Turbulent Vortex Research Articles

Machine learning-based optimization of a pitching airfoil performance in dynamic stall conditions using a suction controller

Flow separation control on oscillating airfoils is crucial for enhancing the efficiency of turbine blades. In this study, a genetic algorithm was employed to optimize the configuration of a pure suction jet actuator on an oscillating airfoil at a Reynolds number of 1.35×105. Neural networks based on multilayer perceptrons were used to train the aerodynamic coefficients as functions of the control parameters and reduce the number of simulations. The objective function was the mean performance coefficient, defined as the ratio of the average lift to the average drag during an oscillation period. The control parameters were location, velocity, opening length, and suction jet angle relative to the airfoil surface. The optimal jet had the maximum velocity and opening length and was normal to the airfoil surface. The optimal jet location was near the leading edge vortex (LEV) (between 3% and 6% of the chord). The optimum jet can increase the average performance coefficient (average ratio of lift to drag during a period) by about 24 times. The major part of this improvement is related to reducing drag force. The average lift coefficient increases from about 0.58 to about 0.92 using this jet, while the average drag coefficient decreases from about 0.23 to about 0.02. The optimal jet suppressed the dynamic stall vortex, which resulted from the combination of two clockwise vortices: LEV and turbulent separation vortex. Suppressing this vortex prevented the counterclockwise trailing edge vortex from growing at the end of the airfoil.

Hydrodynamic Characteristics of Strong, Unsteady Open-Channel Flow

Due to climate change, the intensity of extreme rainfall has been observed to increase with a shorter duration, causing flash floods (strong, unsteady flow) that lead to serious loss of life and economic damage all over the world. In this study, by repeating the same flume experiments twenty times over a bare bed or with a submerged vane installed, the hydrodynamic characteristics of a strong, unsteady open-channel flow were investigated. Acoustic Doppler velocimetry (ADV) was used to measure the instantaneous three-dimensional velocity, and the ensemble average method was then adopted to obtain the time-varying mean flow velocities. Reynolds decomposition was applied to disintegrate the instantaneous velocity to time-varying average velocity and fluctuating velocity. Turbulence characteristics such as turbulent intensity, turbulent bursting, and power spectral density (PSD) were analyzed against water depth variations. The results show that the loop pattern of the streamwise velocity against the water depth variations could significantly affect the turbulence characteristics of unsteady flow. Near the bed, the peaks of the turbulent intensity and the TKE lag behind the peak of the water depth. The PSD revealed that the turbulent energy increases at the rising and falling stages were due to the generation of small-scale turbulence vortices or eddies. As a submerged vane was present, the increase in the angle of attack caused the increase in the turbulent intensity and TKE, which means that the induced vortex became stronger and the wake region was larger. When the angle of attack was equal to 20°, the TKE abruptly enlarged in the falling stages, implying the breaking-up of the induced vortex. The PSD of the transverse fluctuation velocity showed multiple spikes at the high-frequency part, possibly denoting the shedding frequency from the induced vortex. Further downstream, behind the submerged vane, the peak frequencies of the PSD became imperceptible, likely because of the induced vortex decays or other factors such as the turbulence generated from the free surface or the channel bed mixing with the turbulence from the induced vortex.

Comparative Analysis of Swirl Burner and Cross Jet Burner in Terms of Efficiency and Environmental Performance

The article contains a comparative analysis of two types of burners used in different methods of fuel-air mixture preparation: (1) vortex mixing and (2) mixing with transverse jets. The analysis was carried out in order to determine which one of the two burning devices is more efficient and has better environmental performance. In device no. 1, conditions for the fuel-air mixture formation are created by vortex turbulence. The basic principle lying at the core of this design is a vortex flow inside, which provokes a more intense mixing of fuel and air. Moreover, preliminary physical and thermal treatment of the fuel-air mixture has a positive effect on its environmental performance. In contrast, in device no. 2 based on transverse jets’ active mixture formation is achieved through collision of air and fuel flows at an angle close to 90°. The research was based on an experiment carried out with the use of a laboratory firing stand. Flue gas samples were analyzed in order to compare the main harmful air emission indicators with TESTO 350-XL gas analyzer. A propane-butane mixture of 60% C3H8 (propane) and 40% C4H10 (butane) was used as the main fuel. Some indicators were determined after the experiment: measurement units conversion from “ppm” to “mg/m3,” excess air ratio α and equivalence ratio φ, flue gas concentrations recalculation taking oxygen into account, fuel calorific value, and heat release rate. The analysis results are as follows: (i) the swirl burner shows better performance in terms of nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions; there is a 1.75-fold difference in total NOx emissions compared to the cross jet burner; (ii) the burner on transverse jets is 10 times more efficient than the swirl burner in terms of carbon monoxide (CO) emissions.

Low-cost field particle image velocimetry for quantifying environmental turbulence

To date, there is a lack of in-situ turbulence data in natural aquatic systems. Adapting particle image velocimetry (PIV) to field use is of interest to provide such data. Past field PIV systems have been successful, but suffer from high costs, lack of portability, and flow disruption. We present a new field PIV system designed to address these limitations and capture turbulence metrics significant to aquatic biota: velocity, turbulent kinetic energy (TKE), vorticity, eddy size, and eddy circulation. Velocity measurements by the novel PIV system were compared to measurements by an acoustic doppler velocimeter (ADV) and an electromagnetic flowmeter for validation, and its results agreed with these other two methods. The PIV’s TKE results were compared to those of an ADV, and they agreed as well. Vorticity, eddy size, and eddy circulation were validated in the field through repeating past measurements. Each of these data sets generated by the novel PIV fell within the range of the validation measurements. The novel system thus provides accurate turbulence and velocity measurements; further, its design is low-cost, uses widely available materials, is minimally disruptive to the flow, and is highly portable and adjustable, offering an accessible method for acquiring meaningful field turbulence data.

Comparison of Separation Control Mechanisms for Synthetic Jet and Plasma Actuators

This study numerically investigated the mechanisms of separation control using a synthetic jet (SJ) and plasma actuator (PA) around an NACA0015 airfoil at the chord Reynolds number of 63,000. Both SJ and PA were installed on the leading edge with the same order of input momentum (Cμ=O(10−3–10−5)) and the same actuation frequencies in F+=1.0–30. The momentum coefficient Cμ is defined as the normalized momentum introduced from the SJ or the PA, and F+ stands for the actuation frequency normalized by the chord length and uniform velocity. A number of large-eddy simulations (LES) were conducted for the SJ and the PA, and the mechanisms were clarified in terms of the exchange of chordwise momentum with Reynolds shear stress and coherent vortex structures. First, four main differences in the induced flows of the SJ and the PA were clarified as follows: (A) wall-tangential velocity; (B) three-dimensional flow structures; (C) spatial locality; and (D) temporal fluctuation. Then, a common feature of flow control by the SJ and the PA was revealed: a lift-to-drag ratio was found to be better recovered in F+=6.0–20 than in other frequencies. Although there were differences in the induced flows, the phase decomposition of the flow fields identified common mechanisms that the turbulent component of the Reynolds shear stress mainly contributes to the exchange of the chordwise (streamwise) momentum; and the turbulent vortices are convected over the airfoil surface by the coherent spanwise vortices in the frequency of F+.

Comprehensive investigations on flow field in liquid-solid mini-fluidized beds

The Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) technology was adopted to study the expansion ratio, solid holdup, minimum fluidization velocity, velocity field, turbulent kinetic energy, vortex structure and particle velocity of liquid-solid mini-fluidized beds with bed diameter of 1–3 mm. Due to the wall effect caused by the decrease of bed diameter, the axial velocity at the central axis was 1.68–1.93 times of that near the wall. Both liquid and particle phases had tendency to move toward the central axis of bed. When the liquid velocity gradually increased, the turbulence phenomenon appeared in the liquid-solid mini-fluidized bed. Regarding particles, their axial velocity was mainly influenced by the superficial liquid velocity, while the radial velocity was predominantly by vortices and friction between particles. In this study, the overall movement of flow field was comprehensively obtained, which provided a certain theoretical reference for the design of the liquid-solid mini-fluidized bed reactors.

IMPACT OF SOLID BOUNDARIES AND VISCOSITY OF THE MEDIUM ON THE CONTRIBUTION OF THE INERTIAL AND VORTEX COMPONENTS OF THE NORMAL FORCE OF A ROTATING PLATE. PART 1

Within the framework of the improved method of discrete vortices, generalized for viscous media, a method was developed for determining the contribution of forces of inertial, vortex and circulation nature to the normal force of a plate moving in a stationary viscous boundless medium according to an arbitrary law, in the presence of a wall and in a channel. The developed method was tested for the case of instantaneous angular start of the plate and subsequent constant angular speed of rotation (Wagner's problem) in a viscous boundless medium, in the presence of a wall and in a channel, in laminar and turbulent modes. The inertial-vortical nature of the normal force of the plate (with the dominance of inertial forces) was confirmed, which rotates after an instantaneous start with the separation of the flow from both its edges, regardless of the presence of solid boundaries and laminar or turbulent flow regimes. It has been clarified, that in the case of the laminar regime, the influence of the presence of the wall on the reduced inertial component of the normal force of the plate is insignificant, but the influence of the channel leads to a faster departure of the laminar vortex from the front edge of the plate, which leads to a gradual increase in the contribution of the inertial component of the normal force of the plate up to 100% and more at the end of rotation plates. Approximately the same happens in the case of the absence of solid boundaries, when a turbulent vortex of a larger size and intensity than the corresponding laminar one moves away from the leading edge of the plate.

A study on the cavitation vortex dynamics and loads of water-exiting axisymmetric projectile

This paper analyzes the cavitation vortex dynamics and load characteristics of projectiles launched underwater at different angles of attack. The results show that as the velocity of the projectile decreases during the underwater cruising stage and the cavitation number continuously increases, the cavity begins to shed. This phenomenon occurs because of the development of a re-entrant jet at the end of the cavity. As the angle of attack (0°–8°) increases, the cavity asymmetry is strengthened and the scale of the cavity shedding increases. The cavity prevents the generation of hairpin vortex packages. This phenomenon is more pronounced in cavities with a larger angle of attack. As the angle of attack increases (4°–8°), the turbulent vortex structures of the wall and free wake are further developed and enriched. The vortex legs of wall hairpin vortices are significantly elongated at large angles of attack, which may be the result of the combined effect of the cavity and transition area. During the water-exiting stage, the collapse of isolated vacuoles generated by the cavitation flow generates a significant collapse load. The collapse position undergoes at least two pressure pulsation peaks or increases, with the first peak or increase occurring during the initial underwater cruising stage.

The Sensitivity of Large Eddy Simulations to Grid Resolution in Tropical Cyclone High Wind Area Applications

The question of at what resolution the large eddy simulations (LESs) of a tropical cyclone (TC) high wind area may converge largely remains unanswered. To address this issue, LESs with five resolutions of 300 m, 100 m, 60 m, 33 m, and 20 m are performed in this study to simulate a high wind area near the radius of maximum wind of Typhoon Chanthu (2021) using the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. The results show that, for a limited area LES, model grid resolution may alter the local turbulence structure to generate significantly different extreme values of temperature, moisture, and winds, but it only has a marginal impact on the median values of these variables throughout the vertical column. All simulations are able to capture the turbulent roll vortices in the TC boundary layer, but the structure and intensity of the rolls vary substantially in different resolution simulations. Local hectometer-scale eddies with vertical velocities exceeding 10 m s−1 are only observed in the 20 m resolution simulation but not in the coarser resolution simulations. The ratio of the resolved turbulent momentum fluxes and turbulent kinetic energies (TKEs) to the total momentum fluxes and TKEs appears to show some convergence of LESs when the grid resolution reaches 100 m or finer, suggesting that it is an acceptable grid resolution for LES applications in TC simulations.

Application of triangular duct in solar-assisted air-heating system with surface roughness: a numerical investigation.

The device called solar air heater (SAH) is used to collect and transfer solar-thermal energy to air that can further be used for space heating, drying, etc. The conventional air heater (solar-assisted) has poor performance, and with this work, an attempt has been made to improve its performance by providing surface roughness over the heated surface. The roughness employed over the surface has an elliptical cavity, and its distribution over the heated surface is defined with the three parameters (dimensionless): relative flow-wise distance (ranging from 6 to 14), relative cavity depth (ranging from 0.016 to 0.038), and relative crosswise distance (ranging from 6 to 14). A CFD code has been developed and validated with experimentation to do the parametric study for understanding the effect of the proposed surface roughness on the performance of the air heater. It is concluded that the proposed surface roughness promotes the local turbulence, flow separation, and strong vortices in the flow field resulting in comparatively higher thermal performance in the proposed air heater. But this higher thermal performance is achieved at the expense of higher-pressure loss in the passage. A substantial change in heat augmentation by 2.57 times (with 2.3 times higher pressure loss) which results in 1.75 times higher thermo-hydraulic performance has been noticed over conventional designs at a relative flow-wise distance of 10, relative cavity depth 0.038, and relative crosswise distance of 10.

Material Transport and Flow Pattern Characteristics of Gas–Liquid–Solid Mixed Flows

Flow pattern monitoring of gas–liquid–solid mixed flow has great significance to enhance the quality and efficiency of material mixing, and the material transport mechanism and dynamic control strategy are faced with significant challenges. To solve these problems, a computational fluid mechanics and discrete element method (CFD-DEM) coupling modeling and solving approach based on soft sphere and porous models is presented to explore material transport mechanisms. The user-defined function (UDF) is adopted to perform data communication, and the porosity of the porous model is calculated to achieve the bidirectional calculation of Eulerian fluid and Lagrange particle phases. Material transport processes of gas–liquid–solid mixed flows are discussed to explore material transport mechanisms of particle flow and the flow pattern evolution laws under the inflation control are obtained. The results show that the particles are not evenly distributed under the synergistic action of impeller rotation and inflation. The particles in the upper and lower impeller have similar characteristics along the radial direction, and there is an aggregation phenomenon in the impeller center. A certain degree of inflation enhances the macroscopic mixing process of turbulent vortices, promotes the particle suspension effect inside the container, and improves the material transport efficiency inside the mixing space. Relevant research results can provide theoretical references for the material transport mechanism, flow pattern tracking models, and energy transfer and can also provide technical support for chemical process separation, food processing, battery homogenate mixing, and other production processes.

First electrochemical Couette-Taylor reactor for studying the influence of transport phenomena on electrochemical kinetics

This study presents the first electrochemical Couette-Taylor reactor (eCTR). It was implemented with 20 large electrodes exposed to the same hydrodynamics from Taylor numbers (Ta) of 144 to 28,800. The limiting currents (IL) recorded with hexacyanoferrate (III/II) at different concentrations and at different Ta were used to calculate the Nernst diffusive layer thickness (δN, ranged from 14.6 to 423 µm). Two hydrodynamic regimes were identified: the wavy (Ta from 144 to 1,440) and the turbulent (Ta > 2,200) vortex flows which corresponded to the correlations δN∝Ta-0.44 and δN∝Ta-0.70, respectively. The second correlation confirmed the theoretical equation established by Gabe & Robinson for turbulent flow. In contrast, the wavy vortex flow cannot be approached by the laminar or turbulent hypothesis. Dimensionless correlations gave comparable results between the eCTR and rotating cylinder electrodes under turbulent vortex flow and confirmed the specific behavior of the Couette-Taylor wavy vortex flow.

The influence of different runner widths on the performance of micro Pelton turbine

Pelton turbine can not only utilize the high head hydraulic resources but also recover the flow kinetic energy in the pipeline. It is more and more widely used. Thus, the research on improving the efficiency and performance of Pelton turbine is important. In this paper, Boltzmann method is used to study the influence of different runner widths on the performance of a micro Pelton turbine. And two micro Pelton turbines with runner widths of 25mm and 20mm are taken as the research object. Then turbine efficiency is calculated and the internal flow characteristics of micro Pelton turbine are analyzed. The results show that the runner width has obvious influence on the efficiency. When the runner width decreases from 25mm to 20mm, the turbine efficiency decreases by 1.16%. Besides, the turbulence area in the runner decreases, and the velocity decreases. But the turbulence intensity and vorticity in the runner is enhanced, which causes more serious hydraulic loss.

Effect of vanes on vortex characteristics of a vortex ventilation system

A modified local ventilation system using vortex flows with vanes is proposed to enhance ventilation performance. The effect of the vanes on the stability of vortex generation, its structure, and ventilation performance was experimentally investigated using particle image velocimetry measurements. The mean velocity vectors and vorticity contours with and without vanes were compared for Qex = 0.129 m3/s at Vs = 1.73 m/s to investigate the effect of vanes on the vortex characteristics. The flow structures, including the mean velocity field and vortex core size, were very similar with and without the vanes. However, distinct differences were found in the vortex characteristics related to vortex stability, including turbulent kinetic energy, circulation, swirl ratio, and vortex center distances. The normalized turbulent kinetic energy with vanes was observed to be relatively low in the core region. When the vanes were attached, the value of the circulation over the core region increased from 0.151 to 0.155; furthermore, Sc/Sin also increased by 3%. The results indicate that the vortex stability improved after installing the vanes. The concentration of particulate matter was measured to quantify the improvement in the performance of the vortex ventilation system. The improvement was evaluated by the increasing ventilation rate of up to 5.5% with vanes, which is attributed to the increase in vortex strength and stability. The results can be utilized as basic information to design vortex ventilation systems for large-scale factories.

Effects of wavelength on vortex structure and turbulence kinetic energy transfer of flow over undulated cylinders

Effects of wavelength on vortex structure and turbulence kinetic energy transfer of flow over undulated cylinders

Investigation of Fractal Characteristics of Karman Vortex for NACA0009 Hydrofoil

A Karman vortex is a phenomenon of fluid flow that can cause fluctuation and vibration. As a result, it leads to fatigue damage to structures and induces safety accidents. Therefore, the analysis of the shedding law and strength of the Karman vortex is significant. To further understand the laws of turbulent Karman vortex shedding and strength, this study conducts a numerical vorticity simulation of a Karman vortex at the trailing edge of a hydrofoil based on the two-dimensional simplified model of the NACA0009 hydrofoil under different Reynolds numbers. Combined with image segmentation technology, the fractal characteristics of a turbulent Karman vortex at the trailing edge of a hydrofoil are extracted, the number and total area of vortex cores are calculated, and the fractal dimension of the vortex is obtained. The results show that the fractal dimension can characterize the change in vortex shape and strength under different Reynolds numbers, and that the fractal analysis method is feasible and effective for the shedding analysis of a turbulent Karman vortex.

Rotation effects on turbulence features of viscoelastic spanwise-rotating plane Couette flows

Rotation effects on turbulence features have been examined in viscoelastic spanwise-rotating plane Couette flows (RPCF) at the Reynolds number Re = 1300 and the Weissenberg number Wi = 5, by using of direct numerical simulations for the rotation number Ro=0.02–0.9. Here, Re represents the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces, and Wi and Ro quantify the strength of fluid elasticity and system rotation, respectively. Based on the detailed examinations of the turbulent kinetic energy and Reynolds stress budgets as well as vortical structures, the viscoelastic RPCF can be classified roughly into three regimes: weak rotation for Ro≤0.1, intermediate rotation for 0.1<Ro<0.4, and strong rotation for Ro≥0.4. Essentially, the comprehensive rotation effects are inherent to the rotation-driven vortical change characterized by an enhancement as Ro is changed from weak to intermediate rotation and a followed suppression at the elasto-inertial turbulence (EIT) state of strong rotation. Specifically, the turbulent kinetic energy and Reynolds stress at Ro = 0.9 are found less than 10% of those at Ro = 0.2. Of particular interest, at weak and intermediate rotation, intense polymer–turbulence interaction is found to occur primarily in the extensional flows between two neighboring roll cells, whereas for the high-Ro EIT state, it happens in the bulk region as the small-scale turbulent vortices serve to homogenize the polymer dynamics via their vortical circulations. The present finding has shed some new light onto the polymer–turbulence interaction under system rotation.

Flow instability and momentum exchange in separation control by a synthetic jet

This study investigates a mechanism for controlling separated flows around an airfoil using a synthetic jet (SJ). A large-eddy simulation (LES) was performed for a leading-edge separation flow around an airfoil at the chord Reynolds number of 63 000 and the angle of attack of 12°. The present LES resolves a turbulent structure inside a deforming SJ cavity with a deforming grid. An optimal actuation-frequency band is identified between the normalized frequencies of F+=6.0 and 20, which suppresses the separation and drastically improves the lift-to-drag ratio. In the controlled flows, the laminar separation bubble near the leading edge periodically releases multiple spanwise-uniform vortex structures, which diffuse and merge to generate a single coherent vortex in the period of F+. Such a coherent vortex plays a significant role in exchanging a chordwise momentum between a near-wall surface and the freestream away from the wall. It also entrains smaller turbulent vortices and eventually enhances the turbulent component of the Reynolds stress throughout the suction surface. Linear stability theory (LST) was subsequently compared with the LES result, which clarifies the applicability of the LST to the controlled flows. In the optimal F+ regime, both linear and nonlinear modes are excited in a well-balanced manner, where the first mode is associated with the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability and contributes to a quick and smooth turbulent transition, while the second mode shows a frequency lower than that of the linear mode and encourages a formation of the coherent vortex structure that eventually entrains smaller turbulent vortices.

Sign-changing bubble tower solutions for sinh-Poisson type equations on pierced domains

For asymmetric sinh-Poisson type problems with Dirichlet boundary condition arising as a mean field equation of equilibrium turbulence vortices with variable intensities of interest in hydrodynamic turbulence, we address the existence of sign-changing bubble tower solutions on a pierced domain Ωϵ:=Ω∖B(ξ,ϵ)‾, where Ω is a smooth bounded domain in R2 and B(ξ,ϵ) is a ball centered at ξ∈Ω with radius ϵ>0. Precisely, given a small parameter ρ>0 and any integer m≥2, there exist a radius ϵ=ϵ(ρ)>0 small enough such that each sinh-Poisson type equation, either in Liouville form or mean field form, has a solution uρ with an asymptotic profile as a sign-changing tower of m singular Liouville bubbles centered at the same ξ and with ϵ(ρ)→0+ as ρ approaches to zero.

The response of small-scale shear layers to perturbations in turbulence

The perturbation response of small-scale shear layers in turbulence is investigated with direct numerical simulations (DNS). The analysis of shear layers in isotropic turbulence suggests that the typical layer thickness is about four times the Kolmogorov scale $\eta$ . Response for sinusoidal perturbations is investigated for an isolated shear layer, which models a mean flow around the shear layers in turbulence. The vortex formation in the shear layer is optimally promoted by the perturbation whose wavelength divided by the layer thickness is about 7. These results indicate that the small-scale shear instability in turbulence is efficiently promoted by velocity fluctuations with a wavelength of about $30\eta$ . Furthermore, DNS are carried out for decaying turbulence initialised by the artificially modified velocity field of isotropic turbulence. The vortex formation from shear layers is accelerated under the influence of external perturbations with the efficient wavelength to promote the instability. When velocity fluctuations with this wavelength are eliminated by a band-cut filter, the shear layers tend to persist for a long time without producing vortices. These behaviours affect the number of vortices in turbulence, which increases and decreases when velocity perturbations with the unstable wavelength of the instability are artificially amplified and damped, respectively. The increase in the number of vortices results in the enhancement of kinetic energy dissipation, enstrophy production and strain self-amplification. These results indicate that the perturbation response of shear layers is important in the small-scale dynamics of turbulence as well as the modulation of small-scale turbulent motions by external disturbance.