LES Simulation of Heat Transfer in a Turbulent Pipe Flow with Lead Coolant at Different Reynolds Numbers

Abstract

This paper numerically simulates turbulent heat transfer in a round pipe in a wide range of Reynolds numbers using the CABARET nonparametric MILES method on grids with an incomplete resolution of the turbulence spectrum and the STAR-CCM+ CFD code in the LES approximation. The calculation results are compared with the DNS calculations of other authors found in the literature and with the RANS calculations implemented in the STAR-CCM+ CFD code. The simulation showed a satisfactory accuracy in determining the mean, root-mean-square, and integral characteristics of the flow; and it allowed us to identify the shortcomings of the existing model relations describing local turbulence characteristics. The authors propose a thermal wall function implemented in the RANS approximations.