Partially-Averaged Navier-Stokes Method Research Articles

Evaluation of the PANS method for the prediction of the fluid flow in a cyclone separator

The simulation of the cyclone separation efficiency can rapidly become very expensive in time of calculation, which is not suitable for industrial application. The prediction of the complex turbulent gas flow inside a cyclone is necessary to estimate its pressure drop, its characteristics and finally its separation efficiency. Even though classic models such as RSM and LES can effectively predict such type of flow, the quality of the results and the computation cost can be discussed. In this work, Partially Averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) method is proposed to simulate the fluid flow inside a gas cyclone. Compared to experimental and numerical results of a literature review, this model predicts reasonably the time-averaged tangential and axial velocity fields, and more accurately the pressure drop across the cyclone in shorter CPU times. The sensitivity of the PANS approach to the unresolved to total kinetic energy ratio f k was also evaluated with two different definitions. The first one was the standard definition developed by Girimaji et al. [1] and the second one was based on a statistical equivalence between the DES and PITM. The proposed model offers a better cost to quality ratio compared to the classic RANS approach.

Numerical study of thermal mixing phenomenon using partially averaged Navier-Stokes

Thermal mixing between cold and hot streams of fluids in a T-junction may lead to high-cycle thermal fatigue in nuclear power plant piping material. Temperature fluctuations near the wall surface are the main reason for this degradation. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) using space and energy-resolving turbulence modeling paradigms can predict this transient behavior. In this study Partially averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) turbulence method is used to simulate the Vattenfall T-junction test case. Two different values for the filter control parameter fk = 0.5 and fk = 0.25 are used. Calculations results for velocity and temperature fields are compared with Large Eddy Simulations (LES) and available experimental data. For fk = 0.5, time-averaged and root mean square (RMS) temperatures show lower values than the LES and experimental data. For fk = 0.25 both time-averaged and RMS temperature results are close to the LES and experimental values. The Power Spectral Density (PSD) of the temperature signal shows peaks in the case of both PANS-0.25 and LES in the range of 3 to 4 Hz, which is in line with the experimental results. It can be concluded that the PANS method has the capability to resolve temperature and velocity fields for thermal mixing phenomenon in T-junction pipes and can be used for the assessment of high-cycle thermal fatigue.

An Investigation of Scale-Resolving Turbulence Models for Supersonic Retropropulsion Flows

Characterization of unsteady loads is critical for the development of control systems for next-generation air vehicles. Both Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) and Large Eddy Simulation (LES) methods are prohibitively expensive, and existing Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approaches have been shown to be inadequate in predicting both mean and unsteady loads. In recent years, scale-resolving methods, such as Partially Averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) and Detached Eddy Simulation (DES), have been gaining acceptance and filling the gap between RANS and LES. In this study, we focus on a new variant of the PANS method, namely blended PANS or BPANS, which was shown to perform well in the incompressible regime for both wall-bounded and free shear flows. In this paper, we extend BPANS to compressible supersonic flows by adding a compressibility correction, leading to a new model called BPANS CC. The new model is tested using a well-known supersonic mixing layer case, and the results show good agreement with experimental data. The model is then used on a complex supersonic retropropulsion case and the results are in good agreement with experimental data.

Prediction of heat transfer from a circular cylinder in a cross-flow at a low sub-critical Reynolds number with the Partially-Averaged Navier-Stokes method

The prediction of turbulent heat transfer at a reasonable computational cost is a topical issue in computational fluid dynamics. This study addresses the numerical simulation of heat transfer from a circular cylinder in a cross-flow. Simulations were performed at a low sub-critical Reynolds number (Re = 3900) using the Partially-Averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS). Seven ratios of unresolved to total turbulent kinetic energy fk ranging from 0.15 to 0.7 were considered in order to reveal the influence of physical resolution on the flow and heat transfer statistics. Further, a low Reynolds number approach fε = fk was evaluated for fk ≥ 0.5. Additionally, simulations using the Large Eddy Simulation (LES) method were conducted on the same computational grids. The low physical resolution (fk > 0.5) in the PANS simulation at the coarse spatial resolution led to the earlier transition and later separation of the boundary layer which resulted in the overprediction of heat transfer at the rear stagnation point. The low Re approach (fε = fk) provided similar results as the low physical resolution case (fk = 0.7, fε = 1) and spatial refinement did not influence the predicted results. The results of our study indicated the suitability of the PANS for applications involving heat transfer from a bluff body provided an adequate physical resolution level is set.

Evaluation of PANS Methodology With Nonlinear Eddy Viscosity Closure: Flow Past a Heated Sphere

Abstract The partially averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) approach has emerged as a viable scale-resolving bridging method over the last decade. Conventional PANS method, based on the linear eddy viscosity closure, overcomes the scale-resolving inadequacies of Reynolds-averaging but still suffers from limitations arising from linear constitutive modeling of turbulent stresses. Linear PANS has been evaluated in a variety of complex flow fields, including the benchmark case of flow around a sphere. In this work, the authors assess the potential of nonlinear eddy viscosity closure and further extend the evaluation of nonlinear closure in predicting thermal characteristics (besides hydrodynamics) of flow past a sphere. The presented evaluation has been performed on the basis of various surface-related and wake-related quantities. Our results are compared against available experimental and direct numerical simulation (DNS)/large eddy simulation studies. Our study shows that for the same value of the filter-control parameters, nonlinear PANS performs significantly better than linear PANS.

Study of turbulent flow past a square cylinder using partially-averaged Navier–Stokes method in OpenFOAM

The present paper reports numerical simulation of turbulent flow over a square cylinder using a novel scale resolving computational fluid dynamics technique named Partially-Averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS), which bridges Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) with Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) in a seamless manner. All stream-wise and wall normal mean velocity components, turbulent stresses behavior have been computed along the flow (streamwise) as well as in transverse (wall normal) direction. The measurement locations are chosen based on the previous studies so that results could be compared. However, the Reynolds number ( Re) of the flow is maintained at 21,400 and K– ω turbulence model is considered for the present case. All the computations are performed in OpenFOAM framework using a finite volume solver. Additionally, turbulent kinetic energy variations are presented over a wide range of measurement planes in order to explain the energy transfer process in highly unsteady turbulent flow field. The fluctuating root mean square velocities in the streamwise as well as in the wall normal direction have been discussed in the present work. It has been found that Partially-Averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) model is capable of capturing the properties of highly unsteady turbulent flows and gives better results than Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS). The results obtained using Partially-Averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) are quite comparable with Large Eddy Simulation (LES) and Direct Numerical Simulation (DNS) data available in literature. The partially-averaged Navier–Stokes results are compared with our simulated Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) results, available experimental as well as numerical results in literature and it is found to be good in agreement.

Evaluation of PANS method in conjunction with non-linear eddy viscosity closure using OpenFOAM

Purpose In recent years, the partially averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) methodology has earned acceptability as a viable scale-resolving bridging method of turbulence. To further enhance its capabilities, especially for simulating separated flows past bluff bodies, this paper aims to combine PANS with a non-linear eddy viscosity model (NLEVM). Design/methodology/approach The authors first extract a PANS closure model using the Shih’s quadratic eddy viscosity closure model [originally proposed for Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) paradigm (Shih et al., 1993)]. Subsequently, they perform an extensive evaluation of the combination (PANS + NLEVM). Findings The NLEVM + PANS combination shows promising result in terms of reduction of the anisotropy tensor when the filter parameter (fk) is reduced. Further, the influence of PANS filter parameter f on the magnitude and orientation of the non-linear part of the stress tensor is closely scrutinized. Evaluation of the NLEVM + PANS combination is subsequently performed for flow past a square cylinder at Reynolds number of 22,000. The results show that for the same level of reduction in fk, the PANS + NLEVM methodology releases significantly more scales of motion and unsteadiness as compared to the traditional linear eddy viscosity model (LEVM) of Boussinesq (PANS + LEVM). The authors further demonstrate that with this enhanced ability the NLEVM + PANS combination shows much-improved predictions of almost all the mean quantities compared to those observed in simulations using LEVM + PANS. Research limitations/implications Based on these results, the authors propose the NLEVM + PANS combination as a more potent methodology for reliable prediction of highly separated flow fields. Originality/value Combination of a quadratic eddy viscosity closure model with PANS framework for simulating flow past bluff bodies.

Investigation of the effect of cavitation passive control on the dynamics of unsteady cloud cavitation

• We present a method to control various destructive effects of cloud cavitation such as vibration and high-pressure peaks. • Unsteady cloud cavitating flow around a hydrofoil was predicted using Partially-averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) method. • Addition of the PANS Model in the OpenFOAM package. • Combination of the PANS method with Schnerr–Sauer cavitation model for obtaining the most accurate results. • Using a proper cavitation control a significant reduction in high wall-pressure peaks and vibration has been achieved. We present an efficient method to control the evolution of unsteady cloud cavitation around the CAV2003 benchmark hydrofoil using passive cavitation controllers so called cavitation-bubble generators (CGs). Cavitation control may be used in many engineering applications, particularly in the marine and turbo machinery field. We first simulated the unsteady cavitating flow around the hydrofoil without CGs using a Partially-averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) method, and validated the acquired results against experimental data. We coupled the turbulence model with a mass transfer model and successfully implemented it in the open source toolbox OpenFOAM. Next, we studied the effect of different CGs on the qualitative parameters, such as the cavitation structure and the cavity shape. We varied size and location of the CGs to find the proper control of the cloud cavitation. We also analyzed in detail the effect of CGs on various destructive mechanisms of cavitation, such as highly unsteady cloud cavitation, turbulent velocity fluctuations , wall-pressure peaks, and degrading hydrodynamic performances . Our results revealed that CGs can substantially reduce instantaneous high-pressure pulsations on the hydrofoil surface. We observed that the cyclic behavior of unsteady cloud cavitation was suppressed, and the hydrodynamic efficiency of the hydrofoil was increased. The local boundary layer on the hydrofoil surface was altered, and the turbulent velocity fluctuation was reduced significantly, confirming that the vortex structures on the suction side and the wake region of the hydrofoil were changed remarkably.

A Flow Control Study of a Simplified, Oscillating Truck Cabin Using PANS

This work presents an application of the partially averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) equations for an external vehicle flow. In particular, the flow around a generic truck cabin is simulated. The PANS method is first validated against experiments and resolved large eddy simulation (LES) on two static cases. As a consequence, PANS is used to study the effect of an active flow control (AFC) on a dynamic oscillating configuration. The oscillation of the model represents a more realistic ground vehicle flow, where gusts (of different natures) define the unsteadiness of the incoming flow. In the numerical study, the model is forced to oscillate with a yaw angle 10 deg > β > –10 deg and a nondimensional frequency St = fW/Uinf = 0.1. The effect of the periodic motion of the model is compared with the quasi-static flow condition. At a later stage, the dynamic configuration is actuated by means of a synthetic jet boundary condition. Overall, the effect of the actuation is beneficial. The actuation of the AFC decreases drag, stabilizes the flow, and reduces the size of the side recirculation bubble.

Effect of side ratio on fluid flow and heat transfer from rectangular cylinders using the PANS method

A computational study of heat transfer from rectangular cylinders is carried out. Rectangular cylinders are distinguished based on the ratio of the length of streamwise face to the height of the cross-stream face (side ratio, R). The simulations were performed to understand the heat transfer in a flow field comprising separation, reattachment, vortex shedding and stagnation. The Partially-Averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) modeling approach is used to solve the turbulent flow physics associated and the wall resolve approach is used for the near wall treatment because of the flow separation involved. The simulations were performed using a finite volume based opensource software, OpenFOAM, at Reynolds number (Re)=22,000 for rectangular cylinder at constant temperature kept in an air stream. Two critical side ratios were obtained, R=0.62 and 3.0. At R=0.62, the maximum value of the drag coefficient (Cd)=2.681 was observed which gradually reduced by 54% at R=4.0. The base pressure coefficient and global Nusselt number also attained the maximum value at R=0.62 and from R=2.5 to 3.0 a sharp discontinuous increase by 140% in the Strouhal number was observed. At R=0.62, it was observed that the separated flow reattaches at the trailing edge after rolling over the side face and therefore increases the overall Nusselt number. The phase averaging was also performed to analyze the unsteady behavior of heat transfer.

Numerical simulation of flow past a circular base on PANS methods

A nonlinear partially averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) method based on RNG k-ε turbulence model is evaluated by a moderately high Reynolds number turbulence flow past a circular cylinder. The ratios of unresolved-to total kinetic energy (fk) and unresolved-to-total disspation (fε) for PANS method is sensitive to the simulation result. Simulation results based on different fk are compared with the experimental data. The quantities including mean streamline velocity, mean normal velocity, streamlines and et al. are analyzed. The computational result is reasonable when fk is less than 0.6. The PANS method can be used in the simulation of high Reynolds number turbulence flow.

Turbulence simulations of flow past a circular cylinder based on a nonlinear partially averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) method

A nonlinear partially averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) method based on RNG [Formula: see text]–[Formula: see text] turbulence model is evaluated by a moderately high Reynolds number turbulence flow past a circular cylinder. The ratios of unresolved-to-total kinetic energy [Formula: see text] and unresolved-to-total dissipation [Formula: see text] for PANS method are sensitive to the simulation result. Simulation results based on different [Formula: see text] are compared with the experimental data. The quantities including mean streamline velocity, mean normal velocity, streamlines, etc. are analyzed. The computational result is reasonable when [Formula: see text] is less than 0.6. The PANS method can be used in the simulation of high Reynolds number turbulence flow.

Property assessment of PANS method for numerical simulation of flow around tandem cylinders

Partially averaged Navier-Stokes( PANS) method derived from the traditional Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes( RANS) methods by introducing controlling parameter into original RANS equations to modify these equations,is one kind of hybrid methods which can effectively simulate the separated turbulent flows. Computational results of tandem cylinders using PANS method based on Menter shear stress transport( SST) turbulence model were presented in this investigation. The flow structures around tandem cylinders were analyzed and the accuracy and reliability of PANS method were also verified. Moreover,the influence of the model parameter on numerical results was investigated and the performance of different types of PANS methods was assessed. Studies show that the unresolved-to-total ratio of turbulence kinetic energy has significant effects on the numerical results,and taking this parameter as a constant value throughout the whole computational domain can hardly tackle the complex flow problem. Furthermore,the parameter is made to change along with flow physical information and the local grid scale. The variable fkPANS method agrees well with the results from SST detached-eddy simulation( DES) and the experimental measurements,suggesting strong adaptability to complex turbulence simulation.

Partially-averaged Navier–Stokes method for turbulent thermal plume

In this paper, the partially-averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) simulation is performed for a turbulent thermal plume. The aim of the paper is to assess the PANS method for modeling buoyancy-driven flows at a reasonable computational cost. PANS is a turbulence closure model which is developed to be used as a bridging model ranging from the direct numerical simulation to the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes simulation by varying the level of resolution. The PANS computations are performed for various values of the filter-width to evaluate the sensitivity of the filter-widths to the computed flow statistics. The present simulations have been carried out employing a source code buoyantPimpleFOAM based on the OpenFOAM platform. In order to capture the effect of buoyancy on turbulence, the generalized gradient diffusion hypothesis is employed to model the production of turbulence due to buoyancy. A detailed comparison of the time-averaged and turbulent statistics obtained from the PANS simulations with the experimental data and LES results reported in the literature has been presented. The present results have also been compared with the results of the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes solutions. The PANS model is shown to enhance the computing capability significantly in predicting buoyancy-driven flows compared with those of URANS model. Finally, various important unsteady flow structures of turbulent thermal plume have been visualized from the instantaneous flow statistics obtained using the PANS simulations.

Partially Averaged Navier-Stokes method based on k-ω model for simulating unsteady cavitating flows

The turbulence closure is significant to unsteady cavitating flow computations as the flow is frequently time-dependent accompanied with multiple scales of vortex. A turbulence bridging model named as PANS (Partially-averaged Navier-Stokes) purported for any filter-width is developed recently. The model filter width is controlled through two parameters: the unresolved-to-total ratios of kinetic energy fk and dissipation rate fω. In the present paper, the PANS method based on k-ω model is used to simulate unsteady cavitating flows over a Clark-y hydrofoil. The main objective of this work is to present the characteristics of PANS k-ω model and evaluate it depending on experimental data. The PANS k-ω model is implemented with various filter parameters (fk=0.2~1, fω =1/fk). The comparisons with the experimental data show that with the decrease of the filter parameter fk, the PANS model can reasonably predict the time evolution process of cavity shapes and lift force fluctuating in time. As the PANS model with smaller fk can overcome the over-prediction of turbulent kinetic energy with original k-ω model, the time-averaged eddy viscosity at the rear of attached cavity decreases and more levels of physical turbulent fluctuations are resolved. What's more, it is found that the value of ω in the free stream significantly affects the numerical results such as time-averaged cavity and fluctuations of the lift coefficient. With decreasing fk, the sensitivity of ω-equation on free stream becomes much weaker.

A New PANS Model for Unsteady Separated Flow Simulations

A new Partially Averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) model is proposed with the aim of simulating unsteady separated flows at reasonable computational expense. The unresolved-to-total ratio of kinetic energy (fk) related to PANS method is taken as a spatially varying and dynamically updating parameter in the computations. Turbulent flow past a backward-facing step is chosen as a test case in an effort to evaluate the model performance. PANS computations are compared to the experimental data and the traditional Detached Eddy Simulations (DES), showing their excellent capability of resolving turbulent fluctuations. Boundary layer shielding technique is also introduced into the PANS approach and effectively improves the computational results.

Computational study of supersonic turbulent-separated flows using partially averaged Navier-stokes method

Separation commonly exists in the flows around flight vehicles and also in the internal combustor flows. Simulation of high-speed turbulent-separated flows using a reliable computational design tool is crucial for the development of supersonic and hypersonic vehicles. In this paper, we present the computational results of supersonic base and ramped-cavity flows at high Reynolds numbers using the partially averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) method. The current PANS models are based on the Menter SST turbulence model and also the Wilcox k-ω model. Results from PANS simulations are compared in detail with the available experimental data. The effect of the resolution control parameter fk (the ratio of unresolved-to-total kinetic energy) relevant to the PANS method is investigated. More turbulent flow structures are resolved as expected with decreasing fk, but it does not mean better results can be obtained. Spatially varying and dynamically updated fk in PANS simulations has been performed. Results from variable fk PANS simulations show good agreement with the experiment and great improvement when compared to Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) computation and constant fk PANS simulations.

Fluid flow and conjugate heat transfer in a matrix of surface-mounted cubes: A PANS study

The Partially-Averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) method is intended to provide the optimum fidelity on any given numerical grid while varying seamlessly between the Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) model and direct numerical simulation (DNS). This method belongs to so called bridging or seamless methods. The PANS method has been more often used in the research community but also in the industry in last years. This is probably due to its simplicity, robustness and recent theoretical extensions as well as due to the detailed validations on the number of complex cases presented in many publications. As for any relatively new modeling approach, the list of validation cases should be further extended. Therefore, an additional test case is included in this paper. The PANS method is validated here for the fluid flow and heat transfer in a matrix of surface-mounted cubes. The ζ-f variant of PANS was used and compared with its RANS counterpart. The calculation procedure, which now includes the energy equation as well, is explained. A brief description of on-going developments and possible next improvements is also given in this paper.

Partially-Averaged Navier–Stokes Simulations of High-Speed Mixing Environment

Accurate simulation of the fuel-air mixing environment is crucial for high-fidelity scramjet calculations. We compute the velocity fields of jet into supersonic freestream flow and cavity flow typical of scramjet flame-holding applications at different scale resolutions using the partially-averaged Navier–Stokes (PANS) method. We present a sequence of variable resolution computations to demonstrate the potential of PANS method for high-speed mixing environment calculations.

A new nonlinear turbulence model based on Partially-Averaged Navier-Stokes Equations

Partially-averaged Navier-Stokes (PANS) Model was recognized as a Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) to direct numerical simulation (DNS) bridging method. PANS model was purported for any filter width-from RANS to DNS. PANS method also shared some similarities with the currently popular URANS (unsteady RANS) method. In this paper, a new PANS model was proposed, which was based on RNG k-ε turbulence model. The Standard and RNG k-ε turbulence model were both isotropic models, as well as PANS models. The sheer stress in those PANS models was solved by linear equation. The linear hypothesis was not accurate in the simulation of complex flow, such as stall phenomenon. The sheer stress here was solved by nonlinear method proposed by Ehrhard. Then, the nonlinear PANS model was set up. The pressure coefficient of the suction side of the NACA0015 hydrofoil was predicted. The result of pressure coefficient agrees well with experimental result, which proves that the nonlinear PANS model can capture the high pressure gradient flow. A low specific centrifugal pump was used to verify the capacity of the nonlinear PANS model. The comparison between the simulation results of the centrifugal pump and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) results proves that the nonlinear PANS model can be used in the prediction of complex flow field.