Turbulence Model Research Articles

Analysis of Water Film Distribution and Aerodynamic Performances of High-Speed Train Under Rainfall Environment

AbstractThe current research on the aerodynamic performance of the train running in rainy weather is primarily concerned with the trajectory of the raindrops and the aerodynamic variation of trains caused by raindrops. In fact, water film will generate on the train body when raindrops hit the train, which interacts with the flow field around the train, and would probably affect the aerodynamic performance of the train. In this paper, based on shear stress transport (SST) k-w turbulence model and Euler-Lagrange discrete phase model, the aerodynamic calculation model of a high-speed train under rainfall environment is established. The LWF (Lagrangian wall film) is used to simulate the water film distribution of the high-speed train under different rainfall intensities, and the aerodynamic performance of the train are studied. The calculation results show that raindrops will gather on the train surface and form water film under rainfall environment. With the extension of rainfall time, the thickness and coverage range of water film expand, and the maximum thickness of water film can reach 4.95 mm under the working conditions in this paper. The average thickness of water film on the train body increases with the rainfall intensity. When the rainfall intensity increases from 100 mm/h to 500 mm/h, the average water film thickness will increase by 3.26 times. The velocity of water film in the streamlined area of head car is larger than that in other areas, and the maximum velocity is 22.14 m/s. Compared with the rainless environment condition, the skin friction coefficient of the high-speed train increases and the average value will increase by 10.74% for a rainfall intensity of 500 mm/h. The positive pressure and resistance coefficient of the head car increase with the rainfall intensity. This research proposes a methodology to systematically analyze the generation of water film on the train surface and its influence on the train aerodynamic performance; the analysis can provide more practical results and can serve as a reference basis for the design and development of high-speed trains.

Cooled MarkII blade surface pressure and temperature distribution by a conjugate heat transfer analysis using Reynolds stress baseline turbulence model

Cooled MarkII blade surface pressure and temperature distribution by a conjugate heat transfer analysis using Reynolds stress baseline turbulence model

An Analysis and Comparison of the Hydrodynamic Behavior of Ships Using Mesh-Based and Meshless Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations

This paper presents a comparison of two turbulence models implemented in two different frameworks (Eulerian and Lagrangian) in order to simulate the motion in calm water of a displacement hull. The hydrodynamic resistance is calculated using two open-source Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software packages: OpenFOAM and DualSPHysics. These two packages are employed with two different numerical treatments to introduce turbulence closure effects. The methodology includes rigorous validation using a Wigley hull with experimental data taken from the literature. Then, the validated frameworks are applied to model a ship hull with a 30 m length overall (LOA), and their results discussed, outlining the advantages and disadvantages of the two turbulence treatments. In conclusion, the resistance calculated with OpenFOAM offers the best compactness of results and a shorter simulation time, whereas DualSPHysics can better capture the free-surface deformations, preserving similar accuracy.

The Effect of U-Bend Zone, Rotation, and Corrugation on Two-Pass Channel Flow

Abstract Further consideration on the two-pass channel flow is still necessary due to the complexity of 180-deg turn, rotation, and wall ribs. Numerical investigations have repeatedly revealed differences from experiments, with the primary focus of the smooth walls. Thus, this work deals with newly added ribs and three-equation variant of the shear stress transport (SST) k–ω model to the current fluid flow and heat transfer depending on an existing experiment as a reference. The adapted turbulence model thought to be more susceptible to U-bend zone, rotation, and wall corrugation is applied using comsolmultiphysics program. A two-pass profile with leafy characteristics, derived from a prior work by the first author, is implemented for the first time and contrasted against alternative corrugation designs. The findings demonstrated that applying the suggested model reduces the percentage error between the computational and experimental data to less than 20%. The Nusselt numbers computed at different leafy-corrugated channel divisions are augmented to 30% with 70% surface temperature reduction; however, the friction penalty rises too.

Creation and research of numerical models of cyclones with inclined and horizontal inlets

The article considers the challenges of using cyclone devices for cleaning gas emissions from solid fuel combustion in power engineering and industry. With the increasing energy consumption and generation, including the use of coal, the requirements for the efficiency of cleaning emissions from small solid particles of classes PM10 and PM2.5 are also rising. One of the key tasks is to maintain high cleaning efficiency while minimizing energy costs, which is also important for reducing the environmental impact of generation and industrial production. The article considers the design features of currently used cyclones, as well as existing approaches to their classification. The main focus is on modern areas of research related to numerical modeling based on CFD (Computational fluid dynamics) aimed at optimizing the design of separators. It is shown that most studies are carried out for cyclone operating conditions in production cycles, rather than in emission cleaning systems that operate at low suspended matter loads. Using the example of creating numerical models of cyclones with inclined and horizontal inlet pipes (CN-11, SK-CN-34), the article discusses certain features of geometry creation in the SpaceClaim Direct Modeler (SCDM) environment, which ensure the correctness of grid generation and calculations in the future. The results of numerical modeling carried out using the ANSYS Fluent software are presented. The turbulence model (RANS, Reynolds Averaged Navier – Stokes), methods for closing the Navier – Stokes equations (k-ε model with near-wall functions), and methods for calculating the dispersed part of the flow (Euler – Lagrange, DPM) are selected based on the conditions relevant to the systems for cleaning emissions from coal generation. The results indicate that, with the same pressure drop, the efficiency of settling suspended matter with a concentration of 100 mg/m3 or less in an apparatus with an inlet angle of 11° to the horizontal can be higher than that of a cyclone with a horizontal inlet.

Numerical Simulation of the Horizontal Water-Entry Process of High-Speed Vehicles

Based on the RNG k-ε turbulence model and VOF multiphase flow model, a numerical model of horizontal water-entry of the vehicle was established, and the numerical method was verified by experimental results. The cavitation characteristics, fluid resistance, and motion of the vehicle under different conditions were studied during the vehicle’s water-entry process. The results show that the cavitation process can be divided into the cavity development stage, saturation stage, and collapse stage. With the increase in initial velocity and mass of the vehicle, more water vapor will be generated during the water-entry process. The initial velocity of the vehicle had a limited effect on the resistance coefficient. The resistance coefficient in the stable stage remained almost unchanged for vehicles with different masses. Nevertheless, the time interval of the stable stage was shortened, and the resistance coefficient was greater in the gradually increasing stage for the vehicle with a smaller mass. For vehicles with higher initial velocity or smaller mass, the instantaneous velocity decreased faster after it entered the water. The vehicle with a streamlined design was able to reduce the generation of water vapor and decrease fluid resistance and its coefficient, and the vehicle can run farther during the water-entry process.

Research on Effect of Ship Speed on Unsteady Hydrodynamic Performance of Bow Thrusters in Berthing and Departure Directions

With the continuous development of the shipping market, bow thrusters have become more important for ship maneuvering. Therefore, the performance of bow thrusters is studied in this paper. In order to obtain an unsteady performance of the bow thruster under different ship speed conditions, the SST k-ω turbulence model is adopted to predict the hydrodynamics of the bow thruster. With the ship’s speed increasing gradually, the variation characteristics of hydrodynamic coefficients and the flow field distribution at key positions are analyzed. The results show that with an increase in ship speed to three knots, the thrust coefficient and torque coefficient of the bow thruster decrease by 2.69~4.07% and 2.34~3.08%. In addition, the blade vibration amplitude intensifies. In the departure direction, the propeller load is more susceptible to being influenced and decreases by an additional 2.34~4.16% compared with that in the berthing direction. Meanwhile, it is found that the velocity distribution is asymmetrical. The inlet velocity at the bow side is faster, which results in the maximum peak pressure being about three times the minimum peak pressure. In addition, the pressure’s nonuniformity in the tunnel increases gradually with the increase in ship speed. Compared with the pressure distribution in the berthing direction, the pressure distribution before and after the propeller is more uniform, which is consistent with the results of hydrodynamic change and velocity distribution. The research in this paper has a certain reference significance for understanding the hydrodynamic performance of bow thrust operation.

A Reynolds analogy model for compressible wall turbulence

In the present study, we propose a Reynolds analogy model for compressible wall turbulence. This model is demonstrated to be able to alleviate the defects of the generalized Reynolds analogy model (GRA) (Zhang et al., J. Fluid Mech., vol. 739, 2014, pp. 392–420), and maintains its success in describing the mean velocity–temperature relation. Furthermore, the present model is superior to the GRA in depicting the relationship between their fluctuating fields and also bridges the gap between the phenomenological model and the mathematical representation of the Reynolds analogy. The key points of the present model are validated by analysing the data of compressible wall-bounded turbulence with different Mach numbers, Reynolds numbers and wall thermal conditions.

Numerical study on a new adjustable multi-hole throttling device for natural gas flooding

Natural gas flooding represents a significant technique for the enhancement of oil recovery, thereby facilitating the efficient utilization of oil and gas resources. In the injection and production system, the throttling gas nozzle is a key component that adjust the injection pressure according to the reservoir’s pressure. However, current throttling gas nozzles utilize a fixed structure, which presents a challenge in achieving online control of flow rate and pressure drop. Therefore, a new adjustable multi-hole throttling device was proposed in this paper, allowing for the regulation of pressure loss by changing the number of flowing holes. In order to gain insight into the operational principles and pressure drop characteristics of this new throttling device, the SST k-ω turbulence model and the NIST physical property model were employed to simulate the supercritical natural gas flow in the nozzle. The results demonstrate that there is an uneven distribution of velocity between the channels of the downhole multi-hole throttling device. The velocity in a single nozzle channel exhibits a trend of initially increasing rapidly and then decreasing, while the pressure exhibits an initial decrease, which is then followed by a slight increase. The pressure drops of the nozzle under different flow rates and flowing hole numbers were acquired, revealing that the pressure drop of the multi-hole throttling device is inversely proportional to the number of holes. The adjustment accuracy of pressure drop and flow rate is higher when the number of holes is between 4 and 6. However, a significant increase in pressure drop occurs when the number of holes is less than 3, resulting in poorer regulation accuracy. Furthermore, a pressure drop prediction model was developed based on the numerical results, which provides guidance for the application and design of the throttling device. In this study, a new natural gas flooding throttling device is proposed, offering a new approach for downhole equipment development. Additionally, this research provides guidance for the practical application and iterative improvement of this throttling device in future use.

Design and Research of Dual-Mode Power Generation Device Based on Improved Oscillating Buoy

In response to the national “dual-carbon” strategic goals, a dual-mode ocean energy generation device was researched. First, improvements were made to the power generation system and mechanical structure of an oscillating buoy with a radius of 2.5 m, designing a power generation device that utilizes both wave energy and tidal energy. Subsequently, wave generation was carried out using the Realizable k-ε turbulence model, and the buoy’s strength was analyzed using the Ansys Fluent simulation platform with finite element analysis, with simulation results indicating a rational design. Then, the Froude–Krylov hypothesis method and the oscillating buoy body decomposition method were used to calculate the combined force in the vertical direction of the buoy, and combined with other forces, the maximum wave force on the buoy was determined. It was verified that the buoyancy of the buoy met the requirements of the hydraulic system. Finally, the hydraulic power generation system model was simulated and analyzed using AMEsim, yielding a power generation of 55.2284 kW. Using a formula, the maximum power generation of a single buoy was calculated to be approximately 15.5 kW, and the ideal maximum power generation of the entire device was able to reach 101.7284 kW.

Generalization Limits of Data-Driven Turbulence Models

AbstractMany industrial applications require turbulent closure models that yield accurate predictions across a wide spectrum of flow regimes. In this study, we investigate how data-driven augmentations of popular eddy viscosity models affect their generalization properties. We perform a systematic generalization study with a particular closure model that was trained for a single flow regime. We systematically increase the complexity of the test cases up to an industrial application governed by a multitude of flow patterns and thereby demonstrate that tailoring a model to a specific flow phenomenon decreases its generalization capability. In fact, the accuracy gain in regions that the model was explicitly calibrated for is smaller than the loss elsewhere. We furthermore show that extrapolation or, generally, a lack of training samples with a similar feature vector is not the main reason for generalization errors. There is actually only a weak correlation. Accordingly, generalization errors are probably due to a data-mismatch, i.e., a systematic difference in the mappings from the model inputs to the required responses. More diverse training sets unlikely provide a remedy due to the strict stability requirements emerging from the ill-conditioned RANS equations. The universality of data-driven eddy viscosity models with variable coefficients is, therefore, inherently limited.

Flow Separation Control and Aeroacoustic Effects of a Leading-Edge Slat over a Wind Turbine Blade

To enable wind energy to surpass fossil fuels, the power-to-cost ratio of wind turbines must be competitive. Increasing installation capacities and wind turbine sizes indicates a strong trend toward clean energy. However, larger rotor diameters, reaching up to 170 m, introduce stability and aeroelasticity concerns and aerodynamic phenomena that cause noise disturbances. These issues hinder performance enhancement and social acceptance of wind turbines. A critical aerodynamic challenge is flow separation on the blade’s suction side, leading to a loss of lift and increased drag, ultimately stalling the blade and reducing turbine performance. Various active and passive flow control techniques have been studied to address these issues, with passive techniques offering the advantage of no external energy requirement. High-lift devices, such as leading-edge slats, are promising in improving aerodynamic performance by controlling flow separation. This study explores the geometric parameters of slats and their effects on wind turbine blades’ aerodynamic and acoustic performance. Using an adequate turbulence model at Re = 106 for angles of attack from 14° to 24°, 77 slat configurations were evaluated. Symmetric slats showed superior performance at high angles of attack, while slat chord length was inversely proportional to aerodynamic improvement. A hybrid method was employed to predict noise, revealing slat-induced modifications in eddy topology and increased low- and high-frequency noise. This study’s main contribution is correlating slat-induced aerodynamic improvements with their acoustic effects. The directivity reveals a 10–15 dB reduction induced by the slat at 1 kHz, while the slat induces higher noise at higher frequencies.

Non-Condensation Turbulence Models with Different Near-Wall Treatments and Solvers Comparative Research for Three-Dimensional Steam Ejectors

Steam ejectors are important energy-saving equipment for solar thermal energy storage; however, a numerical simulation research method has not been agreed upon. This study contributes to a comprehensive selection of turbulence models, near-wall treatments, geometrical modeling (2-D and 3-D), solvers, and models (condensation and ideal-gas) in the RANS equations approach for steam ejectors through validation with experiments globally and locally. The turbulence models studied are k-ε Standard, k-ε RNG, k-ε Realizable, k-ω Standard, k-ω SST, Transition SST, and linear Reynolds Stress. The near-wall treatments assessed are Standard Wall Functions, Non-equilibrium Wall Functions, and Enhanced Wall Treatment. The solvers compared are pressure-based and density-based solvers. The root causes of their distinctions in terms of simulation results, applicable conditions, convergence, and computational cost are explained and compared. The complex phenomena involving shock waves, choking, and vapor condensation captured by different models are discussed. The internal connections of their performance and flow phenomena are analyzed from the mechanism perspective. The originality of this study is that both condensation and 3-D asymmetric effects on the simulation results are considered. The results indicate that the k-ω SST non-equilibrium condensation model coupling the low-Re boundary conditions has the most accurate prediction results, best convergence, and fit for the widest range of working conditions. A 3-D asymmetric condensation model with a density-based solver is recommended for simulating steam ejectors accurately.

Flow and Heat Transfer Behaviors of Impinging Spiral Jet Arrays in a Rectangular Channel Based on Battery Cooling Technique

Impinging spiral jet array cooling, an innovative concept, has been proposed as a way to enhance the thermal management of batteries in electric vehicles. The comprehensive flow and heat transfer behaviors of impinging spiral jet arrays in a rectangular channel with/without crossflow were numerically studied. In this study, the total spiral nozzle length was 290 mm under the helix generated at a slot nozzle thickness of 1.0 mm. The rectangular crossflow channel for the heated zone had length and width ratios of 18 and 12. The jet-to-target spacing was 1.0. The jet Reynolds numbers ranging from 5000 to 20000 were performed via the shear stress transport turbulence model. The results showed that the regional average Nusselt number increased with the increase in jet Reynolds number for all conditions. The average heat transfer rate in the case with crossflow was beyond 7.8% higher than in the case without crossflow due to the cumulative crossflow, the concentration of each impingement jet was deflected and bent downstream.

Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis and Optimization of a Doublesuction Turbine Agitator

Background: As one of the essential pieces of chemical equipment, a reactor provides the necessary reaction space and conditions for the materials involved in the reaction during the stirring process. However, under typical operating conditions, issues such as uneven gas distribution, suboptimal gas-liquid mixing, and low product yield often arise in gas-liquid phase reactors. Purpose: To address the issues prevalent in current stirred reactors, a new design for a stirred reactor equipped with a double-suction turbine agitator was developed. Method: In this paper, a stirred reactor equipped with a double-suction turbine agitator was designed, and its three-dimensional modeling was conducted using SolidWorks. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, based on the Euler-Euler two-phase approach with the RNG k −ε turbulence model, were performed to assess variables such as stirring speed, installation height, blade diameter and agitator inner diameter. The dispersion characteristics and flow field behaviors of the gas-liquid two-phase under varying conditions were comparatively analyzed. Optimizations were conducted across various parameters to enhance the gas mixing efficiency in the liquid phase. Result: The results show that a diameter of 370mm for the double-suction turbine agitator, an installation height of 640mm, a blade diameter of 500mm, and an inner hole diameter of 200mm yield optimal gas-liquid two-phase mixing performance. This configuration results in a broad and uniform gas distribution within the reactor, maintaining a desired high level of gas holdup at specific positions. Conclusion: The double suction turbine agitator is a type of radial agitator. During operation, it induces significant centrifugal forces in the liquid, exerts a robust shear effect, and enhances the mixing of the gas-liquid phases, thereby increasing the production efficiency of the product.

Analysis of fluid forces impacting on the impeller of a mixed flow blood pump with computational fluid dynamics.

This study presents four different impeller designs to compare hydrodynamic forces. Numerical simulation studies are performed via computational fluid dynamics to specify and investigate the hydraulic forces impacting the impeller of the mixed-flow blood pump with a volute. The design point of this pump is that the flow rate is 5 L/min, the rotational speed is 8000 rpm, and the manometric head is 100 mmHg. The designed impellers are placed in the same volute and simulation studies are performed with the same mesh size (17.3 million cells) of the pumps. The simulation studies have been conducted in setting 1050 kg/m3 blood density, 35 cP fluid viscosity, and SST-kω turbulence model. Additionally, this study examines the changes in hydraulic forces and hydraulic efficiency with fluid viscosity. As a result of experimental simulation studies, the highest hydraulic efficiencies of 40.87% and 39.5% are achieved in the case of the shaftless-grooveless and shafted-grooveless impeller, respectively. The maximum axial forces are obtained from the pump with the shaftless-grooveless impeller. Whereas radial forces, maximum values are calculated in the pump with the shaftless-outer groove impeller for all flow rates. Finally, the wall shear stresses, which are important for blood pump designs, are evaluated and the maximum value of 227 Pa is observed in the pump impeller with a shaftless-grooved.

Computational Technology for Shell Models of Magnetohydrodynamic Turbulence Constructing

The paper discusses the computational technology for constructing one type of small-scale magnetohydrodynamic turbulence models – shell models. Any such model is a system of ordinary quadratic nonlinear differential equations with constant coefficients. Each phase variable is interpreted in absolute value as a measure of the intensity of one of the fields of the turbulent system in a certain range of spatial scales (scale shell). The equations of any shell model must have several quadratic invariants, which are analogues of conservation laws in ideal magnetohydrodynamics. The derivation of the model equations consists in obtaining such expressions for constant coefficients for which the predetermined quadratic expressions will indeed be invariants. Derivation of these expressions «manually» is quite cumbersome and the likelihood of errors in formula transformations is high. This is especially true for non-local models in which large-scale shells that are distant in size can interact. The novelty and originality of the work lie in the fact that the authors proposed a computational technology that allows one to automate the process of deriving equations for shell models. The technology was implemented using computer algebra methods, which made it possible to obtain parametric classes of models in which the invariance of given quadratic forms is carried out absolutely accurately – in formula form. The determination of the parameter values in the resulting parametric class of models is further carried out by agreement with the measures of the interaction of shells in the model with the probabilities of their interaction in a real physical system. The idea of the described technology and its implementation belong to the authors. Some of its elements were published by the authors earlier, but in this work, for the first time, its systematic description is given for models with complex phase variables and agreement of measures of interaction of shells with probabilities. There have been no similar works by other authors previously. The technology allows you to quickly and accurately generate equations for new non-local turbulence shell models and can be useful to researchers involved in modeling turbulent systems.

Performance evaluation of a scramjet engine utilizing varied cavity aft wall divergence with parallel injection in a reacting flow field

Abstract The effect of implications of the dual cavity with aft wall divergence in a parallel injection reacting flow has been numerically investigated. This research intends to emphasize the behaviour of the supersonic flow under varying divergence angles of the cavity aft wall. A two-dimensional Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equation and an SST k-ω turbulence model with a single-step chemical reaction for hydrogen-air are utilized for the simulation. Followed by the strut injector, the cavities are positioned symmetrically inside the combustor. The bottom cavity aft wall divergence varies, whereas the top wall is mounted with a rectangular cavity. The performance of cavity locations is compared with the baseline DLR model. From the evaluation of numerical outcomes along with different cavity configurations, it has been noted that the 15-degree cavity divergence angle enhances the recirculation zone which leads to improved mixing performance. Also, the cavity improves the combustion stability by increasing the flow residence time. From this numerical analysis, it is associated that an almost 20 % reduction in combustor length is achieved, however, an 18 % rise in the pressure loss is noted because of emanating shock waves from the cavity edges.

Impact of solar-wind turbulence on a planetary bow shock. A global 3D simulation

The interaction of the solar-wind plasma with a magnetized planet generates a bow-shaped shock ahead of the wind. Over recent decades, near-Earth spacecraft observations have provided insights into the physics of the bow shock, and the findings suggest that solar-wind intrinsic turbulence influences the bow shock dynamics. On the other hand, theoretical studies, primarily based on global numerical simulations, have not yet investigated the global three-dimensional (3D) interaction between a turbulent solar wind and a planetary magnetosphere. This paper addresses this gap for the first time by presenting an investigation of the global dynamics of this interaction that provides new perspectives on the underlying physical processes. We use the newly developed numerical code Menura to examine how the turbulent nature of the solar wind influences the 3D structure and dynamics of magnetized planetary environments, such as those of Mercury, Earth, and magnetized Earth-like exoplanets. We used the hybrid particle-in-cell (PIC) code Menura to conduct 3D simulations of the turbulent solar wind and its interaction with an Earth-like magnetized planet through global numerical simulations of the magnetosphere and its surroundings. Menura runs in parallel on graphics processing units (GPUs), enabling efficient and self-consistent modeling of turbulence. By comparison with a case in which the solar wind is laminar, we show that solar-wind turbulence globally influences the shape and dynamics of the bow shock, the magnetosheath structures, and the ion foreshock dynamics. Also, a turbulent solar wind disrupts the coherence of foreshock fluctuations, induces large fluctuations on the quasi-perpendicular surface of the bow shock, facilitates the formation of bubble-like structures near the nose of the bow shock, and modifies the properties of the magnetosheath region. The turbulent nature of the solar wind impacts the 3D shape and dynamics of the bow shock, magnetosheath, and ion foreshock region. This influence should be taken into account when studying solar-wind--planet interactions in both observations and simulations. We discuss the relevance of our findings for current and future missions launched into the heliosphere.

Influence of speed and line spacing on aerodynamic forces in high speed train passing in tunnels

As train speeds increase, the aerodynamic effects generated during the passage of high-speed trains in tunnels become more pronounced. This article investigates the influence of line spacing on the aerodynamic forces during the passage of high-speed trains in tunnels at different speeds. The research methodology is based on the three-dimensional transient compressible Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations and the k-ω Shear Stress Transport (SST) turbulence model, using overset grid technology to simulate the train passing process in the tunnel. The results show that the aerodynamic drag, lateral force, and lift experienced by the train increase as the line spacing decreases and as the speed increases. line spacing has the greatest impact on aerodynamic lift, followed by lateral force, with drag having the smallest impact. Compared to line spacing, speed has a much larger effect on aerodynamic forces. The aerodynamic forces experienced by the train during tunnel passage are proportional to the square of the train’s speed and have an exponential relationship with the line spacing during train passage.