Forced Turbulence Research Articles

Effect of filter type on the statistics of energy transfer between resolved and subfilter scales from a-priori analysis of direct numerical simulations of isotropic turbulence

ABSTRACTThe effects of different filtering strategies on the statistical properties of the resolved-to-subfilter scale (SFS) energy transfer are analysed in forced homogeneous and isotropic turbulence. We carry out a-priori analyses of the statistical characteristics of SFS energy transfer by filtering data obtained from direct numerical simulations with up to 20483 grid points as a function of the filter cutoff scale. In order to quantify the dependence of extreme events and anomalous scaling on the filter, we compare a sharp Fourier Galerkin projector, a Gaussian filter and a novel class of Galerkin projectors with non-sharp spectral filter profiles. Of interest is the importance of Galilean invariance and we confirm that local SFS energy transfer displays intermittency scaling in both skewness and flatness as a function of the cutoff scale. Furthermore, we quantify the robustness of scaling as a function of the filtering type.

Analysis of flow and phase interaction characteristics in a gas-liquid two-phase pump

To analyze the characteristics of internal flow and phase interaction in a gas-liquid two-phase pump, the influence of Inlet Gas Void Fraction (IGVF), discharge coefficient, and medium viscosity were investigated using medium combinations of air-water and air-crude. Simulations were performed using ANSYS_CFX at different IGVFs and various values of discharge coefficient. Structured grid for the full flow passage was generated using ICEM_CFD and TurboGrid. Under conditions of IGVF = 0% (pure water) and IGVF = 15%, the reliability of numerical method was proved by means of the comparison with the experimental data of external characteristic. The results for air-water combination showed a uniform gas distribution in the inlet pipe, and formation of a stratified structure in the outlet pipe. The gas in impeller gathered at the hub because of the rotation of the impeller, also, the interphase forces increased with the increased IGVF. For the two medium combinations, the drag force was the largest interphase force, followed by added mass and lift forces, and then the turbulent dispersion force was the least, which can be neglected. Because of the larger viscosity of crude than that of water, the variation trend of interphase forces in the impeller is relatively smooth along the flow direction when the medium combination was air-crude.

Numerical investigation of hybrid blend design target bullets

In the past few decades, researchers are involved in the studies of high-energy penetrator geometry and also the materials used for causing brutal damages on enemy targets. The highly focused area in this field is the shape of the nose and penetration angle of the penetrator. Hybrid blend design target bullets is one among the best aerodynamic design as it is having two different shapes within the nose. The design of these bullets plays an influential role in terms of aerodynamic characteristics and its dynamic performance capability on hitting the targets. Objective of this research is to perform a comparative analysis of 3 different geometrically varied shapes of these bullets by numerical simulation using CFD, based on its performance characteristics such as aerodynamic co-efficients, shock wave existence, Turbulent dissipation rate and normal drag force on the bullet surface.

Experimental study of turbulent-jet wave packets and their acoustic efficiency

This paper details the statistical and time-resolved analysis of the relationship between the near-field pressure fluctuations of unforced, subsonic free jets (0.4 ≤ M ≤ 0.6) and their far-field sound emissions. Near-field and far-field microphone measurements were taken on a conical array close to the jets and an azimuthal ring at 20∘ to the jet axis, respectively. Recent velocity and pressure measurements indicate the presence of linear wave packets in the near field by closely matching predictions from the linear homogenous parabolized stability equations, but the agreement breaks down both beyond the end of the potential core and when considering higher order statistical moments, such as the two-point coherence. Proper orthogonal decomposition (POD), interpreted in terms of inhomogeneous linear models using the resolvent framework allows us to understand these discrepancies. A new technique is developed for projecting time-domain pressure measurements onto a statistically obtained POD basis, yielding the time-resolved activity of each POD mode and its correlation with the far field. A single POD mode, interpreted as an optimal high-gain structure that arises due to turbulent forcing, captures the salient near-field–far-field correlation signature; further, the signatures of the next two modes, understood as suboptimally forced structures, suggest that these POD modes represent higher order, acoustically important near-field behavior. An existing Green's-function-based technique is used to make far-field predictions, and results are interpreted in terms of POD/resolvent modes, indicating the acoustic importance of this higher order behavior. The technique is extended to provide time-domain far-field predictions.

A Case Study in Low Aerosol Number Concentrations Over the Eastern North Atlantic: Implications for Pristine Conditions in the Remote Marine Boundary Layer

AbstractWe present a case study (20 September to 13 October 2015) of synergistic, multi‐instrument observations of aerosols, clouds, and the marine boundary layer (MBL) at the Eastern North Atlantic (ENA) Atmospheric Radiation Measurement site centered on a period of exceptionally low (20–50 cm−3) surface accumulation mode (0.1–1 μm) aerosol particle number concentrations. We divide the case study into three regimes (high, clean, and ultraclean) based on daily median number concentrations and compare finer resolution (hourly or less) observations between these regimes. The analysis focuses on the possibility of using these ultraclean events to study pristine conditions in the remote MBL, as well as examining evidence for a recently proposed conceptual model for the large‐scale depletion of cloud condensation nuclei‐sized particles in postfrontal air masses. Relative to the high and clean regimes, the ultraclean regime tends to exhibit significantly fewer particles between 0.1 and 0.4 μm in diameter and a relatively increased prevalence of larger accumulation mode particles. In addition, supermicron particles tend to dominate total scattering in the ultraclean regime, and there is little evidence for absorbing aerosol. These observations are more in‐line with a heavily scavenged but natural marine aerosol population and minimal contribution from continental sources such as anthropogenic pollution, biomass burning, or dust. The air masses with the consistently lowest accumulation mode aerosol number concentrations are largely dominated by heavily drizzling clouds with high liquid water path cores, deep decoupled boundary layers, open cellular organization, and notable surface forcing of subcloud turbulence, even at night.

TEMPORO-SPECTRAL COHERENT STRUCTURE OF TURBULENCE AND PRESSURE USING FOURIER AND WAVELET TRANSFORMS

Studying the spatial distribution in coherent fields such as turbulent and turbulent-induced force ones is important to model and evaluate turbulent-induced forces and response of structures on the turbulent flows. Turbulent field-based coherent function is commonly used for the spatial distribution characteristic of induced forces in the frequency domain. This paper will focus to study spectral coherent structure of turbulence and forces in not only the frequency domain using conventional Fourier transform-based coherence, but also temporo-spectral coherent one in the time-frequency plane thanks to wavelet transform-based coherence for more understanding of the turbulence and force coherences and their spatial distributions. Effects of spanwise separations, bluff body flow and flow conditions on coherent structures of turbulence and induced pressure, comparison between turbulence and pressure coherences as well as intermittency of coherent structure in the time-frequency plane will be investigated here.

Effects of surface friction and turbulent mixing on long-term changes in the near-surface wind speed over the Eastern China Plain from 1981 to 2010

A significant slowdown in the near-surface wind speed (SWS) due to combined effects of the driving and drag forces of the atmosphere has been demonstrated in different regions in the globe. The drag force includes two sources: the friction force between the underlying surface and the bottom of the atmosphere, which is the external friction force (EFF), and the vertical exchange of the horizontal momentum induced by turbulent mixing, which is the turbulent friction force (TFF). In this paper, we propose a diagnostic method to separate the effects of the EFF and the TFF on long-term changes in the SWS over the Eastern China Plain (ECP) region from 1981 to 2010. The results show that the TFF could have caused an increase of 0.5 ± 0.2 m s− 1 in the SWS over the ECP region in the past 30 years and the TFF showed an increasing influence of 0.17 m s− 1 decade− 1. In contrast, the EFF distinctly decreased the SWS by an average of − 1.1 ± 0.4 m s− 1 and presented a significant decreasing trend of − 0.36 m s− 1 decade− 1. The effect of EFF is the main inducer of the observed regional long-term decrease of the SWS, which is in accordance with the distinct land use and cover change (LUCC) occurring in the ECP region in recent decades. Furthermore, the effects of the EFF and TFF on the changes in the SWS are more significant in large cities than those in small cities. The TFF effect can accelerate the SWS, with means of 0.5 ± 0.2 and 0.4 ± 0.2 m s− 1 in large and small cities, respectively. The EFF effect can decelerate the SWS, with means of − 1.2 ± 0.4 and − 0.7 ± 0.4 m s− 1 in large and small cities, respectively.

Scaling of Lyapunov exponents in homogeneous isotropic turbulence

Lyapunov exponents measure the average exponential growth rate of typical linear perturbations in a chaotic system, and the inverse of the largest exponent is a measure of the time horizon over which the evolution of the system can be predicted. Here, Lyapunov exponents are determined in forced homogeneous isotropic turbulence for a range of Reynolds numbers. Results show that the maximum exponent increases with Reynolds number faster than the inverse Kolmogorov time scale, suggesting that the instability processes may be acting on length and time scales smaller than Kolmogorov scales. Analysis of the linear disturbance used to compute the Lyapunov exponent, and its instantaneous growth, show that the instabilities do, as expected, act on the smallest eddies, and that at any time, there are many sites of local instabilities.

Revealing the arc dynamics in a gliding arc plasmatron: a better insight to improve CO2 conversion

A gliding arc plasmatron (GAP) is very promising for CO2 conversion into value-added chemicals, but to further improve this important application, a better understanding of the arc behavior is indispensable. Therefore, we study here for the first time the dynamic arc behavior of the GAP by means of a high-speed camera, for different reactor configurations and in a wide range of operating conditions. This allows us to provide a complete image of the behavior of the gliding arc. More specifically, the arc body shape, diameter, movement and rotation speed are analyzed and discussed. Clearly, the arc movement and shape relies on a number of factors, such as gas turbulence, outlet diameter, electrode surface, gas contraction and buoyance force. Furthermore, we also compare the experimentally measured arc movement to a state-of-the-art 3D-plasma model, which predicts the plasma movement and rotation speed with very good accuracy, to gain further insight in the underlying mechanisms. Finally, we correlate the arc dynamics with the CO2 conversion and energy efficiency, at exactly the same conditions, to explain the effect of these parameters on the CO2 conversion process. This work is important for understanding and optimizing the GAP for CO2 conversion.

Wavelet analysis of coherent structures and intermittency in forced homogeneous isotropic turbulence with polymer additives

Large eddy simulation was performed for forced homogeneous isotropic turbulence with/without polymer additives. Wavelet transform in one dimension and two dimensions were performed to investigate the multi-resolution features of coherent structures and intermittency in forced homogeneous isotropic turbulence based on large eddy simulation database. Using wavelet decomposition in one dimension and two dimension, it is found that polymer additives behave inhibitive effect on the intermittent pulse and the amount of coherent structures in forced homogeneous isotropic turbulence. The reconstructions of velocity waveform for coherent structures with strongest intermittence were surveyed at the scale a=26 obtained by maximum energy criterion, showing that the quasi-periodicity and intermittence for coherent structures in polymer solutions are not as distinct as that in the Newtonian fluid. To detect intermittency, the flatness factor and local intermittency measure for velocity fluctuation signals were calculat...

Development of numerical Eulerian-Eulerian models for simulating multiphase pumps

Multiphase pumps are now in high demand as a result of undersea wells. The resulting sharp increase in the demand for multiphase pumps has made it necessary to optimize the operating performance of these pumps. The primary shortcoming of multiphase flow transport technology is that the characteristics of the internal flow change according to the gas volume fraction (GVF). This research aimed to establish a numerical analysis method that is used commercial CFD packages to evaluate the multiphase flow with high reliability and proposes a numerical method to investigate the effect of different GVFs on the flow characteristics. An appropriate combination of bubble size, closure interphase force model, and coefficient of force acting on the interface between the water and air phases is important for predicting the performance of the multiphase flow. The reliability of the new numerical analysis method was proven by comparing the numerical and experimental results. A model pump was produced and the structural stability of the prototype was secured through an analysis according to the API610 11th standard (Modal, Pressure Load). The model pump was made by AL7075 and the experiment device is connected with a 150A SUS pipe flange. The error range of the reliability verification of the multi-phase flow was about 0.5–1.5% at the flow rate used in the design. The numerical results obtained for pressure performance generally corresponded to high reliability within the operating range. Advanced computational fluid dynamics based on the three-dimensional steady and unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations were solved to analyze the detailed dynamic flow phenomenon with various GVFs. The effects of various interphase forces acting between the liquid and gas phase such as drag, lift, virtual mass, wall lubrication and turbulent dispersion forces, and the diameter of bubbles in the gas phase on the hydraulic performance were investigated.

Eco-morphological consequences of the ‘rostral loss’ in the intertidal marine shrimp Hippolyte sapphica morphotypes

The shrimp Hippolyte sapphica has a unique and sharp rostral dimorphism: morphotype A with a well-developed dentate rostrum, and morphotype B with a short, juvenile-like toothless rostrum. Previous research has shown that both morphotypes/forms belong to the same species and co-occur in the same habitat. Both forms occur in both sexes; however, form B individuals have a higher tendency to become males. Moreover, form A females are characterized by prolonged viability. The present comparative morphometric study concentrates on the changes induced by the rostral dimorphism and interprets them in terms of eco-morphological adaptations. Results showed that (i) the rostral length was the most isometric among the studied morphometric variables; (ii) males of A and B forms were not significantly different morphometrically; (iii) unexpectedly, form A non-ovigerous females had more developed carapace, abdominal somites and appendages in comparison with form B and, finally (iv), form B ovigerous females had higher tail and scaphocerite lengths, suggesting that they overcome higher turbulent force during the rapid backward movements and that the long rostrum improves hydrodynamic streamlining and stability. In conclusion, the previous finding that form B individuals tend to become males receives an adaptational explanation. The gene(s) responsible for the short rostrum accumulate in males, where their micro-evolutionary disadvantage is minimal or even absent.

Computation of three-dimensional multiphase flow dynamics by Fully-Coupled Immersed Flow (FCIF) solver

This work presents a Fully-Coupled Immersed Flow (FCIF) solver for the three-dimensional simulation of fluid–fluid interaction by coupling two distinct flow solvers using an Immersed Boundary (IB) method. The FCIF solver captures dynamic interactions between two fluids with disparate flow properties, while retaining the desirable simplicity of non-boundary-conforming grids. For illustration, we couple an IB-based unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (uRANS) simulator with a depth-integrated (long-wave) solver for the application of slug development with turbulent gas and laminar liquid. We perform a series of validations including turbulent/laminar flows over prescribed wavy boundaries and freely-evolving viscous fluids. These confirm the effectiveness and accuracy of both one-way and two-way coupling in the FCIF solver. Finally, we present a simulation example of the evolution from a stratified turbulent/laminar flow through the initiation of a slug that nearly bridges the channel. The results show both the interfacial wave dynamics excited by the turbulent gas forcing and the influence of the liquid on the gas turbulence. These results demonstrate that the FCIF solver effectively captures the essential physics of gas–liquid interaction and can serve as a useful tool for the mechanistic study of slug generation in two-phase gas/liquid flows in channels and pipes.

CFD simulation of pilot-scale bubble columns with internals: Influence of interfacial forces

In the present study, influence of interfacial forces, including drag force and lateral forces (lift force, turbulent dispersion force and wall force) on the hydrodynamics in pilot-scale bubble columns with internals is analyzed. The results indicate that the lateral forces may be optional for the hollow columns, but they are required to accurately predict flow characteristics in the bubble columns with internals. Furthermore, it has been found that the bubbly flow behavior in the bubble columns with internals is more sensitive to the lateral forces in comparison with those without internals, and the complex geometry significantly alters the response of bubbly flow to the interfacial forces. In addition, despite the insignificant effect on gas holdup, the presence of internals gives rise to an enhancement of large-scale liquid circulation due to the remarkable decrease of turbulent viscosity.

Scale-to-scale anisotropy in homogeneous turbulence

We experimentally investigate scale-to-scale anisotropy from the integral to the dissipative scales in homogeneous turbulence. We employ an apparatus in which two facing arrays of randomly actuated air jets generate turbulence with negligible mean flow and shear, over a volume several times larger than the energy-containing eddy size. The Reynolds number based on the Taylor microscale is varied in the range$Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D706}}\approx 300{-}500$, while the axial-to-radial ratio of the root mean square velocity fluctuations ranges between 1.38 and 1.72. Two velocity components are measured by particle image velocimetry at varying resolutions, capturing from the integral to the Kolmogorov scales and yielding statistics up to sixth order. Over the inertial range, the scaling exponents of the velocity structure functions are found to differ not only between the longitudinal and transverse components, but also between the axial and radial directions of separation. At the dissipative scales, the moments of the velocity gradients indicate that departure from isotropy is, at the present Reynolds numbers, significant and more pronounced for stronger large-scale anisotropy. The generalized flatness factors of the longitudinal velocity differences tend towards isotropy as the separation is reduced from the inertial to the near-dissipative scales (down to about$10\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}$,$\unicode[STIX]{x1D702}$being the Kolmogorov length), but become more anisotropic for even smaller scales which are characterized by high intermittency. At the large scales, the direction of turbulence forcing is associated with a larger integral length, defined as the distance over which the velocity component in a given direction is spatially correlated. Because of anisotropy, the definition of the integral length is not trivial and may lead to dissimilar conclusions on the qualitative behaviour of the large scales and on the quantitative values of the normalized dissipation. Alternative definitions of these quantities are proposed to account for the anisotropy. Overall, these results highlight the importance of evaluating both the different velocity components and the different spatial directions across all scales of the flow.

Flow thresholds for leaf retention in hydrodynamic wakes downstream of obstacles

AbstractLeaves are the major component of terrestrial litter input into aquatic systems. Leaves are distributed by the flow, accumulate in low flow areas, and form patches. In natural streams, stable leaf patches form around complex structures, such as large woody debris. Until now, little is known about flow conditions under which leaf patches persist. This study aims to quantify flow conditions for stable leaf patches and entrainment of leaf patches. We hypothesize that entraining flow processes, such as turbulence, Reynolds stress, or lift forcing (vertical flow velocity), best explain local leaf retention. This study was performed in an unscaled flume experiment, which conditions coincide with conditions found in low‐energetic lowland streams. We positioned a wooden obstacle perpendicular to the flow on the bed of the flume. A leaf patch was positioned downstream from the wooden obstacle. The experiment was performed under 5 flow conditions. We monitored leaf patch cover and near‐bed flow conditions in the area downstream of the wooden obstacle. We showed that near‐bed flow velocities explain leaf retention better than more complex flow velocity derivatives such as turbulence, Reynolds stress, and vertical flow velocity. The entrainment near‐bed flow velocity for leaves ranges from 0.037 to 0.050 m/s. Flow velocities frequently exceed those values, even in low‐energetic lowland streams. Therefore, complex structures, such as woody debris, create flow conditions to support stable leaf patches. Thus, adding instead of removing obstacles may be a key strategy in restoring biodiversity in deteriorated streams.

A systematic search of sudden pressure drops on Gale crater during two Martian years derived from MSL/REMS data

The Mars Science Laboratory (MSL) rover carries a suite of meteorological detectors that constitute the Rover Environmental Monitoring Station (REMS) instrument. REMS investigates the meteorological conditions at Gale crater by obtaining high-frequency data of pressure, air and ground temperature, relative humidity, UV flux at the surface and wind intensity and direction with some limitations in the wind data. We have run a search of atmospheric pressure drops of short duration (< 25 s) and we present a statistical study of the frequency of these events in the REMS pressure data during its first 1417 sols (more than two Martian years). The identified daytime pressure drops could be caused by the close passages of warm vortices and dust devils. Previous systematic searches of warm vortices from REMS pressure data (Kahanpää et al., 2016; Steakley and Murphy, 2016) cover about one Martian year. We show that sudden pressure drops are twice more abundant in the second Martian year [sols 671–1339] than in the first one analyzed in previous works. The higher number of detections could be linked to a combination of different topography, higher altitudes (120 m above the landing site) and true inter-annual meteorological variability. We found 1129 events with a pressure drop larger than 0.5 Pa. Of these, 635 occurred during the local daytime (∼56%) and 494 were nocturnal. The most intense pressure drop (4.2 Pa) occurred at daytime on sol 1417 (areocentric solar longitude Ls = 195°) and was accompanied by a simultaneous decrease in the UV signal of 7.1%, pointing to a true dust devil. We also discuss similar but less intense simultaneous pressure and UV radiation drops that constitute 0.7% of all daytime events. Most of the intense daytime pressure drops with variations larger than 1.0 Pa occur when the difference between air and ground temperature is larger than 15 K. Statistically, the frequency of daytime pressure drops peaks close to noon (12:00–13:00 Local True Solar Time or LTST) with more events in spring and summer (Ls from 180° to 360°). The nocturnal sudden pressure drops concentrate in the 20:00–23:00 LTST time interval and they only occur in spring and summer. We interpret these nocturnal events as a consequence of local mechanically forced turbulence. This interpretation is consistent with published results from simulations with the MRAMS model (Rafkin et al., 2016) that predict a competition between local orographic circulation and global Hadley cell circulation at Gale crater at summer night-time that can enhance forced turbulence at the surface. Bursts of pressure drops appear on particular sols, especially at night-time. Most of the vortex bursts occurred when MSL was in the region called Pahrump Hills characterized by a complex terrain. A comparison of the daytime pressure drops from REMS data with published results from the Pathfinder and Phoenix missions shows that the frequency of daytime events at Gale crater in spring and summer is similar to the one previously found at other locations. Finally, we present possible correlations between MSL activity and some daytime pressure drops. If such an instrumental effect is present in the REMS data its impact in this analysis is small and would only affect about 7% of our detections.

CFD Simulation on the Hydrodynamics in Gas-Liquid Airlift Reactor

Abstract Two-fluid model approach to simulate gas-liquid airlift reactors is widely implemented but have yet to reach a consensus on the closure model to account the gas-liquid interphase forces. Proper selection of a closure model is required in order to accurately capture the hydrodynamics in the complex of the two-phase system. Our work concerns the evaluation of the interfacial forces models (i. e. drag, lift and turbulent dispersion force) and their effects on local gas holdup and liquid velocity. A transient three-dimensional airlift reactor simulation was carried out using computational fluid dynamics by implementing the dispersed standard k-ε turbulence model. Four drag models governed by spherical bubble, bubble deformation and Rayleigh-Taylor were being evaluated in our work. The significance on the inclusion of the lift model on predictive accuracy on the flow field was also studied as well. Whereas, two turbulent dispersion force models were selected to evaluate on their performance in improving the predictive accuracy of the local hydrodynamics. Results showed that the drag governed by Rayleigh-Taylor which accounts the bubble swarm effect had better predictions on the gas holdup in the downcomer and improved predictions in radial gas holdup. The inclusion of the lift model improved local gas holdup predictions at higher heights of the reactor and shifted the bubble plume towards the centre region of the riser. Meanwhile, the turbulent dispersion models improved the overall results of predicted local gas holdup with closer agreement obtained when the drift velocity model was considered in the simulation. The axial liquid velocity was well predicted for all cases. The consideration of the drag, lift and turbulent dispersion forces resulted in a closer agreement with experimental data.

Spinning basket membrane ultrafiltration of paper industry waste effluent: Experimental and theoretical aspects

This study explored the treatment of paper industry effluent using spinning basket membrane ultrafiltration. The effects of various MWCO of membranes (5, 10, 30 and 50kDa), transmembrane pressure drops (207–414kPa), rotational speeds (10.47–73.30rads−1) and retentate flow rate (1–4Lmin−1) on permeate flux and permeate quality were analyzed. The rotational speed induces turbulence and shear force on the active membrane surfaces reduces the deposition of rejected particles thereby increasing the permeate flux. 98% removal of chemical oxygen demand (COD) was achieved using 5kDa MWCO membrane with 52.31rads−1 rotational speed. Modified Hermia’s pore blocking mechanism helps to understand the solute particles clogging behavior for all types of membranes. Brownian, rotational and shear-induced diffusion models were applied to evaluate the theoretical flux behavior. Response surface methodology (RSM) has been studied to optimize the filtration process. Optimum permeate quality has been obtained when initial TMP drop, rotational speed, and retentate flow rate were 350.61kPa, 62.83rads−1, and 2Lmin−1, respectively.

The contribution of kinetic helicity to turbulent magnetic diffusivity

Using numerical simulations of forced turbulence with and without mean kinetic helicity, we show that for magnetic Reynolds numbers larger than unity, that is, beyond the regime of quasilinear theory, the turbulent magnetic diffusivity attains an additional negative contribution that is quadratic in the kinetic helicity. In particular, for large magnetic Reynolds numbers, the turbulent magnetic diffusivity without helicity is about twice the value with helicity. Such a contribution was not previously anticipated, but, as we discuss, it turns out to be important when accurate estimates of the turbulent magnetic diffusivity are needed.