Coherent Flow Structures Research Articles

Role of partial stable stratification on fluid flow and heat transfer in rotating thermal convection

The liquid iron core of the Earth undergoes vigorous convection driven by thermal and compositional buoyancy. The dynamics of convective fluid motions and heat transfer in such conditions are determined by background rotation, geometrical symmetry, and thermal interactions across the boundaries. In this study, rotating thermal convection in a horizontal fluid layer is considered to understand the fluid flow characteristics in the Earth's outer core focusing on the regions close to the rotational axis. The effects of a partial stable stratification on fluid flow and heat transfer are investigated to ascertain the physical significance of thermal core–mantle interaction on geomagnetic field generation driven by core fluid motion. It is found that even with non-linear evolution, convective instabilities retain the fundamental characteristics of linear onset modes. Mildly supercritical regimes lead to near laminar flows with the transition to turbulent convection occurring for strongly driven convection around 50–100 times enhanced buoyancy. Axial symmetry breaking and preferential damping of small-scale vortical structures are the hallmark of penetrative convection. Rapid rotation sustains small-scale helical flows in stable regions, a necessary ingredient for the sustenance of Earthlike dipolar magnetic fields. Coherent flow structures for strongly turbulent convection are obtained using reduced-order modeling. The overall total heat transfer is suppressed (up to 25%) due to the stable stratification although convective efficiency is enhanced (up to 30%) in the unstable regions favored by rapid rotation. Flow suppression is overcome under strong buoyancy forces, a relevant dynamical regime for deep-seated dynamo action in the Earth's core.

Efficacy of the Combined Use of Bed Sill and Sacrificial Piles to Control Local Scour around Circular Bridge Piers

In this study, the results are presented and discussed from laboratory test campaigns specifically designed to investigate the behavior of sacrificial piles as a countermeasure against local scouring at a circular bridge pier and clear-water conditions with flow intensity slightly below the threshold of sediment motion. Sacrificial piles are assessed on the upstream side of the pier in two transverse and triangular arrangements. Piles can reduce scouring by deflecting the flow and creating a low-velocity wake region behind them. The efficiency of the piles against local scouring depends on the diameter of the piles, the number of piles, and the angle of the wedge. The investigation was aimed at evaluating the effectiveness of the sacrificial piles as a function of different dimensionless groups. It was found that the triangular arrangement of sacrificial piles has better results than the transverse arrangement. The results showed that the triangular sacrificial piles reduced the maximum local scour depth at the pier to 37.2% in the best configuration. Combined countermeasures were tested, which were composed of sacrificial piles and a bed sill downstream of the pier; in the best configuration, the scour depth reduction in front of the pier reached 51.1%. The increased efficiency of the combination of bed sill and sacrificial piles (BSSP) is an advantage that can reduce the risk of pier failure when the duration of the flood is short. This last result shows that a combination of BSSP may be a very effective countermeasure against local scouring at bridge piers. Finally, the coherent turbulent flow structure around the best combination of BSSP was investigated, and its effect on the bed scouring pattern was studied. A 3D analysis of the bursting process was used. Turbulence characteristics, as well as the occurrence and transition probabilities of bursting events, were calculated. The obtained results confirmed the quite effective effect of the combination of these two countermeasures in reducing the scour depth.

Mesoscale structure of the atmospheric boundary layer across a natural roughness transition

The structure and intensity of turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer (ABL) drive fluxes of sediment, contaminants, heat, moisture, and CO[Formula: see text] at the Earth's surface. Where ABL flows encounter changes in roughness-such as cities, wind farms, forest canopies, and landforms-a new mesoscopic flow scale is introduced: the internal boundary layer (IBL), which represents a near-bed region of transient flow adjustment that develops over kilometers. Measurement of this new mesoscopic scale lies outside present observational capabilities of ABL flows, and simplified models fail to capture the sensitive dependence of turbulence on roughness geometry. Here, we use large-eddy simulations, run over high-resolution topographic data and validated against field observations, to examine the structure of the ABL across a natural roughness transition: the emergent sand dunes at White Sands National Park. We observe that development of the IBL is triggered by the abrupt transition from smooth playa surface to dunes; however, continuous changes in the size and spacing of dunes over several kilometers influence the downwind patterns of boundary stress and near-bed turbulence. Coherent flow structures grow and merge over the entire [Formula: see text]10 km distance of the dune field and modulate the influence of large-scale atmospheric turbulence on the bed. Simulated boundary stresses in the developing IBL counter existing expectations and explain the observed downwind decrease in dune migration, demonstrating a mesoscale coupling between flow and form that governs landscape dynamics. More broadly, our findings demonstrate the importance of resolving both turbulence and realistic roughness for understanding fluid-boundary interactions in environmental flows.

Experimental study on acoustic resonance of subsonic and slightly underexpanded impinging jets

The aeroacoustic feedback loops in high-speed circular jets that impinge on a large flat plate are investigated via acoustic measurements and schlieren visualizations. In the present experiments, the nozzle pressure ratio ranges from 1.39 to 2.20, the corresponding ideally expanded jet Mach number $M_j$ is from 0.70 to 1.12 and the nozzle-to-plate distance ( $H$ ) is from 4.0 $D$ to 6.0 $D$ , where $D$ is the nozzle exit diameter. The results of acoustic measurements show that the strongest tones are generated in a limited frequency band. The empirical dispersion relations obtained from the fluctuating greyscales along the jet centreline of time-resolved schlieren images have good agreement with the dispersion relations from the vortex-sheet model. The coherent flow structures at tonal frequencies are extracted by spectral proper orthogonal decomposition and are analysed in detail. For the $M_j<0.82$ jets, the upstream-propagating guided jet mode is progressively confined to the potential core of jets with increasing tonal frequency, which provides the first direct experimental support for theoretical results. The evolution in the structures of acoustic resonance loops is studied along a single frequency stage of axisymmetric impinging tones. When the acoustic resonance between the upstream- and downstream-propagating guided jet modes is formed at tonal frequencies, the impinging tones are intenser. Slightly underexpanded impinging jets can simultaneously produce impingement tones and screech tones. Shock-cell structures have modulatory effects on the downstream-propagating Kelvin–Helmholtz wavepacket and the upstream- and downstream-propagating guided jet modes. Due to the interaction between the flow structures at the frequencies of impinging and screech tones, tones of axisymmetric modes can be produced outside the frequency ranges in which the axisymmetric upstream-propagating guided jet modes are supported by jets.

Multiobjective optimization of Vortex Generators for heat transfer enhancement in turbulent flows

Convective heat transfer can be enhanced by streamwise vortices and coherent flow structures produced downstream Vortex Generators (VGs). The thermal performance depends on the VG shape which controls the intensity and topology of the vortices. Thus, VG shape optimization is a major challenge in designing sustainable and efficient heat exchangers. In the present study, a multi-objective optimization is performed through large space exploration design to find optimal VG shapes that adapt to different flow regimes. Simulations are carried out in parallel plate turbulent flow for three different Reynolds numbers; Re1=4600,Re2=9920, and Re3=30050. The present numerical results are first validated against numerical and experimental data from the open literature. Then, and for the first time, seven design parameters are investigated, based on VG shape dimensions. The new optimized VG show a thermal enhancement factor between 11 and 35%, relative to a smooth channel case, and between 3 and 14%, relative to different VG shapes from the recent open literature. The present results are analyzed in details by focusing on the physics of the flow structure and its correlation to the convective heat transfer enhancement using local criteria for flow visualization and vortex intensity quantification.

Research on energy harvesting characteristics of a flapping foil with trailing edge jet flap

Flapping foils offer a potential means for extracting hydrokinetic energy from ocean and river flows by utilizing a combined pitching and heaving motion of the airfoil. In this paper, the effectiveness of trailing edge active flow control in enhancing the energy harvesting performance of the conventional flapping foil is examined through numerical simulations. In this approach, an injections slot is opened at the trailing edge of the flapping foil, from which a high velocity jet is discharged into ambient water. Since the water jet is issued vertically downwards perpendicular to the airfoil surface, it operates like a Gurney flap and thus is known as jet flap in aeronautics. Parametric studies show that the optimal injection position should be as far as possible from the leading edge of the flapping foil. In addition, it is also found when the width of the exit slot of jet equals to 2.6 % of the airfoil chord and the momentum coefficient of jet is 0.02, the flapping foil with the jet flap can increase the maximum net energy harvesting efficiency obtained after deducting the energy consumption for the flow control from 39.22 % to 47.6 % compared to its baseline counterpart, indicating the effectiveness of this method. Furthermore, the dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) method is also adopted to reveal the spatial-temporal features of the coherent structures in the wake flow behind the proposed flapping foil in an attempt to gain a deep understanding of the underlying flow mechanism involved in promoting its energy harvesting performance.

Time-averaged flow characterisations in a bimodal gravel-bed stream and relative role of sediment depositions on near-bed coherent flow structures

Abstract The present study aims to quantify experimentally the relative role of sediment depositions on near-bed flows and turbulence in a gravel-bed stream. Time-averaged velocity was measured over a sand-filled gravel-bed stream with four cases of sediment depositions and compared with those over a gravel-bed stream without sediment depositions. An acoustic Doppler velocimeter was used to measure the instantaneous velocity of flows. The progressive infilling of void spaces in the gravel-bed stream forms distinct bimodal depositions that alter the mean flows characterised by increasing zero-velocity levels and massive damping in the bed shear stresses. The data plots of turbulent intensity depict enhancement of streamwise turbulent intensity in the near-bed flow region with increasing sand depositions. Moreover, the opposite nature of streamwise and vertical turbulent kinetic energy fluxes in the interfacial sublayer leads to slowing down the time-average Reynolds shear stresses at the vicinity of the gravel-bed surface. At the vicinity of the crest, the ejection and sweep events contributed approximately 86 and 56%, respectively, to the total Reynolds shear stress production in the case of gravel bed under clear-water flow conditions. By contrast, the contributions of turbulent sweep events increased over the sand-filled gravel bed at the same location.

Experimental study of the upstream bathymetry effects on a ducted twin vertical axis turbine

Tidal turbines at sea are subject to complex flow conditions. Among that complexity, wide bathymetry obstacles can generate powerful coherent flow structures whose impact on horizontal axis tidal turbines was proved to be highly detrimental. Consequently, the present paper aims at studying the effects of such coherent flow structures on the response of another tidal turbine geometry, namely a bottom-mounted ducted twin vertical axis tidal turbine (2-VATT). We tested a 1/20 scale model of such a 2-VATT in Ifremer’s flume tank either with a flat bed or downstream of a wide bathymetry obstacle at a constant far upstream velocity and we measured the turbine response simultaneously with the flow velocity. These flow measurements make it possible to compute cross-correlations in order to analyse the influence of the velocity fluctuation on the turbine response. The results reveal a strong drop in the average power and loads coefficients of the 2-VATT combined with significantly larger fluctuation. The velocity deficit and the high level of turbulence in the obstacle wake is responsible for a 40% lower average power coefficient and more than 3 times higher standard deviation compared to the flat bed configuration. The loads standard deviations are multiplied by 2 for the drag and by 10 for the lift when the 2-VATT is downstream of the bathymetry obstacle. This behaviour strongly increases the risks of structural fatigue failure, but the turbine drifting or overturning risks under those conditions remain lower than with the flat bed. The power fluctuation increase appears to be mostly due to the flow shear in the obstacle wake whereas the load fluctuation is mostly due to the periodical passing of the coherent flow structures. Thus, a proper characterisation of the flow at each precise turbine locations prior deployment at sea is highly recommended to design their structure accordingly.

Influence of dual purging jets on interferometric measurement of optical path difference

Incompressible large eddy simulations of dual purging jets at three Reynolds numbers of ReL = 1500, 1000, and 500 are performed, providing the database for simulated interferometric measurements subjected to the spatiotemporally varying temperature fields. The temperature is modeled as a passive scalar, and the index-of-refraction field is calculated from the air temperature and pressure using the modified Edlén equation. Based on wave optics, wavefront distortions of laser beams traversing the flow field are computed, and the optical path difference measurement is simulated. Statistical results of the velocity and temperature indicate distinctly different flow patterns at three Reynolds numbers. Spectral proper orthogonal decomposition is adopted to analyze the relationship between coherent flow structures and temperature wavepackets. There is a dominant frequency (St = 0.29) at ReL = 1500 and 1000, which is attributed to the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, whereas the two jets have notable flapping behaviors at ReL = 500. The wavefront distortions are found to be insensitive to the Reynolds number. The effects of the flow region and tracing distance are examined, and the optical performances of different beam pairs for interferometry are evaluated. The optical beams passing through the outer shear layers of the dual jets and wall jets are distorted severely, resulting in large systematic and random errors in the interferometric measurement.

Analysis of Near-wall Coherent Structure of Spiral Flow in Circular Pipe Based on Large Eddy Simulation

Based on the large eddy simulation method, this study performed the three-dimensional transient numerical analysis of the near-wall flow field of the spiral flow in a circular pipe and applied the sub-grid model of the kinetic energy transport. The low-speed bands, streamwise vortices and hairpin vortices of the spiral flow in the near-wall region of the circular pipe are determined using the Q criterion. The ejection and sweeping of coherent structures are identified using the velocity vector of the near-wall region; moreover, the two methods of creating the hairpin vortices are established by the image time series. The results demonstrate that the development directions of the near-wall bands, streamwise vortices and hairpin vortices of the spiral flow in the circular pipe develop along the path of the spiral line. The average spanwise period of the low-speed bands in the near-wall region is approximately 120 wall units, the length is more than 900 wall units and the height is not more than 40 wall units. The separation distance of the streamwise vortices is about 119 wall units. It has a certain angle with the wall (approximately 22°). The average burst period of a hairpin vortices is less than 0.015 s.

Frequency jump of a flickering buoyant jet diffusion flame influenced by ambient coflow

Flickering of laminar diffusion flames is known to be caused by the buoyancy-induced toroidal vortices attached to the outer flame surface, making a classical model for understanding flame-vortex interactions. This work experimentally investigates the impacts of ambient coflow on the flickering behaviors of a buoyant jet diffusion flame. Utilizing a simultaneous high-speed flame imaging/OH⁎ chemiluminescence imaging/particle image velocimetry measurement system, the evolutions and interactions of coherent flame and flow structures are resolved. The results demonstrate that the periodic deformation of the flame surface (i.e., flame flickering) arises from the periodic formation, growth, and shedding of the buoyancy-induced outer vortex rings (OVRs), manifesting as a hydrodynamic instability developing along the outer shear layer (OSL). Upon applying a weak-to-moderate coflow, the flame bulge's size gradually reduces, and the flickering frequency slightly increases with increasing coflow velocity. The notable frequency jump phenomenon is confirmed as the coflow velocity rises to a threshold value such that the flickering frequency undergoes a sudden increase of 3–4 Hz; this is also accompanied by a significant reduction in the flame bulge's size and a delay in flame pinch-off. Moreover, a second frequency jump of 2–3 Hz occurs at a higher coflow velocity. Based on quantitative analysis of the OVR core's evolution, we find that the frequency jumps result from a sudden downstream shift of the initial OVR core, essentially indicating the jump of the instability onset point of the OSL. From a hydrodynamic instability perspective, this phenomenon can be explained as a stabilization effect of the coflow on the OSL, resulting in the re-establishment of the instability condition in a downstream location.

PROPELLER INFLUENCE ON SURFACE PRESSURE FLUCTUATION UNDER BOUNDARY LAYER INGESTION CONDITION

Research on propeller noise under boundary layer ingestion condition is essential for designing new aircraft concepts. Measurements of pressure spectra on a flat plate below a propeller give important information about the noise coming from the blades. These also are important for designing surface noise mitigation structures, such as acoustic black holes, meta-materials, and liners. This paper investigates the effects of a propeller on the flat plate surface pressure under boundary layer ingestion, using bottom of the wind tunnel channel as flat plate. Tripping devices on the wind tunnel bottom wall control the boundary layer thicknesses. The surface pressure is measured using an instrumented plate positioned underneath the propeller. The plate has 87 pressure taps to measure the unsteady and steady pressure using the remote microphone probe (RMP) technique. The results show the influence of the propeller inflow, the advance ratio, and the number of blades on the different regions underneath the propeller, and on coherent turbulent structures of the incoming flow. The boundary layer thicknesses affects the static pressure upstream of the propeller - creating high pressure regions. The propeller affects the turbulent structures downstream of the blades, increasing its correlation length.

Fluctuation characteristics induced by energetic coherent structures in air-core vortex: The most complex vortex in the tidal power station intake system

The air-core vortex is the most complex vortex in the intake system of tidal power stations. Nearly all power plants prohibit the operation of units with air-core vortices, as these vortices not only contain air but also induce significant inflow fluctuations that can potentially lead to significant damage to the units. The current understanding of the fluctuation characteristics and mechanisms induced by energetic coherent structures in the air-core vortex flow is very limited. To address this, the coupled level-set and volume-of-fluid large-eddy simulations are conducted to investigate the energetic coherent structures that cause power output fluctuations. Two critical frequencies have been identified in the energy spectra of the velocity field: the air-core vortex meandering frequency and the shear vortex shedding frequency. The level and trend of the spectrum density at low frequencies are determined by the large-scale energy structure represented by the air-core vortex. The shear vortices are initially formed from a shear separation layer that eventually evolves into streamwise vortices downstream. When the air-core vortex enters the pipe, it breaks up and merges with the near-wall coherent structures. The enhanced velocity and pressure fluctuations, induced by air-core vortices and coherence structures, are analyzed using the turbulent kinetic energy transport equation, revealing that the production term dominates the development of turbulent kinetic energy. Moreover, the diffusion term is responsible for transferring energy through the evolution of turbulent structures. The energy loss induced by fluctuations is investigated using the entropy production method. We find that the direct dissipation of entropy production is mainly induced by air-core vortices, while the side-wall coherent structures in the pipe contribute to the turbulent dissipation.

Dynamics and scaling of particle streaks in high-Reynolds-number turbulent boundary layers

Inertial particles in wall-bounded turbulence are known to form streaks, but experimental evidence and predictive understanding of this phenomenon is lacking, especially in regimes relevant to atmospheric flows. We carry out wind tunnel measurements to investigate this process, characterizing the transport of microscopic particles suspended in turbulent boundary layers. The friction Reynolds number$Re_\tau = {O}(10^4)$allows for significant scale separation and the emergence of large-scale motions, while the range of viscous Stokes number$St^+=18$–870 is relevant to the transport of dust and fine sand in the atmospheric surface layer. We perform simultaneous imaging of both carrier and dispersed phases along wall-parallel planes in the logarithmic layer, demonstrating that streamwise particle streaks largely overlap with large-scale low-speed flow regions. The fluid–particle slip velocity indicates that with increasing inertia, the particle streaks outlive the low-speed fluid streaks. Moreover, two-point statistics show that the width of the particle streaks increases linearly with Stokes number, bounded by the size of the coherent flow structures. Finally, the particle-sampled flow topology suggests that particle streaks reside between the legs of hairpin packets. From these observations, we infer a conceptual view of the formation of particle streaks in the frame of the attached eddy model. A scaling for the particle streaks’ width is derived as a function of$Re_\tau$and$St^+$, which reproduces the measured trends and predicts widths${O}(0.1)$m in the atmospheric surface layer, comparable to aeolian streamers observed in the field.

Investigation of unsteady engulfment flows in a cross‑shaped mixer by particle image velocimetry

An experimental study was conducted to characterize flow fields in a cross-shaped mixer by particle image velocimetry technique (PIV). Instantaneous flow fields describe the formation and development of secondary flows at 20 ≤ Re ≤ 400, with focus on the dynamic evolution of vortices for periodic unsteady engulfment flows. Three stages are detected during one flow period, i.e., vortex merging, growing, and splitting. Vortex characteristics including populations, distributions, and strengths, are evaluated by a vortex identification and vorticity distributions. Reversal flow regions triggered by vortex breakdown are identified in merging and splitting vortices, which periodically shed downstream, thus causing an axial oscillation. The statistical properties and proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) modes of unsteady engulfment flows are analyzed. The peak of turbulent kinetic energy appears near the chamber corners where two co-rotating vortices are observed, and it decreases with Re. The second and third-order POD modes describe large-scale coherent structures in unsteady engulfment flows.

Flow Instability Control in a Model Swirl-Stabilized Combustor with Central Jet Injection

Swirling flows often occur in nature and industrial applications. With an increase in swirl intensity, such rotating flows are known to become unstable and undergo a sudden breakdown of the vortex core, resulting in unsteady flow dynamics with intensive pressure fluctuations. In particular, swirling flows are organized in combustion chambers to stabilize the flame around the central recirculation zone, formed due to the vortex core breakdown. However, the impact of large-scale vortex structures, including the precessing vortex core and secondary helical vortices, on unsteady combustion regimes is still unclear. The present paper demonstrates experimentally that for the swirling flow of a model swirl combustor, the injection of a central jet may be used to alter the configuration of coherent flow structures, including helical vortices. In particular, the asymmetric hydrodynamics mode, associated with the precessing vortex core, is suppressed, whereas the symmetrical one becomes dominant. This effect demonstrates the importance of central jet injection to control the dominant mode of flow instability for the design of swirl combustors.

Significant influence of fluid viscoelasticity on flow dynamics past an oscillating cylinder

This study focuses on numerically investigating the impact of fluid viscoelasticity on the flow dynamics around a transversely forced oscillating cylinder operating in the laminar vortex shedding regime at a fixed Reynolds number of $Re = 100$ . Specifically, we explore how fluid viscoelasticity affects the boundary between the lock-in and no lock-in regions and the corresponding wake characteristics compared with a simple Newtonian fluid. Our findings reveal that fluid viscoelasticity enables the synchronization of the vortex street with the cylinder motion at lower oscillation frequencies than those required for a Newtonian fluid. Consequently, the lock-in region boundary for a viscoelastic fluid differs from that of a Newtonian fluid and expands in the non-dimensional cylinder oscillation amplitude and frequency parameter space. In the primary synchronization region, the wake of a Newtonian fluid exhibits ‘2S’ (two single vortices) and ‘P+S’ (a pair of vortices and a single vortex) shedding modes. In contrast, a ‘2P’ (two pairs of vortices) vortex mode is observed for a viscoelastic fluid within the same region. To gain a deeper understanding of the differences in the coherent flow structures and their associated frequencies between the two fluids, we employ the data-driven reduced-order modelling technique, known as the dynamic mode decomposition (DMD) technique. Utilizing this technique, we successfully extract and visualize the two competing fundamental frequencies (cylinder oscillation and natural vortex shedding frequencies) and their associated flow structures in the case of the no lock-in state, whereas only the dominant cylinder oscillation frequency and associated flow structure in the case of the lock-in state. Furthermore, we propose that the presence of excess strain resulting from the stretching of polymer molecules in viscoelastic fluids leads to a distinct difference in the wake structure compared with Newtonian fluids. This observation aligns with the findings obtained from the $Q$ -criterion and vorticity transport analysis of the wake.

Tomographic particle image velocimetry measurement on three-dimensional swirling flow in dual-stage counter-rotating swirler

Three-Dimensional (3D) swirling flow structures, generated by a counter-rotating dual-stage swirler in a confined chamber with a confinement ratio of 1.53, were experimentally investigated at Re = 2.3 × 105 using Tomographic Particle Image Velocimetry (Tomo-PIV) and planar Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV). Based on the analysis of the 3D time-averaged swirling flow structures and 3D Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) of the Tomo-PIV data, typical coherent flow structures, including the Corner Recirculation Zone (CRZ), Central Recirculation Zone (CTRZ), and Lip Recirculation Zone (LRZ), were extracted. The counter-rotating dual-stage swirler with a Venturi flare generates the independence process of vortex breakdown from the main stage and pilot stage, leading to the formation of an LRZ and a smaller CTRZ near the nozzle outlet. The confinement squeezes the CRZ to the corner and causes a reverse rotation flow to limit the shape of the CTRZ. A large-scale flow structure caused by the main stage features an explosive breakup, flapping, and Precessing Vortex Core (PVC). The explosive breakup mode dominates the swirling flow structures owing to the expansion and construction of the main jet, whereas the flapping mode is related to the wake perturbation. Confinement limits the expansion of PVC and causes it to contract after the impacting area.

Surrogate-based optimization of the attack and inclination angles of a delta winglet pair vortex generator in turbulent channel flow

Vortex generators (VGs) have been extensively studied and utilized in multifunctional heat exchangers/reactors due to their remarkable ability to create coherent flow structures and streamwise vortices. These characteristics significantly enhance the mixing and heat transfer performance in laminar and turbulent flow regimes. With the advancement of computational power, VG shape optimization has become feasible, leading to the discovery of various optimized shapes in the literature for different Reynolds numbers. In this paper, the response surface polynomial method is employed as a surrogate model to optimize the angle of attack and inclination angle of a delta winglet VG at a Reynolds number of 4,600. The potential applications of these optimized designs are diverse, particularly in scenarios that require cooling or heating. Some examples include photovoltaic (PV) panel cooling, waste heat recovery in hybrid PV/solar water heating systems, energy-efficient HVAC systems, and thermal management in electric vehicles. To achieve this objective, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations are conducted to compute the thermal performance factor of each VG design at various values of attack and inclination angles. By enhancing mixing and heat transfer capabilities, this design can have a substantial impact on various renewable energy applications, contributing to a greener and more sustainable future. The highest thermal enhancement factor of 1.15 is found to be achieved for an inclination angle of −45° and an angle of attack of 35°. This means that optimized VG enhances heat transfer by 15% compared to empty channel flow, while maintaining the same pumping power.

Lagrangian studies of coherent sets and heat transport in constant heat flux-driven turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection

We explore the mechanisms of heat transfer in a turbulent constant heat flux-driven Rayleigh–Bénard convection flow, which exhibits a hierarchy of flow structures from granules to supergranules. Our computational framework makes use of time-dependent flow networks. These are based on trajectories of Lagrangian tracer particles that are advected in the flow. We identify coherent sets in the Lagrangian frame of reference as those sets of trajectories that stay closely together for an extended time span under the action of the turbulent flow. Depending on the choice of the measure of coherence, sets with different characteristics are detected. First, the application of a recently proposed evolutionary spectral clustering scheme allows us to extract granular coherent features that are shown to contribute significantly less to the global heat transfer than their spatial complements. Moreover, splits and mergers of these (leaking) coherent sets leave spectral footprints. Second, trajectories which exhibit a small node degree in the corresponding network represent objectively highly coherent flow structures and can be related to supergranules as the other stage of the present flow hierarchy. We demonstrate that the supergranular flow structures play a key role in the vertical heat transport and that they exhibit a greater spatial extension than the granular structures obtained from spectral clustering.