Mean Flow Conditions Research Articles

Impacts of different boundary layer parameterization schemes on simulation of meteorology over Himalaya

The boundary layer plays a vital role in governing the local atmospheric dynamics and meteorology, including the vertical transport of moisture, momentum, energy, and air pollutants. Hence, accurate parameterization of the boundary layer processes is essential in atmospheric models such as the regional climate models (RCMs). However, evaluations of different boundary layer schemes within the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model remain nearly non-existing over complex terrains of the Himalayan region. In this regard, six different planetary boundary layer (PBL) schemes: Yonsei University (YSU), Mellor-Yamada-Nakanishi-Niino level 3 (MYNN3), Shin-Hong Scale-aware (SHSS), Mellor-Yamada-Janjić (MYJ), Asymmetric Convective Model version 2 (ACM2), and Quasi Normal Scale Elimination (QNSE) in the WRF model have been evaluated against observations during the Ganges Valley Aerosol Experiment (GVAX). The evaluation is carried out for clear-sky conditions during spring (March 22–27, 2012) against surface-based, balloon-borne, and radar wind profiler (RWP) observations. The MYJ, YSU, and SHSS performed well in simulating the temperature and specific humidity, whereas the ACM2 (MYNN3) shows lower (higher) bias in T2 and higher (lower) bias in Q2. Model performance is limited in reproducing wind field (r ∼ 0.3) with different PBL schemes over this region. Model performance is seen to vary significantly with the choice of PBL schemes; nevertheless, all schemes could typically capture the daytime maxima in boundary layer height with some overestimation. The competing effects of synoptic versus local circulation were found to control the boundary layer evolution over the Himalayas, affecting the model performance. The model better reproduced the boundary layer evolution during strong surface flow regimes, while a prominent nocturnal peak in boundary layer height is observed during the weak mean flow conditions associated with topography-induced local circulations. The model performance is limited for reproducing such mountain meteorological features in contrast to the homogeneous terrains where such nocturnal peaks are absent. This study may serve as a reference for selecting a suitable PBL scheme for regional climate modeling studies in the future.

An experimental investigation on the effect of in-flow distortions of propeller noise

Propellers usually operate in non-uniform flow conditions, leading to significant levels of noise generation due to interaction with the leading edges of the propeller blades. Under these flow conditions, the noise generated can be substantially different from the rotor-alone self-noise generated under uniform mean flow conditions. This paper presents an experimental investigation aimed at studying the far-field noise due to a two-bladed propeller immersed in a controlled non-uniform flow with known characteristics. This paper presents the results of a parametric study with different degrees of flow non-uniformity generated from different geometric obstructions located in the jet nozzle, while maintaining constant thrust. Measurements of the radiated noise show that the incoming mean flow non-uniformities under investigation in this study cause a significant increase in tonal amplitudes of the blade passing frequencies of harmonic orders greater than 2. At the first two blade passing frequencies the tones are dominated by the rotor-alone ‘Gutin-type’ tones resulting from the steady blade loading.The measured noise spectra are compared with predictions from a simple frequency-domain flat plate model. The analytical model will be shown to capture the main features of the interaction tonal noise spectrum and directivity.

Constraining flow and sediment transport intermittency in the geological past

Quantitative investigations of ancient rivers usually provide insights into either instantaneous or mean flow conditions. There is a critical gap between these time scales of investigation, which reflects the intermittency of flow and sediment transport, and closing this gap is crucial to fully explore the dynamics and evolution of ancient fluvial landscapes. Here, we combined fluvial stratigraphic data sets, flow and sediment transport models, and paleoclimate general circulation model (GCM) results to develop new methods to estimate intermittency in the geological past, specifically flow intermittency factors (Iw) and sediment transport intermittency factors (Is), and we show how they can be used to explore past hydrograph shapes. We illustrated these methods using the Upper Cretaceous Last Chance Ferron Sandstone in Utah, western United States. For sand-transporting flow conditions in Last Chance Ferron rivers, we estimated Iw values of 0.54−0.90, which imply that channel-forming conditions were sustained for the majority of the year, consistent with perennial systems in which relatively large discharges were sustained. In contrast, for gravel-transporting flow conditions, Iw values of 0.28−0.38 suggest that the largest formative flows may have occupied Last Chance Ferron rivers for nearly a third of the year, which could be explained by a monsoonal system in which high-magnitude discharge events were sustained, or a subtropical system in which high-magnitude discharge events had short durations but high frequencies. Meanwhile, Is values of 0.075−0.15 suggest that annual sediment budgets could have been transported in as little as 10 days and up to 2 months, if channel-forming conditions were sustained, and these values highlight that small changes in the duration of channel-forming conditions could significantly impact sediment budgets. Our results are consistent with independent facies- and proxy-based insights into Last Chance Ferron rivers, which point to a perennially wet system characterized by a monsoonal or subtropical discharge regime. Further, our results highlight new opportunities to use paleoclimate GCMs to constrain intermittency factors in the geological past. Going forward, paleoclimate GCMs will be particularly useful where the rock record is incomplete or inaccessible, or where stratigraphic approaches are limited, and they will enable us to tackle pertinent research questions pertaining to past surface processes on both Earth and other planets.

Soil Moisture and Streamflow Data Assimilation for Streamflow Prediction in the Narmada River Basin

Abstract An accurate streamflow forecast is vital for flood prediction and early warning systems. Notwithstanding the rising frequency and intensity of floods during the summer monsoon season in India, efforts to examine the utility of data assimilation (DA) for streamflow prediction remain limited. We examine soil moisture and streamflow DA to improve streamflow simulations in the Narmada River basin, considered a testbed. Data assimilation was performed using the Variable Infiltration Capacity (VIC) model at four gauge stations in the basin. First, we used the ensemble Kalman filter (EnKF) to assimilate the satellite soil moisture from the European Space Agency Climate Change Initiative (ESA-CCI) to the initial state of the VIC model. We examined the usefulness of observed streamflow from the India Water Resources Information System (India-WRIS) to improve the initial hydrological conditions of the VIC model in the streamflow DA during the summer monsoon (June–September) season from 1980 to 2018. The assimilation of ESA-CCI soil moisture showed less improvement in percent error reduction (PER) and efficiency index (EFF) (less than 2%) than the streamflow DA at all of the four gauge locations in the Narmada basin. On the other hand, the streamflow DA showed a significant improvement in PER and EFF (more than 10%) at all the gauge stations for both mean and high-flow conditions. Streamflow data assimilation improved errors in the magnitude and timing for the major floods in 1994 and 2013. Significance Statement India is considerably affected by floods during the summer monsoon. Floods have increased and are projected to become more frequent under the warming climate. Flood prediction and early warning systems are essential in reducing their impacts and exposure. In the present study, we are interested in examining the role of soil moisture and streamflow data assimilation on flood prediction in the Narmada River basin. Our results show that streamflow data assimilation is more effective in reducing errors and bias in streamflow prediction than soil moisture data assimilation. The hydrologic framework used for the Narmada basin can be extended and evaluated to other flood-prone basins in India.

Distributed transfer function approach for one-dimensional thermoacoustic combustor models

This paper proposes a new approach for one-dimensional thermoacoustic combustor models. Our new model is a transfer function estimated from the frequency response of the linearised Euler equation to a spatially normalised and temporally impulsive input. The proposed approach can deal with combustors with varying cross-sectional areas under a non-zero mean flow, distributed heating/cooling, and outlet boundary conditions involving entropy waves, overcoming limitations of the popular network model. In addition our new approach can provide a more reliable thermoacoustic model for combustors with entropy-related boundary conditions, remedying the inaccurate entropy model of the network model. Numerical comparisons of our new model with a network model show apparent similarities between the two, validating the new model. It is also observed that, compared to our new model, the network model is more sensitive to mean flow and significantly overestimates the entropy wave effects on combustor acoustics.

How well do the multi-satellite and atmospheric reanalysis products perform in hydrological modelling

Multi-satellite, gauge-based and atmospheric reanalysis precipitation and temperature datasets with increasing spatiotemporal resolution are proliferating in recent decades. Their estimation accuracy has been evaluated in several areas, but their applications in global hydrological monitoring and modelling have been poorly understood so far. Here, we focus on the performance of the recently released Multi-Source Weighted-Ensemble Precipitation, version 2 (MSWEP V2) and the atmospheric reanalysis ERA5 temperature in modelling daily river discharge over 10,596 global catchments. Four lumped models including XAJ, GR4J, HMETS, and HBV are employed to take different model conceptual schemes into consideration. Moreover, different streamflow conditions including the peak timing and volumes of both high and low flows are evaluated to reveal further dynamics. The results show that: (a) the MSWEP V2 and ERA5 combination yields satisfactory performance in global streamflow simulation with at least one candidate model exhibiting Kling-Gupta efficiency (KGE) > 0.5 at both calibration and validation periods for each catchment; (b) better simulation skills are achieved in temperate, cold, polar, and tropical Köppen-Geiger climate zones, whereas the arid zone has poorer performance; (c) the XAJ, GR4J, and HMETS models with different degree of realisms have their own merits in simulating both daily mean flow and wet flow conditions but perform less satisfactorily in low flow conditions, while the HBV exhibits consistently poor performance in various flow conditions over most catchments. Our findings highlight the importance of selecting appropriate hydrological models by considering both climatic and geophysical conditions and targeting streamflow metrics, and suggest the potential of using multi-satellite and atmospheric reanalysis datasets as observed alternatives for quasi-global hydrological modelling.

Impact of chamber back pressure on the ignition dynamics of hydrogen enriched premixed flames

The impact of chamber back pressure and H2-enrichment on flashback of premixed CH4−H2-Air flames triggered by ignition dynamics is investigated. Different back pressures are imposed by varying the exhaust flow blockage with perforated plates of different porosities. Experiments measuring the ignition transient, from kernel formation to stable flames and flashback, with increasing levels of H2-enrichment covering a wide range of operating conditions are conducted. Time-series of pressure, velocity and heat release rate are examined to characterise the ignition process. It is shown that the final state of the flame is highly modified by the over pressure caused by the volumetric expansion of the hot gases. Three different scenarios are identified: Soft ignition with direct stabilisation, transient flashback and permanent flashback. The magnitude of the over pressure generated at ignition is significantly amplified by small increases in mean back pressure which, in turn, modifies the flowrate through the injector thereby promoting flashback. In addition to its role as a pressure amplifier, increasing the combustor back pressure also affects the time lag between the over pressure and the peak in heat release rate just after ignition. The impact of H2-enrichment on flashback is investigated by keeping both the bulk injection velocity Ub and laminar burning velocity Sl0 constant for flames with 0% to 100%H2-content. It is shown that the magnitude of the over pressure approximately scales with Ub/Sl0 and is independent of the total thermal power and H2 enrichment. Although the mean flow conditions and over pressures are kept constant, the stabilisation mode directly depends on H2-content. This shows that flashback triggered by the ignition dynamics cannot be fully described by classical kinematic arguments and a new mechanism is presented.

Predicting the dispersal of SARS-CoV-2 RNA from the wastewater treatment plant to the coast

Viral pathogens including SARS-CoV-2 RNA have been detected in wastewater treatment effluent, and untreated sewage overflows, that pose an exposure hazard to humans. We assessed whether SARS-CoV-2 RNA was likely to have been present in detectable quantities in UK rivers and estuaries during the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. We simulated realistic viral concentrations parameterised on the Camel and Conwy catchments (UK) and their populations, showing detectable SARS-CoV-2 RNA concentrations for untreated but not for treated loading, but also being contingent on viral decay, hydrology, catchment type/shape, and location. Under mean or low river flow conditions, viral RNA concentrated within the estuaries allowing for viral build-up and caused a lag by up to several weeks between the peak in community infections and the viral peak in the environment. There was an increased hazard posed by SARS-CoV-2 RNA with a T90 decay rate >24 h, as the estuarine build-up effect increased. High discharge events transported the viral RNA downstream and offshore, increasing the exposure risk to coastal bathing waters and shellfisheries – although dilution in this case reduced viral concentrations well below detectable levels. Our results highlight the sensitivity of exposure to viral pathogens downstream of wastewater treatment, across a range of viral loadings and catchment characteristics – with implications to environmental surveillance.

On Internal Tides Driving Residual Currents and Upwelling on an Island

AbstractWe present a modeling study of an idealized island with sloping sides in a stratified ocean with internal tides propagating through the domain, which transform into nonlinear internal waves as they encounter shallow depths. In the base condition, representative of a mid‐latitude island with relatively steep super critical slopes, the nonlinear internal waves shoaling on the island wrap around the island, scatter, and create an asymmetric wavefield. Radiation stress gradients from this wavefield and rotation are balanced by pressure gradients and turbulent vertical diffusion in the momentum equations which drive residual mean currents around the island. We explore the effects of different physical parameters including no rotation, higher Froude number, subcritical slope, addition of barotropic tides, larger excursion number, and addition of large‐scale mean currents. All simulations showed formation of residual currents of varying intensity, upwelled deep waters in shallow regions, and cooler waters on the side of the island consistent with the direction of incoming internal tides. While the no rotation and strong mean flow conditions created some upwelling, of all the modeled conditions, the subcritical slope has the greatest potential for creating favorable conditions for benthic organisms through enhanced upwelling. Areas of the world's oceans with stratified waters sufficient to sustain internal tide motions, strong internal tide energy, and local subcritical bottom slopes are likely to have cooler waters and more upwelled deep waters than the surrounding areas, and potentially serve as thermal refugia from future ocean warming.

Investigation of atmospheric turbulence and scale lengths using radiosonde measurements of GVAX-campaign over central Himalayan region

The atmospheric turbulence characteristics such as energy dissipation rate (ε), eddy diffusivity (K), and refractive index structure parameter (Cn2), which are inevitable to understand the vertical mixing and transport of pollutants, momentum, and energy, are least explored over the Himalayan region owing to the unavailability of observations. Here, we investigate the characteristics of turbulence in the troposphere (TS) and lower stratosphere (LS) using Thorpe's method for intense radiosonde measurements made during July 2011 to March 2012, from a central Himalayan site Manora Peak (79.5°E, 29.4°N, and 1936 m AMSL). Findings reveal that the energy dissipation rate (log ε), and eddy diffusivity (log K), are right-skewed with central mean values about −3.90 (−3.30) m2s−3 and -0.19 (−0.24) m2s−1, in the TS (LS) region. However, Cn2 follows the right (left) -skewed distribution with the mean value of −16.9 (−19) m−2/3, in the TS (LS). The mean values of inner scale (lo) and buoyancy scale (LB) are 0.051 (0.104) m and 84.62 (8.34) m in the TS (LS). The monthly and seasonal variations of these parameters were also examined and presented. The mean profiles of log ε show the lowest dissipation rate (−4.5 m2s-3) during the post-monsoon season and constant dissipation rate (∼−4 m2s-3) below 5 km in winter, however, mixing coefficient log K shows a constant variation (∼−0.01 m2s-1) above 8 km. Larger buoyancy scales (>100 m) are observed in the altitude range of 8–14 km during moist and lighter monsoon circulations. This study extricates the effect of orography-induced local circulations that controls turbulence intensity in the lower troposphere, especially in the weak mean flow conditions. This study essentially provides the quantified vertical distribution of the atmospheric parameters associated with turbulence and to be utilized for understanding the related physical processes.

Linking oceanographic processes to contourite features: Numerical modelling of currents influencing a contourite depositional system on the northern South China Sea margin

Combining high-resolution bathymetry and 2-D seismic data with 3-D hydrodynamic numerical simulation results to identify Quaternary plastered contourite drifts in the South China Sea northern margin (i.e., the Jianfeng and Yitong slopes), this study aims to disentangle the impacts of bottom currents associated with the intermediate and deep water masses.Upslope parts of plastered drifts (~1000–1200 mwd) are smooth and gentle (up to 1°) surfaces, which can also be classified as contourite terraces. They are characterised by non-deposition and sheeted deposition that indicate dominant flow conditions capable of transporting sediments. The responsible hydrodynamic forcing here is the anticyclonic South China Sea Intermediate Water currents, which flow eastward with a mean velocity of 2–3 cm/s. These are sporadically enhanced and can exceed 6 cm/s during high-energy intermittent events such as deep-reaching eddies.The central parts of the plastered drifts, located seaward of the terraces, present a subtle mounded morphology (1°–2°, ~1200–1500 mwd) partly perturbated by wavy bedforms. The downslope parts of the plastered drifts feature step-forming slides/slumps with steep slope gradients (1°–5°, ~1500–2000 mwd). According to our simulation results, the depth range of the plastered drifts overlaps the transition zone between the intermediate and deep water masses, wherein the simulated mean current velocity is 0–2 cm/s with variable directions, suggesting its deposition-favourable environment.Steep (>2°) slopes beneath the plastered drifts (below ~2000 mwd) present along-slope truncations, including contourite channels and moats that indicate enforced currents capable of erosion. Responsible hydrodynamic forcing is the cyclonic South China Sea Deep Water currents, which flow westward with a mean velocity of 3–5 cm/s and exceed 15 cm/s during high-energy intermittent events.The results of this study show a clear link between bottom currents' behaviours (e.g., mean flow condition and variability) and contouritic depositional patterns, which suggest that continental slopes can be effectively shaped by large-scale ocean circulations through the topography-current interaction. The weakest hydrodynamic condition and highest sediment accumulation rate, occurring in the ~800 m thick transition domain between two water masses in the study area, facilitate the development of plastered drifts at the seaward side of contourite terraces. The outcomes of our study may have broad implications for understanding the relationship between processes and products in continental margins.

Designing a Facility for Measuring Higher-Order Acoustic Modes in Uniform Heated Flows

An experimental facility was recently developed at the Georgia Tech Research Institute to measure the acoustic scattering coefficients of a test article under mean flow, high-temperature, high-amplitude, and higher-order mode propagation conditions. The experimental facility acts like a two-sided impedance tube, in which the measurement section is a circular duct with 16 acoustic drivers and 16 microphones mounted on each side of the test article. Such a facility can be configured for grazing and bias flow measurements of acoustic liners with sound traveling in and against the direction of the flow. The new facility is designed to maximize the accuracy of acoustic measurements of higher-order modes in heated flows. The influence of experimental uncertainties on the acoustic measurements is analyzed using a Monte Carlo method. Measurements of half-wave resonators in quiescent air and heated flows demonstrate that the experimental uncertainty decreases as the absorption coefficient increases. High-sensitivity microphones produce extremely low uncertainty, and even lower-sensitivity pressure transducers are sufficiently accurate for many applications. This paper is intended to serve as a reference for designing and analyzing an experimental facility to measure the acoustic scattering coefficients in heated-flow and higher-order mode propagation conditions.

Present and future relations between ENSO and winter synoptic temperature variability over the Asian-Pacific-American region simulated by CMIP5/6

AbstractIn this study, the relationship between ENSO and winter synoptic temperature variability (STV) over the Asian-Pacific-American region is examined in 26 CMIP5/6 model outputs. Compared to observations, most models fail to simulate the correct ENSO-STV relationship in historical simulations. To investigate the possible bias in the ENSO-STV simulations, two possible processes for the connection between ENSO and winter STV are examined in high pattern score (HPS) models and low pattern score (LPS) models, respectively. On the one hand, both HPS and LPS models can overall reproduce a reasonable relationship between STV and the mean-flow conditions supporting extratropical eddy development. On the other hand, only HPS models can well capture the relationship between ENSO and the development of extratropical eddies, while LPS models fail to simulate this feature, indicating that the bias in the simulated ENSO-STV relationship among CMIP5/6 models can be traced back to ENSO simulation. Furthermore, the bias of the ENSO simulation is characterized by an unreasonable SST pattern bias, with an excessive westward extension of warm SST anomalies over the western Pacific and weak warm SST anomalies over the equatorial central-eastern Pacific, resulting in the underestimation of the zonal SST anomaly gradient among models. Therefore, the ENSO pattern bias induces an unrealistic circulation and temperature gradient over the Asian-Pacific-American region, affecting the simulations of the ENSO-STV connection. In addition, the ENSO-STV relationship over the Asian-Pacific-American region is still robust in future projections based on HPS models, providing implications for the selection of future climate predictors.

Optimal interstage liner design: A parametric study

The current trends for next generation turbofan engines are towards shorter nacelles and increased distances between the fan and the outlet guide vanes. This leads to an overall reduction in lined surface areas as well as an increase in the relative importance of the interstage liner, which is the liner placed between the rotor blades and the stator vanes. So far most of the efforts have been on liners for intakes and bypass ducts. The interstage is different in that the liner is subject to a mean flow with a strong swirl component and shear. The focus of this paper is on the effect of swirling flow on optimal liner attenuation in the interstage region. A broadband source downstream at the Outlet Guide Vanes (OGV) consisting of all propagating modes with equal power in each mode is used. Optimum impedance plots are generated for approach and take-off mean flow conditions. The effect of swirl on liner optimum resistance and reactance and optimum insertion loss is observed for a frequency range characteristic of real turbofan engines.

Impacts of a regional multiyear insect defoliation event on growing‐season runoff ratios and instantaneous streamflow characteristics

AbstractRepeated moderate severity forest disturbances can cause short‐ and long‐term shifts in ecosystem processes. Prior work has found that stand‐replacing disturbances (e.g., clear‐cutting) increase streamflow in temperate forests, but streamflow responses to repeated moderate severity disturbances are more equivocal. This study examined a moderate disturbance caused by an unexpected population irruption of the invasive insect Lymantria dispar (common name: gypsy moth) in 2015–2017. This irruption resulted in defoliation that was locally severe in some areas but spatially heterogeneous at a regional scale. L. dispar larvae consume leaves during the summer growing season, which effectively reduces tree leaf area and associated evapotranspiration. Our regional approach in Southern New England, USA, used data from 83 US Geological Survey (USGS) stream gages to assess whether changes in growing‐season watershed runoff ratios and instantaneous streamflow characteristics during the 2015–2017 L. dispar irruption were associated with satellite‐derived metrics of changes in forest condition (i.e., defoliation), compared to a 20‐year baseline streamflow period. We found a small, linear increase in growing‐season runoff ratio anomalies that was associated with defoliation intensity. The association between defoliation intensity and runoff ratio anomalies was magnified in less anthropogenically impacted reference watersheds. We also found that defoliation intensity was associated with larger volumes of high and medium instantaneous streamflows compared to baseline mean flow conditions. This study provided important insights into the impacts of moderate disturbance on ecohydrology in mesic temperate forests with a unique methodological approach that assessed the impacts of spatially heterogeneous and repeated moderate disturbance at a regional scale.

Computational investigation of combustion instabilities in an air heater with a new computational model

Abstract On the basis of air heater characteristics, a new computational model was developed in this paper, which was aimed at investigating acoustics and instabilities in air heaters. This model included the effects of mean flow, viscosity, entropy waves, non-linear acoustics and realistic boundary conditions. In addition, it was practical for air heaters with hundreds of injectors, complex configurations and geometries. Analytical solutions of acoustics in a closed rectangular cavity were used to verify and validate the computational model. It was shown that the predicted critical parameters of air heater agreed well with the experimental data or design values. This model predicted the self-excited spinning tangential modes without any preliminary assumptions about them. Traditional combustion response function assumes that combustion mainly takes place in a so-called rapid combustion zone, and this zone is usually modelled as a disc in the combustor near the injection head. However, in practice, the flame has a spatial distribution. This paper described the effect of flame spatial distribution on predictions of oscillation frequency and mode. It was found that frequency and mode shape of oscillations closely depended on the length of the heat release zone. Comparison of different heat release zones indicated that the increment of heat release length exhibited an increased tendency toward lower-order longitudinal modes, when the heat release zone was located near the faceplate where it was the pressure antinode of the longitudinal mode. Modulation of heat release length might cause bifurcations between standing and turning modes. A noticeable tendency was toward higher-order standing tangential mode with increasing heat release length. Finally, theoretical analysis of the modal behaviour, i.e. standing or spinning waves, was performed.

Sound Transmission Loss of a Two-Layered Pyramidal Structure Lined with Porous Material

This paper presents a theoretical model based on Biot theory to investigate the sound transmission loss (STL) of a pyramidal lattice sandwich structure lined with porous material. This theory is more accurate than equivalent methods and suitable for use in different complex filling configurations. Several filling patterns with different boundary conditions are studied, and their governing equations are derived by presenting the exact displacements and stresses for both solid and fluid fields. The models are validated by comparing with available literature and simulation results. The numerical results show the influences of porous materials, their structure on the STL, and their mutual inhibitions. In addition, it is found that different parameters dominate in different configurations and frequency ranges. These results reveal the interrestricted relationship between the STL and its bearing capacity. Moreover, the external mean flow condition inspired by real-life situations is studied to analyze its effects on sound transmission. These results show that the STL depends on the flow directions, and a critical value of the Mach number exists in the upstream situation.

Innovative fibreless HVAC duct silencer based on microperforated elements

A novel environmentally friendly silencer concept for noise control in HVAC applications is presented and its acoustic properties are studied in this paper. As a sustainable alternative to the mass-produced, nowadays unfavourable fibrous material filled silencers, the silencing effect of the new solution is based on multi-layered microperforated elements. A prototype silencer following standard HVAC dimensions has been composed and optimal design and technological aspects of the fibreless solution are described. The paper also provides overview of experimental methods for the determination of primary acoustic characteristics, including low frequency transmission loss spectra in various mean flow conditions and insertion loss results for the silencer. The acoustic effect is hereby validated by comparison of the results with experimentally obtained characteristics of typical fibrous material filled units commercially available in the region. The conclusions of the acoustic study demonstrate the suitability of the silencer type for a variety of HVAC implementations were reliable and eco-friendly noise cancellation is important.

Efficacy of the Cell Perturbation Method in Large-Eddy Simulations of Boundary Layer Flow over Complex Terrain

A challenge to simulating turbulent flow in multiscale atmospheric applications is the efficient generation of resolved turbulence motions over an area of interest. One approach is to apply small perturbations to flow variables near the inflow planes of turbulence-resolving simulation domains nested within larger mesoscale domains. While this approach has been examined in numerous idealized and simple terrain cases, its efficacy in complex terrain environments has not yet been fully explored. Here, we examine the benefits of the stochastic cell perturbation method (CPM) over real complex terrain using data from the 2017 Perdigão field campaign, conducted in an approximately 2-km wide valley situated between two nearly parallel ridges. Following a typical configuration for multiscale simulation using nested domains within the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model to downscale from the mesoscale to a large-eddy simulation (LES), we apply the CPM on a domain with horizontal grid spacing of 150 m. At this resolution, spurious coherent structures are often observed under unstable atmospheric conditions with moderate mean wind speeds. Results from such an intermediate resolution grid are often nested down for finer, more detailed LES, where these spurious structures adversely affect the development of turbulence on the subsequent finer grid nest. We therefore examine the impacts of the CPM on the representation of turbulence within the nested LES domain under moderate mean flow conditions in three different stability regimes: weakly convective, strongly convective, and weakly stable. In addition, two different resolutions of the underlying terrain are used to explore the role of the complex topography itself in generating turbulent structures. We demonstrate that the CPM improves the representation of turbulence within the LES domain, relative to the use of high-resolution complex terrain alone. During the convective conditions, the CPM improves the rate at which smaller-scales of turbulence form, while also accelerating the attenuation of the spurious numerically generated roll structures near the inflow boundary. During stable conditions, the coarse mesh spacing of the intermediate LES domain used herein was insufficient to maintain resolved turbulence using CPM as the flow develops downstream, highlighting the need for yet higher resolution under even weakly stable conditions, and the importance of accurate representation of flow on intermediate LES grids.

Thermoacoustics and combustion instability analysis for multi-burner combustors

This paper presents a low-order thermoacoustic model for multi-burner combustors and proposes a control theoretic approach to linear combustion instability analysis in frequency domain, taking acoustic and flame interaction effects among burners into account under a non-zero mean flow condition. Our thermoacoustic model can deal with can-annular and annular combustors in a unified way and is given as a multi-input multi-output transfer function matrix from heat fluctuation input vector to velocity fluctuation output vector. We also propose a flame transfer function matrix description where off-diagonal components describe the effects of a local acoustic field of one burner location on the flame response at another burner location. The discrete rotational symmetry of burner arrangement in a combustor makes it possible to diagonalize both the aforementioned thermoacoustic and flame transfer function matrices analytically from a spatial discrete-time Fourier transformation. The decoupled thermoacoustic transfer function matrix provides a characterization of acoustic resonances, particularly the longitudinal-azimuthal coupled modes unique to multi-burner combustors. In addition, from the Bloch wave interpretation, we find general patterns in the mode shape of a multi-burner combustor and its relations to the mode shape of a single-burner combustor. Furthermore, from a diagonalized closed loop transfer function matrix, a simple combustion instability condition for a multi-burner combustor is developed. This stability condition shows how a single-burner combustor and a multi-burner combustor are different quantitatively, when it comes to combustion instability. Numerical examples are presented to validate our thermoacoustic model against three-dimensional FEM results, and to illustrate our developments and findings.