Flow Models for a Vortex Cell

Abstract

The flow inside a vortex trapping cavity is simulated by a suite of models: point vortex, Prandtl-Batchelor flow, and Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations. The scope is to ascertain to what extent an inviscid model can be used to design vortex cells. It turns out that the Prandtl-Batchelor flow, with an appropriate jump in the Bernoulli constant across the dividing streamline, gives an acceptable representation of the solution found by the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes equations, which in turn compares well with experimental results when an appropriate turbulence model is selected.