Vortex Formation Research Articles

An experimental study of vortex evolution around an offshore stationary dual-chamber oscillating water column converter

The Oscillating Water Column (OWC) is a promising Wave Energy Converter (WEC) due to its practicality and efficiency. Conventional single-chamber OWCs exhibit constraints in extracting energy over diverse wave periods, while dual-chamber OWCs demonstrate enhanced adaptability, leading to improved energy capture rates. This study investigates an offshore stationary dual-chamber OWC with an underlying transverse channel designed to facilitate wave ingress and augment energy extraction. Experiments across various wave periods reveal that dual-chamber OWCs with transverse channels achieve superior wave energy extraction compared to single-chamber counterparts. Time-resolved particle image velocimetry (TR-PIV) is employed for detailed flow field measurement to elucidate the complex hydrodynamic processes. Analysis of the water column oscillation and flow dynamics reveals an intensified interaction between hydrodynamic processes in the dual chambers, especially with elongated transverse channels. The Ω method is used to examine vortex evolution, indicating heightened complexity in vortex formation within dual-chamber OWCs compared to single-chamber OWCs. Notably, large-scale vortices emerging in the forward chamber impede oscillation and diminish energy extraction efficiency. Optimizing the design of transverse channel entries, frontal walls, and internal chamber corners is crucial to mitigate flow separation and vortex generation, thereby enhancing overall energy extraction performance.

Numerical and experimental analysis of biomimetic tubercle for cavitation suppression in viscous oil flow around hydrofoil

This study explores the cavitation suppression mechanisms of biomimetic hydrofoils inspired by whale flipper tubercles, focusing on viscous oil flow around hydrofoils. A novel test system for viscous oil cavitation was developed, featuring a high-speed camera to capture transient cavitation phenomena. The study compared the cavitation behaviour of the flow around a basic blade (Base-blade) with that around a biomimetic blade (Bio-blade) designed with leading-edge tubercles. The visualization results demonstrated that the biomimetic structure significantly reduced the degree and unsteadiness of cavitation. The study also employed a three-dimensional CFD model using the Stress-Blended Eddy Simulation (SBES) method and the Zwart-Gerber-Belamri (ZGB) cavitation mass transfer model to reveal the flow mechanism. The Bio-blade reduced the vapour volume fraction by 9.67%, decreased the drag coefficient (Cd ) by 9.36%, and minimized the lift fluctuations compared to the Base-blade. The biomimetic design reduces the transient shedding cavitation scale, effectively suppressing severe cavitation events. The Bio-blade inhibited the formation of leading-edge separation vortices and reduced the scale of U-shaped vortices that enhance cavitation evolution. In summary, this study provides a comprehensive analysis of the cavitation suppression mechanisms of biomimetic hydrofoils in high-viscosity fluids, offering valuable insights for future research and engineering applications.

Maximizing oscillating water column efficiency: The impact of vertical plate and guide vane

This study is centered on improving the hydrodynamic efficiency of a conventional Oscillating Water Column (OWC) that has a rectangular cross-section. The OWC chamber is modified by introducing a centrally installed vertical plate, dividing it into two sub-chambers, and further incorporating a quarter-circle guide vane beneath the vertical plate. Physical experiments are conducted under three scenarios: the conventional single-chamber OWC, the OWC with double sub-chambers separated by a vertical plate, and the OWC with both a vertical plate and a guide vane. Hydrodynamic efficiency is examined across varying Power Take-Off (PTO) dampings, incident wave frequencies, and wave heights. Results demonstrate substantial efficiency improvements with the vertical plate, particularly at lower dimensionless wave frequencies. The guide vane also boosts these benefits by preventing vortex formation due to flow separation, resulting in a total average efficiency increase of 42 %. Visual observations highlight the transition from sloshing to piston-like motion induced by the vertical plate, contributing to increased kinetic energy and improved efficiency. The study highlights that basic but effective modifications can substantially enhance OWC efficiency, suggesting promising directions for the development of wave energy conversion technology.

Aortic Root Vortex Formation During Left Ventricular Assist Device Support.

The vortex that forms in the aortic sinus plays a vital role in optimizing blood flow. Disruption of the vortex can result in flow stagnation and activate thrombus formation in the aortic root, especially when aortic valve flow is reduced as during left ventricular assist device (LVAD) support. Our goal in this study was to visualize vortex formation in an experimental model of the aortic root as flow is progressively reduced. A mock circulatory loop that reproduces heart failure hemodynamics was combined with a HeartMate II LVAD and velocity measured in a transparent aortic root with a bioprosthetic valve. The aortic valve sinus vortices are clearly visible as counter-rotating structures in the velocity field at baseline and for all conditions with flow through the aortic valve. As LVAD speed increases, the central jet narrows but the vortices persist, disappearing only when the valve is completely closed. The vortices preserve fluid momentum and generate shear stress along the tissue surfaces which disrupts flow stasis. These features underscore the importance of maintaining "intermittent" aortic valve opening, as recommended for LVAD patients. This study is the first to report vortex formation in the aortic root during LVAD support, providing a motivation for further evaluation.

Investigating the effect of physical parameters of a flexible vortex generator on the flow field and heat transfer inside a microchannel

A method to increase the heat transfer inside a microchannel is to limit the boundary layer, which can be achieved by installing a vortex generator on the bottom wall of the microchannel. Due to the stationary state of a rigid vortex generator (RVG), the beam is considered as a fixed boundary. Besides, the interaction between fluid and solid can be utilized to improve the performance in the flexible state. In this study, the effect of the physical parameters of a flexible vortex generator (FVG), including height, Young’s modulus, and initial attack angle, on the flow field and heat transfer is investigated. It is noteworthy that although the physical parameters affect the flow field downstream generator by changing the VG structure, not all the studied cases can result in vortex formation. The findings demonstrate that, regardless of the physical parameters, the average Nusselt number of the bottom wall for the FVG state is always larger than that of the RVG. In particular, the friction factor of the FVG is lower than that of the RVG for the initial attack angle of 30°. The performance coefficient of the FVG is inversely related to Young’s modulus and directly related to the height ratio and initial attack angle. For instance, increasing Young’s modulus from 0.4 MPa to 40 MPa causes the performance coefficient to rise by around 1.3 times. By comparison, the performance coefficient increases by almost three times when the height ratio increases from 0.4 to 0.8. Overall, it can be deduced that FVGs significantly enhance heat transfer performance compared to RVGs, highlighting the importance of optimizing the physical parameters to achieve maximum efficiency.

Evaluation of film cooling effect in multi-row hole configurations on turbine blade leading edge

The present study evaluated the film cooling performance of turbine blade leading edges with multi-row hole configurations. Numerical models were refined to improve simulation accuracy by adjusting the turbulent viscosity coefficient, enhancing the prediction of jet diffusion in stagnation areas. The film cooling effectiveness distribution was analyzed through pressure-sensitive paint (PSP) experiments, and the numerical method was validated. The Sellers formula, a two-dimensional model, was used to evaluate the impact of upstream jets on downstream film cooling, with comparisons to simulations. The results show that the Sellers formula generally predicts well at low blowing ratios, but strong interactions between the mainstream and secondary jets, along with vortex formation between hole rows, undermine its accuracy at high blowing ratios, creating a concentrated high-effectiveness cooling zone. Changes in hole row layout affect the film cooling effectiveness distribution but have minimal impact on area-average predictions by the Sellers formula. Combining experimental data at high blowing ratios with the Sellers formula provides critical insights for designing leading edge multi-row hole film cooling structures. This study emphasizes the importance of understanding vortex structures and jet interactions to optimize film cooling strategies, offering significant value for engineering designs in turbine blades.

Long-lived Equilibria in Kinetic Astrophysical Plasma Turbulence

Turbulence in classical fluids is characterized by persistent structures that emerge from the chaotic landscape. We investigate the analogous process in fully kinetic plasma turbulence by using high-resolution, direct numerical simulations in two spatial dimensions. We observe the formation of long-lived vortices with a profile typical of macroscopic, magnetically dominated force-free states. Inspired by the Harris pinch model for inhomogeneous equilibria, we describe these metastable solutions with a self-consistent kinetic model in a cylindrical coordinate system centered on a representative vortex, starting from an explicit form of the particle velocity distribution function. Such new equilibria can be simplified to a Gold–Hoyle solution of the modified force-free state. Turbulence is mediated by the long-lived structures, accompanied by transients in which such vortices merge and form self-similarly new metastable equilibria. This process can be relevant to the comprehension of various astrophysical phenomena, going from the formation of plasmoids in the vicinity of massive compact objects to the emergence of coherent structures in the heliosphere.

Innovative centrifugal airflow upgrading for coal gasification fine slag based on experiment and CFD-DEM approach

In this work, an innovative process combining centrifugal airflow upgrading and sieving was proposed to achieve enrichment of residual carbon. The separation mechanism and macroscopic flow behavior in centrifugal air classifier were explained and predicted by constructing a coupled CFD-DEM model considering particle contact parameters. Compared the grinding, dry sieving pre-treatment had a better promotion effect on the enrichment of residual carbon. The general flow pattern was composed of an upward swirling flow and a horizontal rotation flow, facilitating dispersion and secondary elution of carbon. However, the tangential inlet and horizontally mounted rotor cage were the main cause of secondary vortex formation, leading to severe particle entrainment. Increasing inlet gas velocity at appropriate rotor speed was conducive to obtaining higher carbon content and carbon yield. By regulating the inlet gas velocity and rotor speed, higher carbon content and yield could be achieved at particle size fractions of 78–160 μm.

Multi-physics analysis of squeezing fluid flow with rotational, magnetic field, and heat transfer interactions

This research paper presents a comprehensive study on the intricate interplay of rotational, magnetic field and heat transfer effects in squeezing fluid flow, utilizing the foundational framework of Navier–Stokes equations. Fluid flow in confined geometries has significant applications in various industrial processes, including lubrication systems, microfluidics, and heat exchangers. The integration of rotational motion, magnetic fields, and heat transfer phenomena into this context holds immense potential for optimizing performance and efficiency. The study commences with the derivation and analysis of the coupled Navier–Stokes equations, incorporating the Coriolis force due to rotational motion, the Lorentz force arising from magnetic fields, and the energy equation for heat transfer. This comprehensive model accounts for the complex interactions between these physical phenomena, offering a holistic perspective on squeezing fluid flow dynamics. Numerical analysis are conducted to investigate the behavior of fluids under the influence of rotational, magnetic field, and heat transfer effects. The results reveal intricate flow patterns, including vortex formation and heat transfer enhancement. Furthermore, the impact of key parameters such as rotational speed, magnetic field strength, and temperature gradients on flow characteristics is systematically analyzed. The Dufour effect pertains to the transfer of energy resulting from a gradient in mass concentration, occurring as a correlated consequence of irreversible processes. It functions as the inverse of the Soret effect. The temperature changes due to the concentration gradient, amplifying as the Dufour number increases. The most significant temperature rise is observed at the midpoint of the fluid domain. Conversely, the Soret number behaves in a similar but opposite manner. Tables 4–10 has been created to offer a comprehensive analysis of the optimal alignment between Homotopy Analysis Method (HAM) and BVP4c. Specifically, it demonstrates a continuous decrease in skin friction for ξSo, ξRd, and ξR2, while showing an increase for ξSc, ξDo, and ξRem. Meanwhile, the skin friction remains constant for ξPr. The research centers on analyzing heat and mass transfer properties within an incompressible fluid confined between two rotating and stretching disks amidst an unpredictable flow pattern. The study employs a blend of analytical and numerical approaches to solve the governing equations, delving into the intricate fluid dynamics and the intricate processes of heat and mass transfer within this intricate system.

Flue gas-dust two-phase heat transfer characteristics and corrosion behavior in industrial-scale waste heat boilers

Waste heat boiler (WHB) has been extensively utilized across various industries due to the high efficiency in heat recovery and robust adaptability. This study employs the multiphase particle-in-cell approach to investigate the heat transfer behavior between flue gas and dust, as well as the in-furnace corrosion behavior in an industrial-scale WHB. Upon validation of the model, the flow dynamics of flue gas, the distribution characteristics of dust particles, corrosion behavior together with the effect of structure are examined. The findings reveal that excessive vortex formation significantly disrupts the flow uniformity of flue gas, with 0.87 % of the particles backflowing into the rising flue, and 51.6 % of the particles settling in the WHB. The heat transfer coefficient of dust particles reaches its peak at velocities ranging from 2 to 4 m/s, with a maximum value of 204 W/(m2K). Increasing the baffle spacing diminishes the vortex intensity in the radiation chamber and improves the flow uniformity of flue gas. Expanding the radiation chamber size not only enhances the heat exchange efficiency of flue gas, resulting in a temperature decrease of 24 K at the chamber exit, but also increases the particle sedimentation rate by 3.1 %.

Numerical Analysis on The Aerodynamic Performance of A High-speed Train Operating on Various Embankment Heights Under The Influence of Crosswinds

Given the unavoidable geographical surface, railings must be raised above ground level in some cases, which is known as an embankment. It was discovered that the height of the embankment had a significant influence on the slipstream on the train's leeward side especially during crosswind conditions. The primary objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of varying embankment heights on the aerodynamic characteristics of a high-speed train under different crosswind conditions using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis. The German Aerospace Center DLR's Next-Generation High-speed Train (NG-HST) model has been used for this study. The yaw angles (ψ) are ranging from 10° to 50° in 10° increments. The Reynolds number based on the model's height and freestream velocity at the computational domain is 1.3 x 106. In the results, it shows that embankment height and crosswind ψ has a significant impact on the aerodynamic characteristics. Essential aerodynamic parameters that have a significant impact on train stability, such as the drag, lift, and side force coefficients, as well as the roll, yaw, and pitch moment coefficients, revealed that the higher the ψ, which included 40° and 50°, produced poor results compared to the lower ψ, which included 10°, 20°, and 30°. In terms of visual appearance, rising of crosswind angles have a greater impact on the formation of vortices on the leeward side of the train body and embankment. Thus, it can be concluded that the embankment heights and crosswind angles are crucial in determining train safety operations.

Validated Dynamic Stall Simulation of Pitching Low Reynolds Number Airfoils

Deep dynamic stall is one of several complex behaviors that result in extreme variation of the aerodynamic loads on small wind turbine (SWT) blades during unsteady wind conditions. In this study, unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulations are performed for two low Reynolds number (Re) airfoils where sinusoidal pitching is applied to replicate the dynamic stall that occurs on rotating SWT blades. The SD 7037 airfoil is simulated at Re=4.1×104 and a pitching reduced frequency of k=0.08, and the S833 airfoil is at Re=1.7×105 and k=0.06. The simulated lift coefficient and dynamic stall timing agree with experimental data, which is attributed to the wall-normal resolution of the mesh and is an advancement from the early prediction of stall seen consistently in previous numerical studies. The accurate prediction of dynamic stall is found to be dependent on the correct simulation of the bursting of the laminar separation bubble (LSB), which initiates the complete separation of the boundary layer and the formation of a leading-edge vortex. The γ−Reθ,t k−ω model combined with the use of a fine mesh at the airfoil leading edge results in an accurate simulation of the bursting LSB and the correct prediction of the deep dynamic stall.

Dynamic behavior and driving region of spray combustion instability in a backward-facing step combustor.

We numerically study the dynamic behavior and driving region of spray combustion instability in a backward-facing step combustor using analytical methodologies based on dynamical systems theory, symbolic dynamics, complex networks, and machine learning. The global dynamic behavior of a heat release rate field represents low-dimensional chaotic oscillations with deterministically aperiodic intercycle dynamics. Spray combustion instability is driven in the formation and separation region of a large-scale organized vortex induced by the hydrodynamic shear layer instability at the edge of the backstep. This region corresponds fairly to that of the hub in an acoustic-energy-flux-based spatial network. The feature importance in a random forest is valid for clarifying the feedback coupling of spray combustion instability.

Assessing the Environmental Impact of Aircraft/Engine Integration with Respect to Contrails

Abstract In recent years, the radiative forcing of aircraft contrails and aircraft-induced contrail cirrus have been highlighted as a serious short-term climate impact of the aviation industry. Greater understanding of factors influencing contrail properties are required if routes to mitigation are to be explored. In the current work, a parametric turbofan powered aircraft model has been created to study the impact that aircraft design, in particular the interaction between the jet and wingtip vortex, can have on ice crystal formation, growth, and dynamics within a contrail. To investigate this, a contrail microphysics module has been developed and integrated within Rolls-Royce in-house Hydra CFD code. Three-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes simulations are conducted over the jet and early vortex regime, covering an area which is often simplified in most contrail modelling approaches. It is found that the position of the engine along the wing of an aircraft can impact the formation of the wingtip vortex, altering the contrail properties and distribution downstream of the aircraft. The effect of multi-engine architecture is also assessed and shown to influence the magnitude of exhaust entrainment into the vortex.

Self-Focused Pulse Propagation Is Mediated by Spatiotemporal Optical Vortices.

We show that the dynamics of high-intensity laser pulses undergoing self-focused propagation in a nonlinear medium can be understood in terms of the topological constraints imposed by the formation and evolution of spatiotemporal optical vortices (STOVs). STOVs are born from pointlike phase defects on the sides of the pulse nucleated by spatiotemporal phase shear. These defects grow into closed loops of spatiotemporal vorticity that initially exclude the pulse propagation axis, but then reconnect to form a pair of toroidal vortex rings that wrap around it. STOVs constrain the intrapulse flow of electromagnetic energy, controlling the focusing-defocusing cycles and pulse splitting inherent to nonlinear pulse propagation. We illustrate this in two widely studied but very different regimes, relativistic self-focusing in plasma and nonrelativistic self-focusing in gas, demonstrating that STOVs mediate nonlinear propagation irrespective of the detailed physics.

Effects of submergence ratio on flow around a circular pier in combined wave–current flows using particle image velocimetry

The present study illustrates an experimental investigation of flow hydrodynamics in the vicinity of a submerged circular pier across various submergence levels under only current and wave–current combined flow conditions. The instantaneous velocity data are collected using particle image velocimetry for three distinct frequencies of waves to determine the influence of wave superimposition on the current-induced turbulence parameters. The distribution of phase averaged turbulence quantities, such as mean velocities, Reynolds shear stress, turbulent kinetic energy, flow patterns, and vorticity analysis by Q-criterion, are presented. The results provide insight into the impacts of wave frequency and submergence ratio on the formation of horseshoe vortices, trailing vortex, and reverse flow zones. From the results it is observed that a decrease in the submergence level of the structure causes the formation of strong horseshoe vortices and reverse flow zones in the absence of waves. Also, an increase in wave frequency intensifies the turbulence kinetic energy at the upstream of the pier and eddy generation behind the pier. The present findings highlight the effects of pier submergence and wave characteristics, such as frequency, wave height, and wave period, on flow patterns and turbulent flow characteristics and aid in the design of marine structures. Furthermore, experimental data serve as a valuable resource for validating theoretical or mathematical models related to combined wave–current environments.

Vortex formation driven by the particle flow at the interface of a phase-separated binary complex plasma under microgravity condition

Microparticles of two sizes are confined in a dc discharge in a glass tube with polarity switch in the PK-4 laboratory on board the International Space Station. Small and big particles separate from each other presumably due to the unbalance of the force under microgravity condition, forming an ellipsoidal interface. Particles close to the symmetric axis of the cylindrical glass tube are driven by a manipulation laser and a particle flow is generated. The flow velocity depends not only on the laser current but also on the configuration and location of the particle cloud. Counterintuitively, it is observed that a vortex can be formed at the interface, only if the flow velocity is below a certain critical value. Our experiments provide a great opportunity to study the new facets of vortex formation at particle-resolved level.

Interference mechanism of trailing edge flap shedding vortices with rotor wake and aerodynamic characteristics

A robust Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) based solver is established to predict the complex unsteady aerodynamic characteristics of the Active Flap Control (AFC) rotor. The complex motion with multiple degrees of freedom of the Trailing Edge Flap (TEF) is analyzed by employing an inverse nested overset grid method. Simulation of non-rotational and rotational modes of blade motion are carried out to investigate the formation and development of TEF shedding vortex with high-frequency deflection of TEF. Moreover, the mechanism of TEF deflection interference with blade tip vortex and overall rotor aerodynamics is also explored. In non-rotational mode, two bundles of vortices form at the gap ends of TEF and the main blade and merge into a single TEF vortex. Dynamic deflection of the TEF significantly interferes with the blade tip vortex. The position of the blade tip vortex consistently changes, and its frequency is directly related to the frequency of TEF deflection. In rotational mode, the tip vortex forms a helical structure. The end vortices at the gap sides co-swirl and subsequently merge into the concentrated beam of tip vortices, causing fluctuations in the vorticity and axial position of the tip vortex under the rotor. This research concludes with the investigation on suppression of Blade Vortex Interaction (BVI), showing an increase in miss distance and reduction in the vorticity of tip vortex through TEF phase control at a particular control frequency. Through this mechanism, a designed TEF deflection law increases the miss distance by 34.7% and reduces vorticity by 11.9% at the target position, demonstrating the effectiveness of AFC in mitigating BVI.

Large-eddy simulation of vortex interaction in pitching-fixed tandem airfoils

In this study, the interaction of vortices generated from an oscillating airfoil with a hindfoil placed downstream of the oscillating forefoil at low-Reynolds-number flow was investigated numerically. The forefoil entered a deep dynamic stall induced by large-amplitude pitching oscillation. The dynamic stall process is characterized by unsteady separation and the formation of a strong clockwise vortex. A wall-resolved large-eddy simulation approach was applied to compute the flowfield. The numerical measurements were performed for an incompressible flow at a Reynolds number of Re = 30 000 based on chord length with a pitching reduced frequency of K= 0.5, and amplitude of A = 14.1° over Selig–Donovan 7003 airfoils. A single-airfoil case was validated against numerical and experimental measurements. In the present study, we investigated the flowfield and aerodynamic coefficients resulting from the deep dynamic stall of the pitching forefoil and the vortex interaction in tandem-airfoil configuration related to micro-air vehicle applications by employing large-eddy simulation approach. Large-eddy simulation was also compared to two-dimensional unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulation to determine the accuracy and validity of the low-fidelity approach in prediction of deep dynamic stall and vortex interaction at low-Reynolds-number flow.

Comparison of vortex formation in expanded and curved aortic sinuses: The effect of sinus curvature

Aortic valve disease is a significant health issue. Research on the effects of aortic sinus geometry and aortic valve motion during a heartbeat is imperative, as numerous valvular diseases are associated with blood flow near the heart valve. Changes in the internal space of the sinus and the formation of blood clots have been reported after the implantation of a transcatheter aortic valve, an artificial heart valve. Although the sinus shape and leaflet motion significantly affect the hemodynamic characteristics and platelet aggregation, the blood flow behaviors near the heart valve associated with clot formation have not been fully elucidated. This study conducted in vitro experiments to investigate the flow behavior near an aortic sinus model based on the sinus shape. Additionally, hemodynamic changes associated with variations in the aortic sinus geometry and leaflet length within an aortic sinus model under pulsatile-flow conditions were elucidated. In a curved sinus model, a large single vortex formed near the center of the sinus region. Meanwhile, the center of the vortex in the sinus region shifted during a cycle in an expanded sinus model. Furthermore, a small vortex remained where the leaflet was initiated, thus increasing the likelihood of thrombus formation. Thus, the curved sinus model is advantageous for preventing material accumulation by maintaining a large vortex structure. The experimental results confirmed that the aortic sinus shape and leaflet length affect the likelihood of thrombus formation inside the aortic sinus.