Large eddy simulation of turbulent open channel flow with heat transfer at high Prandtl numbers

Abstract

Large eddy simulation of a fully developed turbulent open channel flow with heat transfer is performed. The three-dimensional filtered Navier-Stokes and energy equations are numerically solved using a fractional-step method. Dynamic subgrid-scale (SGS) models for the turbulent SGS stress and heat flux are employed to close the governing equations. The objective of this study is to analyze the behavior of turbulent flow and heat transfer in turbulent open channel flow, in particular for high Prandtl number, and to examine the reliability of the LES technique for predicting turbulent heat transfer near the free surface. The turbulent open channel flow with constant difference of temperature imposed on the free surface and bottom wall is calculated for the Prandtl number (Pr) from 1 up to 100, the Reynolds number (Reτ) 180 based on the wall friction velocity and the channel depth. To illustrate the turbulent flow and heat transfer behaviors, some typical quantities, including the mean velocity, temperature and their fluctuations, heat transfer coefficients, turbulent heat fluxes, and flow structures of velocity and temperature fluctuations, are exhibited and analyzed.