallel Plates

The study is an experimental investigations using PIV. The measurements were obtained by PIV for an unsteady laminar flow across a rectangular channel with a cross-section 300 × 30mm2, in the middle of which is located a cylindrical or a square obstacle. In the case of the cylindrical configuration and due to the confinement, PIV measurements in the range of 40 < Re < 200 clearly show that the von Karman vortex shedding appears at a critical Reynolds number which is about 66. A post-processing of these PIV measurements using the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) technique is by keeping only the first most energetic six modes, can be used as a filtering process to remove noise from instantaneous velocity signals. In the case of the square obstacle, PIV measurements obtained in the range of 30 < Re < 350 show the absence of vortex detachments and the chaotic behavior of the wake behind the obstacle beyond a certain Reynolds number. By examining the POD post-possessing results, the existence of a dynamic detachments’ regime (instantaneous breaking and coalescence of vortices), can be clearly observed. Given the chaotic behavior of the wake behind the obstacle, the application of the POD filtering process to only the first most energetic modes, cannot lead to good results.

Ionic Wind Application to Vortex Ring Generator and its Transportation Efficiency

In this study, ionic wind generated in corona discharge is focused for producing an air flow without having mechanical actuators. First, the kinetic energy conversion efficiency to ionic wind from electric power is experimentally estimated to be 0.32%. Then, it is confirmed that intermittent blows of ionic wind enable to produce vortex rings without using mechanical system. We adopt novel sub-chamber structure to avoid the concentration of the substance in a vortex ring low, so that the substance concentration transported to the target distance of 200 mm increases by 9%. As an application, the efficiency for moisture transportation is evaluated through experimental measurements. As a result, it is shown that the substance (moisture) can be transported at an efficiency of about 85% to target distance of 200 mm under conditions where the influence of external turbulence is small.

Dynamic Performance Analysis of Large-Scale Packed Bed Truncated Conical Thermal Energy Storage

In the present paper, a high-temperature packed bed energy storage system of volume 175,000m3 is numerically investigated. The system is a underground packed bed of truncated conical shape, which comprises of rocks as a storage medium and air as a heat transfer fluid. A one-dimensional, two-phase model is developed to simulate the transient behavior of the storage. The developed model is used to conduct a parametric study with a wide range of design parameters to investigate the change in performance during both charging and discharging operation. Results show that the model satisfactorily predicts the dynamic behavior, and the truncated conical shaped storage with a rock diameter of 3cm, insulation thickness up to 0.6m and charging-discharging rate of 553kg/s leads to lower thermal losses and higher energy efficiencies. The paper provides useful insight into the transient performance and efficiency of a large-scale packed bed energy storage system within the range of parameters investigated.

Simulation of the Wake of the Flow Around Two Side-By-Side Circular Cylinders at Reynolds Number 5000

Interaction between the wakes of two cylinders in side-by-side configuration creates interesting flow phenomena. The nature of the wake depends on the Reynolds number and the transverse pitch distance between the cylinders. The flow over two side-by-side cylinders of equal diameter is simulated in 3D at Reynolds number 5000 using Large Eddy Simulation (LES). The centre-to-centre transverse pitch ratio is varied and the flow behind the cylinders is classified into either a bi-stable flow regime with biased gap flow or a regime with parallel vortex streets. Furthermore, representative instantaneous flow fields, Strouhal number and the time varying drag coefficient C′D are presented.

Can Natural Convection on Smooth Vertical Plates in the Laminar Regime Be Improved by Adding Forward Facing Triangular Roughness Elements?

Vertical smooth surfaces are commonly used for transferring heat by natural convection. Many studies have tried altering smooth surfaces in various ways to increase heat transfer. Many of these studies fail to increase global heat transfer. The problem commonly reported is dead zones appearing just upstream and downstream obstructions that effectively decrease wall temperature gradients normal to the surface. In this study, we simulate how changes geometry of forward facing triangular roughness elements affect local and global heat transfer for isothermal plates. We change the aspect ratio of the triangular elements from L/h = 5 to L/h = 40 at Grashof numbers of GrL = 8.0 · 104 and GrL = 6.4 · 105. In all cases the flow remains laminar. Even when accounting for the increase in surface area, we keep observing a decrease in global heat transfer compared to the smooth vertical plate. However, the results show by carefully selecting the aspect ratio and pitch distance of the triangular elements based on the Grashof number, the dead zone behind the horizontal part can be eliminated thereby significantly increasing local heat transfer. This observation could help to improve cooling of electronics with high localised heat fluxes.

The Reynolds Stress in Channel Flows From a Lagrangian Treatment of the Turbulence Momentum

We have developed a mechanistic approach for determination of the Reynolds stress, using a Lagrangian analysis of turbulent momentum. Analysis and comparison with DNS and experimental data point toward the soundness of this approach (Lee, 2018). von Karman constant, the inner layer thickness and the Reynolds stress itself are all recovered through this approach, in agreement with DNS data. In addition, the turbulent flow profiles can be calculated iteratively using the basic Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equation, in conjunction with the current transport equation for the Reynolds stress. In this work, we explore these and further uses of the current approach in solving turbulent flow dynamics.