Two-phase micro- and macro-time scales in particle-laden turbulent channel flows

Abstract

The micro- and macro-time scales in two-phase turbulent channel flows are investigated using the direct numerical simulation and the Lagrangian particle trajectory methods for the fluid- and the particle-phases, respectively. Lagrangian and Eulerian time scales of both phases are calculated using velocity correlation functions. Due to flow anisotropy, micro-time scales are not the same with the theoretical estimations in large Reynolds number (isotropic) turbulence. Lagrangian macro-time scales of particle-phase and of fluid-phase seen by particles are both dependent on particle Stokes number. The fluid-phase Lagrangian integral time scales increase with distance from the wall, longer than those time scales seen by particles. The Eulerian integral macro-time scales increase in near-wall regions but decrease in out-layer regions. The moving Eulerian time scales are also investigated and compared with Lagrangian integral time scales, and in good agreement with previous measurements and numerical predictions. For the fluid particles the micro Eulerian time scales are longer than the Lagrangian ones in the near wall regions, while away from the walls the micro Lagrangian time scales are longer. The Lagrangian integral time scales are longer than the Eulerian ones. The results are useful for further understanding two-phase flow physics and especially for constructing accurate prediction models of inertial particle dispersion.