Large Eddy Particle Image Velocimetry Research Articles

Particle image velocimetry in the impeller of a centrifugal pump: Relationship between turbulent flow and energy loss

Turbulent flows play a dominant role in the operation of centrifugal pumps, which find widespread use in industrial settings and various aspects of human life. The dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy emerges as a key parameter within these devices, with its local values exerting a significant influence on centrifugal pump performance. Recent advances in particle image velocimetry (PIV) techniques have expanded the ability to analyze complex turbulent flows across a broad spectrum of scales. In this context, this paper aims to deepen our understanding of the turbulent flow field and its correlation with energy loss in centrifugal pump impellers. To achieve this, experiments were conducted using PIV on a transparent pump operating under different conditions. Statistics of the turbulent flow were then obtained from phase-ensemble averages of velocities, vorticity, turbulence production, and local dissipation of turbulent kinetic energy. To overcome the limited spatial resolution constraint of PIV, the large-eddy PIV (LES-PIV) method was employed to estimate the local dissipation rate. In this method, it is assumed that the motion of larger scales is measured by the PIV technique, while the smaller scales (unresolved scales) are modeled by a sub-grid scale model, calculated from the strain rate tensors obtained from the measured fields. Energy losses in the impeller were studied using two methodologies: (i) a conventional method based on power measurements, and (ii) an alternative approach based on the budget of turbulent kinetic energy. Our results reveal that turbulent loss caused by turbulence production is the main source of energy loss in the pump impeller, and it is particularly pronounced in low-flow operating conditions characterized by large-scale structures. On the other hand, in situations where flow rates exceed the best efficiency point (BEP) condition, the predominant flow structures are marked by small-scale features, mainly attributed to local dissipation of turbulence. Our findings clarify the characteristics of energy losses in centrifugal pump impellers and their relationship with the turbulent flow field, and, in addition, providing a methodology for calculating the local turbulent dissipation rate and its limitations when derived from PIV measurements.

Estimation of the turbulent viscous shear stress in a centrifugal rotary blood pump by the large eddy particle image velocimetry method

The non-physiologic turbulent flows in centrifugal rotary blood pumps (RBPs) may result in complications such as the hemolysis and the platelet activation. Recent researches suggest that the turbulent viscous dissipation in the smallest eddies is the main factor of the blood trauma caused by the turbulent flow. The turbulent viscous shear stress (TVSS) was taken as the realistic physical force acting on the cells. However, limited by the temporal and spatial resolutions of the instrumentation currently available, very limited studies are available for the TVSS in the RBPs. In this paper, the large eddy particle image velocimetry (PIV) method is used to estimate the turbulent dissipation rate in the sub-grid scale, to investigate the effect of the TVSS on the blood trauma. Detailed flow characteristics, such as the relative velocity vectors, the estimated TVSS levels and the Kolmogorov length scales, are analyzed in three impeller phases at three constant flow rates (3 L/min, 5 L/min and 7 L/min). Over the measures range in this study, the maximum TVSS in the investigated RBP is lower than the reported critical value of stress. This study demonstrates that the large eddy PIV method is effective to evaluate the flow-dependent force on the cells. On the other hand, it is found that the TVSS is highly dependent on the flow behavior. Under severe off-design conditions, the complex flow characteristics, such as the flow separation and the vortical structures, will increase the TVSS. Thus, in order to reduce the hemolysis in the RBPs, the flow disturbance, induced by the departure of the incidence angle, should be avoided during the design of the RBPs.

Dimensional Analysis and Dissipation Rate Estimation in the Near Wake of a Circular Cylinder

A particle image velocimetry (PIV) experiment is performed for dissipation rate estimation in the near wake behind a circular cylinder with diameter D of 12 mm and corresponding Reynolds number of 7100. Considering the limitation of PIV resolution, a large eddy PIV method based on idea of large eddy simulation (LES), is used for more accurate estimation of dissipation rate. Based on the dynamic equilibrium assumption in the inertial subrange, the dissipation rate of the subgrid scales is approximated by the subgrid scale (SGS) flux, computed from PIV velocity fields and Smagorinsky model for SGS stress. A dimensional analysis about the integral length scale and the Kolmogorov length scale is discussed firstly to verify whether the dynamic equilibrium assumption holds or not.

PIV Study of Flow in an Aerated Tank with a Hollow Blade Turbine

Liquid phase hydrodynamics in an aerated tank (ID = 0.19 m) stirred by a half elliptical blade disk turbine (HEDT) have been investigated using particle image velocimetry (PIV) under both aerated and unaerated conditions. The effect of the gas flow rate on the aerated mean velocity of the liquid phase, turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent kinetic energy dissipation are discussed, and their comparisons with those under unaerated conditions are also carried out. Under aerated conditions, the presence of gas does not remarkably change the velocity pattern of the liquid phase. When the direction of the liquid flow is the same as the buoyancy, the liquid is accelerated up to 10.4% by bubbles at position of z/T=0.8 and r/T=0.45; while the liquid flow reversely, the liquid is decelerated about 37.5% under the gas flow rate of 0.2 vvm at the position of z/T=0.25 and r/T=0.45. The turbulent kinetic energy in the bulk flow increases after introducing gas phase, and the average turbulent kinetic energy of the upper, middle and lower regions at 0.2 vvm are increased by 37.3%, 37.8% and 142.7%, respectively. Large-eddy PIV approach is carried out to estimate the distribution of the turbulence kinetic energy dissipation. The result shows that the distribution of the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation is similar as those of turbulent kinetic energy.

Particle Image Velocimetry Study of Turbulence Characteristics in a Vessel Agitated by a Dual Rushton Impeller

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) has been used to investigate turbulence characteristics in a 0.48 m diameter stirred vessel filled to a liquid height ( H = 1.4 T) of 0.67 m. The agitator had dual Rushton impellers of 0.19 m diameter ( D = 0.4 T). The developed flow patterns depend on the clearance of the lower impeller above the base of the vessel, the spacing between the two impellers, and the submergence of the upper impeller below the liquid surface. Their combinations can generate three basic flow patterns, named, parallel, merging and diverging flows. The results of velocity measurement show that the flow characteristics in the impeller jet flow region changes very little for different positions. Average velocity, trailing vortices and shear strain rate distributions for three flow patterns were measured by using PIV technique. The characteristics of trailing vortex and its trajectory were described in detail for those three flow patterns. Since the space-resolution of PIV can only reach the sub-grid rather than the Kolmogorov scale, a large-eddy PIV analysis has been used to estimate the distribution of the turbulent kinetic energy dissipation. Comparison of the distributions of turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation rate in merging flow shows that the highest turbulent kinetic energy and dissipation are both located in the vortex regions, but the maxima are at somewhat different locations behind the blade. About 37% of the total energy is dissipated in dual impeller jet flow regions. The obtained distribution of shear strain rate for merging flow is similar to that of turbulence dissipation, with the shear strain rate around the trailing vortices much higher than in other areas.

Measured turbulent entropy production with large eddy particle image velocimetry

In this paper, statistical post-processing of measured velocity, dissipation rate and turbulence data is performed to establish whole-field distributions of entropy production within a channel. Thermal irreversibilities arising from temperature variations were not included in the study, as the experiments were conducted between unheated plexiglass plates in an essentially isothermal water tunnel. Unlike velocity or temperature, the measurement of entropy cannot be performed directly, so entropy production is measured indirectly through spatial differencing of measured velocities in large eddy PIV. In contrast to single-point methods of anemometry, large eddy PIV enables whole-field, time-varying measurements of the velocity field, which can be post-processed to yield entire spatial variations of the entropy production rate. An uncertainty analysis is performed to estimate measurement uncertainties with the new experimental technique. The uncertainties are decomposed into systematic and random components, including a propagated uncertainty, due to spatial differencing of the velocity field. Close comparisons between measured results of turbulence dissipation and direct numerical simulations provide useful verification of the formulation, before post-processed results of dissipation rates are used to determine entropy production within a channel.

Energy dissipation and macro instabilities in a stirred square tank investigated using an LE PIV approach and LDA measurements

In this study, the hydrodynamics and turbulence in a square tank stirred with a hydrofoil impeller, a Lightnin A310, is investigated using a large eddy particle image velocimetry (LE PIV) approach. The particle image velocimetry data are used as the large scale part of a large eddy simulation and the small scales are modelled assuming that the turbulent kinetic energy production is limited to the large scale structures, the turbulent energy dissipation is confined to the small scale structures and the transfer of energy takes place in the inertial sub-range. The small scale turbulence was modelled by direct calculation of the turbulent stress tensor using filtered particle image velocimetry data. The spatial distribution of the calculated dissipation rate tensors showed good agreement with previous work. The macro instabilities of the flow structure were investigated by means of spectral analysis. Low frequency phenomena separated from the mean flow were detected. The cause of these could partly be explained by the circulation time for the tank, which corresponded to the low frequency phenomena found at 0.03 N Hz, where N is the rotational speed.

Hydrodynamics in a Stirred Square Tank Investigated Using a 3‐D PIV LES Decomposition Approach and LDA Measurements

AbstractIn this study, the hydrodynamics and turbulence in a square tank stirred with the hydrofoil impeller Lightnin A310 is investigated using a large eddy particle image velocimetry approach. Particle image velocimetry data are used as the large scale part of a large eddy simulation and the small scales are modelled by direct calculation of the turbulent stress tensor using filtered particle image velocimetry data. The spatial distribution of the calculated dissipation rate showed agreement with previous work. The macro instabilities of the flow structure were investigated by means of spectral analysis. Low frequency phenomena separated from the mean flow were detected. The cause of these could partly be explained by the circulation time for the tank.

A large eddy PIV method for turbulence dissipation rate estimation

Accurate estimation of the turbulence dissipation rate is important for the turbulent flows in the chemical process industry. Previous studies, limited by single-point velocity measurement techniques, mainly focus on measuring the single-point local dissipation rate or averaged dissipation rate over a finite volume. Various methods — turbulent kinetic energy balance, Taylors hypothesis, and dimensional analysis — have been proposed to estimate the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy. These methods cannot provide the global distribution of the dissipation rate over a large flow region. Since particle image velocimetry (PIV) is capable of providing multi-point instantaneous measurements of a flow field, it is more suitable for examining the dissipation rate distribution. However, PIV measurements are limited to finite grid sizes, which often exceed the smallest eddy sizes that dominate the turbulence dissipation rate. In this paper, a large eddy PIV method for dissipation rate estimation is proposed. Based on a dynamic-equilibrium assumption for the sub-grid scale (SGS) flux between the resolved and the sub-grid scales, our method measures the SGS energy flux, and thus, estimates the turbulence dissipation rate. The SGS flux is obtained from the strain-rate tensors computed from velocity fields and the modeled SGS stress. When the PIV measurement resolves down to the Kolmogorov scale, the SGS stress is replaced with the viscous shear stress. In other words, the resolved velocity fields directly give the dissipation rate. This method is applied to estimate the dissipation rate along the center plane of a stirred vessel with an axial 45° pitched-blade turbine. The results obtained are compared with those calculated using the dimensional analysis method. The average dissipation rates over the impeller and flow discharge regions are also evaluated and compared using both methods.