A CFD Simulation of Near Wall Turbulent Flow in Concentric Annulus

Abstract

A CFD simulation study was conducted to analyse the near wall turbulence characteristics of water flow through concentric annulus. The continuity and momentum equations were solved by using a commercial CFD package (CFX 14) with the Shear-Stress-Transport (SST) model option. The simulation results were compared to the experimental data obtained by using high resolution Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) analyses of water flow in a horizontal concentric annulus. A fully developed turbulent flow of water through a horizontal flow loop (ID = 9.5 cm) with concentric annular geometry (inner to outer pipe radius ratio = 0.4) was used for comparison purpose. Reynolds number ranged from 17,500 to 68,500. Annular velocity profile obtained from simulation study showed good agreement with the experimental data. Near wall velocity profile obtained from CFD simulation followed the universal wall law (u+ = y+) up to y+ = 11. CFD analyses using the SST model resulted a good number of velocity data up to y+ = 11, which is normally a very difficult task to achieve experimentally. The CFD analyses using SST model is computationally inexpensive and therefore, can be conveniently used for investigating the near wall turbulent characteristics of flow in concentric annulus.