Optimal Shape Design of a Two-Dimensional Asymmetric Diffuser in Turbulent Flow

Abstract

An optimal shape of two-dimensional asymmetric diffuser with maximum pressure recovery at the exit is numerically obtained using a mathematical theory based on the variational calculus and gradient algorithm. The initial diffuser is taken to be a two-dimensional asymmetric diffuser for which much experimental and numerical data are available. The Reynolds number based on the bulk mean velocity and the channel height at the diffuser entrance is 1.8 × × 10 4 .F rom this initial shape, optimal diffuser shapes are designed for six different geometric constraints, such as the streamwise length and height of the diffuser. The optimality condition for maximum pressure recovery is obtained to be zero skin friction along the diffuser wall. The turbulent flow inside the diffuser is predicted using the k‐� ‐v2‐f model, and optimal shapes are obtained through iterative procedures to satisfy the optimality condition. With the shape design, flow separation that appeared in the initial diffuser is completely removed or significantly reduced. For one of the optimal diffuser shapes obtained, large-eddy simulation is carried out to validate the result of the shape design. The wall shear stress, wall pressure, mean velocity, and turbulence quantities obtained from large-eddy simulation are in good agreement with those from the simulation using the turbulence model.