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Article
Publication date: 4 January 2016

Yangbo Deng and Fengmin Su

– The purpose of this paper is to study the combustion and emission characteristics of an improved trapped vortex combustor (TVC).

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the combustion and emission characteristics of an improved trapped vortex combustor (TVC).

Design/methodology/approach

An experiment is carried out to study the effect of the bluff bodies’ layout on the flow of the improved TVC. Results confirm that an equation achieving the proper cavity size of a TVC can be used to design the reasonable configuration of the improved TVC. A numerical simulation is used to study the flow, combustion and emission characteristics of the improved TVC.

Findings

The flow resistance, the vortex configuration, the combustion efficiency and the emissions of the improved TVC are influenced by the equivalence ratio of the main flow, the position and the flow injection angle in the cavity.

Research limitations/implications

The investigation on the lean-premixed combustion of the improved TVC will provide a theory basis for the design of the improved TVC.

Practical implications

The improved TVC will be used in the gas turbines burning synfuels. There are the implications which offer an opportunity to avoid use of diluent gas to reduce the flame temperatures of the combustion in the gas turbines burning synfuels.

Originality/value

The improved TVC with the reasonable layout of the bluff bodies provides a method implementing lean-premixed combustion in the gas turbines burning synfuels.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, vol. 88 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 October 2015

Siti Ruhliah Lizarose Samion, Mohamed Sukri Mat Ali and Aminudin Abu

This paper aims to investigate the aerodynamic sound generated from flow over bluff bodies at a high Reynolds number. By taking circular and square cylinders as two representative…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the aerodynamic sound generated from flow over bluff bodies at a high Reynolds number. By taking circular and square cylinders as two representative geometries for the cross-section of bluff bodies, this study aims to clarify the difference in flow formation and sound generation between the two types of bluff bodies. Furthermore, the possibility for a downstream flat plate to be used as sound cancellation passive mechanism is also discussed in this study.

Design/methodology/approach

Sound source from the near field is numerically solved by using the Unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier Stokes equations. While for the sound at far-field, the compact sound theory of Curle’s analogy is used.

Findings

Magnitude of the generated sound is dominant by the aerodynamic forcer fluctuations, i.e. lift and drag, where the lift fluctuation gives the strongest influence on the sound generation. The square cylinder emits 4.7 dB higher than the sound emitted from flow over the circular cylinder. This relates to the longer vortex formation length for the case of square cylinder that provides space for more vortex to dissipate. It is suggested that downstream flat plate is possible to be applied for a sound cancellation mechanism for the case of circular cylinder, but it would be more challenging for the case of square cylinder.

Practical implications

This study include implications for the development of noise reduction study especially in high-speed vehicles such as the aircrafts and high-speed trains.

Originality/value

This study identified that there is possible method for sound cancellation in flow over bluff body cases by using passive control method, even in flow at high Reynolds number.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology: An International Journal, vol. 87 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0002-2667

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1999

P. Koutmos, C. Mavridis and D. Papailiou

A two dimensional time‐dependent Navier Stokes formulation that encompasses aspects from both the LES formalism and the conventional k‐ε approaches was employed to calculate a…

Abstract

A two dimensional time‐dependent Navier Stokes formulation that encompasses aspects from both the LES formalism and the conventional k‐ε approaches was employed to calculate a range of reacting bluff‐body flows exhibiting high or low level large scale structure activity. Extensive regions of local flame extinction found in these bluff‐body flame configurations were treated with a partial equilibrium/two‐scalar exponential PDF combustion submodel combined with a local extinction criterion based on a comparison of the turbulent Damkohler number against the ratio of the scalar scale to the reaction zone thickness. A dual‐mode description, burning/ non‐burning, of combustion provided the local gas state. Comparisons between calculations and measurements indicated the ability of the method to capture all the experimentally observed variations in the momentum and reactive scalar mixing fields over a range of operating conditions from the lean to the rich blow‐out limit.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 11 October 2021

Guangyuan Huang, Ka Him Seid, Zhigang Yang and Randolph Chi Kin Leung

For flow around elongated bluff bodies, flow separations would occur over both leading and trailing edges. Interactions between these two separations can be established through…

Abstract

Purpose

For flow around elongated bluff bodies, flow separations would occur over both leading and trailing edges. Interactions between these two separations can be established through acoustic perturbation. In this paper, the flow and the acoustic fields of a D-shaped bluff body (length-to-height ratio L/H = 3.64) are investigated at height-based Reynolds number Re = 23,000 by experimental and numerical methods. The purpose of this paper is to study the acoustic feedback in the interaction of these two separated flows.

Design/methodology/approach

The flow field is measured by particle image velocimetry, hotwire velocimetry and surface oil flow visualization. The acoustic field is modeled in two dimensions by direct aeroacoustic simulation, which solves the compressible Navier–Stokes equations. The simulation is validated against the experimental results.

Findings

Separations occur at both the leading and the trailing edges. The leading-edge separation point and the reattaching flow oscillate in accordance with the trailing-edge vortex shedding. Significant pressure waves are generated at the trailing edge by the vortex shedding rather than the leading-edge vortices. Pressure-based cross-correlation analysis is conducted to clarify the effect of the pressure waves on the leading-edge flow structures.

Practical implications

The understanding of interactions of separated flows over elongated bluff bodies helps to predict aerodynamic drag, structural vibration and noise in engineering applications, such as the aerodynamics of buildings, bridges and road vehicles.

Originality/value

This paper clarifies the influence of acoustic perturbations in the interaction of separated flows over a D-shaped bluff body. The contribution of the leading- and the trailing-edge vortex in generating acoustic perturbations is investigated as well.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 32 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 February 2017

Alain Fossi and Alain DeChamplain

Safety improvement and pollutant reduction in many practical combustion systems and especially in aero-gas turbine engines require an adequate understanding of flame ignition and…

Abstract

Purpose

Safety improvement and pollutant reduction in many practical combustion systems and especially in aero-gas turbine engines require an adequate understanding of flame ignition and stabilization mechanisms. Improved software and hardware have opened up greater possibilities for translating basic knowledge and the results of experiments into better designs. The present study deals with the large eddy simulation (LES) of an ignition sequence in a conical shaped bluff-body stabilized burner involving a turbulent non-premixed flame. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of spark location on ignition success. Particular attention is paid to the ease of handling of the numerical tool, the computational cost and the accuracy of the results.

Design/methodology/approach

The discrete particle ignition kernel (DPIK) model is used to capture the ignition kernel dynamics in its early stage of growth after the breakdown period. The ignition model is coupled with two combustion models based on the mixture fraction-progress variable formulation. An infinitely fast chemistry assumption is first done, and the turbulent fluctuations of the progress variable are captured with a bimodal probability density function (PDF) in the line of the Bray–Moss–Libby (BML) model. Thereafter, a finite rate chemistry assumption is considered through the flamelet-generated manifold (FGM) method. In these two assumptions, the classical beta-PDF is used to model the temporal fluctuations of the mixture fraction in the turbulent flow. To model subgrid scale stresses and residual scalars fluxes, the wall-adapting local eddy (WALE) and the eddy diffusivity models are, respectively, used under the low-Mach number assumption.

Findings

Numerical results of velocity and mixing fields, as well as the ignition sequences, are validated through a comparison with their experimental counterparts. It is found that by coupling the DPIK model with each of the two combustion models implemented in a LES-based solver, the ignition event is reasonably predicted with further improvements provided by the finite rate chemistry assumption. Finally, the spark locations most likely to lead to a complete ignition of the burner are found to be around the shear layer delimiting the central recirculation zone, owing to the presence of a mixture within flammability limits.

Research limitations/implications

Some discrepancies are found in the radial profiles of the radial velocity and consequently in those of the mixture fraction, owing to a mismatch of the radial velocity at the inlet section of the computational domain. Also, unlike FGM methods, the BML model predicts the overall ignition earlier than suggested by the experiment; this may be related to the overestimation of the reaction rate, especially in the zones such as flame holder wakes which feature high strain rate due to fuel-air mixing.

Practical implications

This work is adding a contribution for ignition modeling, which is a crucial issue in various combustion systems and especially in aircraft engines. The exclusive use of a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code widely used by combustion system manufacturers allows a direct application of this simulation approach to other configurations while keeping computing costs at an affordable level.

Originality/value

This study provides a robust and simple way to address some ignition issues in various spark ignition-based engines, namely, the optimization of engines ignition with affordable computational costs. Based on the promising results obtained in the current work, it would be relevant to extend this simulation approach to spray combustion that is required for aircraft engines because of storage volume constraints. From this standpoint, the simulation approach formulated in the present work is useful to engineers interested in optimizing the engines ignition at the design stage.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 27 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 4 September 2018

Ehsan Adeeb, Basharat Ali Haider and Chang Hyun Sohn

The purpose of this study is to numerically investigate the influence of corner radius on the flow around two square cylinders in tandem arrangements at a Reynolds number of 100.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to numerically investigate the influence of corner radius on the flow around two square cylinders in tandem arrangements at a Reynolds number of 100.

Design/methodology/approach

Six models of square cylinders with corner radii R/D = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4 and 0.5 (where R denotes the corner radius and D denotes the characteristic dimension of the body) were studied using an immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method, and the results were compared with those obtained using a two-dimensional unsteady finite volume method. The cylinders were mounted in a tandem configuration (1.5 ≤ L/D ≤ 10 where L denotes the in-line separation between the cylinder centers). The simulated models were quantitatively compared to the aerodynamic force coefficients and Strouhal number. Furthermore, qualitative analysis is presented in the form of flow streamlines and vorticity contours.

Findings

The R/D and L/D values were varied to observe the variation in the flow characteristics in the gap and wake regions. The numerical results revealed two different regimes over the spacing range. The drag force on the downstream cylinder was negative for all corner radii values when the cylinders were placed at L/D = 3.0 (a single-body system). Subsequently, a sudden increase was observed in the aerodynamic forces (drag and lift) when L/D increased. A different gap value was identified in the transformation from a single-body to a two-body system for different corner radii. To verify the single-body system, a simulation was carried out with a single cylinder having a longitudinal geometric dimension equal to the tandem arrangement (L/D + D). Furthermore, in a single-body regime, the total drag of a tandem cylinder was less than that of a single cylinder, thus demonstrating the benefits of using tandem structures. A significant reduction in the aerodynamic forces and drag force was achieved by rounding the sharp corners and placing the cylinders in close proximity. An appropriate configuration of the tandem cylinders with a rounded corner of R/D = 0.4 and 0.5 at L/D = 3.0 and the range is enhanced to L/D = 4.0 for 0.0 ≤ R/D < 0.4 to achieve adequate drag reduction.

Originality/value

To the best of the author’s knowledge, there is a paucity of studies examining the effect of corner radius on bluff bodies arranged in a tandem configuration.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 28 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 26 August 2014

Immanuvel Paul, K. Arul Prakash and S. Vengadesan

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of Angle of Attack (AOA), Axis Ratio (AR) and Reynolds number (Re) on unsteady laminar flow over a stationary elliptic cylinder…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of Angle of Attack (AOA), Axis Ratio (AR) and Reynolds number (Re) on unsteady laminar flow over a stationary elliptic cylinder.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing equations of fluid flow over the elliptic cylinder are solved numerically on a Cartesian grid using Projection method based Immersed Boundary technique. This numerical method is validated with the results available in open literature. This scheme eliminates the requirement of generating a new computational mesh upon varying any geometrical parameter such as AR or AOA, and thus reduces the computational time and cost.

Findings

Different vortex shedding patterns behind the elliptic cylinder are identified and classified using time averaged centerline streamwise velocity profile, instantaneous vorticity contours and instantaneous streamline patterns. A parameter space graph is constructed in order to reveal the dependence of AR, AOA and Re on vortex shedding. Integral parameters of flow such as mean drag, mean lift coefficients and Strouhal number are calculated and the effect of AR, AOA and Re on them is studied using various pressure and streamline contours. Functional relationships of each of integral parameters with respect to AR, AOA and Re are proposed with minimum percentage error.

Practical implications

The results obtained can be used to explain the characteristics of flow patterns behind slender to bluff elliptical cylinders which found applications in insect flight modeling, heat exchangers and energy conservation systems. The proposed functional relationships may be very useful for the practicing engineers in those fields.

Originality/value

The results presented in this paper are important for the researchers in the area of bluff body flow. The dependence of AOA on vortex shedding and flow parameters was never reported in the literature. These results are original, new and important.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 24 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2006

V. Ramesh, S. Vengadesan and J.L. Narasimhan

To perform 3D unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier‐Stokes (URANS) simulations to predict turbulent flow over bluff body.

1319

Abstract

Purpose

To perform 3D unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier‐Stokes (URANS) simulations to predict turbulent flow over bluff body.

Design/methodology/approach

Turbulence closure is achieved through a non‐linear kε model. This model is incorporated in commercial FLUENT software, through user defined functions (UDF).

Findings

The study shows that the present URANS with standard wall functions predicts all the major unsteady phenomena, with a good improvement over other URANS reported so far, which incorporate linear eddy viscosity models. The results are also comparable with those obtained by LES for the same test case.

Originality/value

When comparing the computational time required by the present model and by LES, the accuracy achieved is significant and can be used for simulating 3D unsteady complex engineering flows with reasonable success.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 16 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 November 2021

Mir Elyad Vakhshouri and Burhan Çuhadaroğlu

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of uniform injection and suction through a perforated pentagonal cylinder on the flow field and heat transfer.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effects of uniform injection and suction through a perforated pentagonal cylinder on the flow field and heat transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

The finite-volume method has been used to solve the ensemble-averaged Navier-Stokes equations for incompressible flow at moderate Reynolds number (Re = 22,000) with the k-ɛ turbulence model equations.

Findings

A computational fluid dynamics analysis of turbulent flow past a non-regular pentagonal cylinder with three different aspect ratios aspect ratios has been carried out to investigate the effects of uniform injection/suction through the front and all surfaces of the cylinder. It is found that flow field parameters such as drag coefficient, pressure coefficient and Nusselt number are affected considerably in some cases depend on injection/suction rate (Γ) and perforated wall position.

Research limitations/implications

To optimize the efficiency of the injection and suction through a perforated surface, both wide-ranging and intensive further studies are required. Using various perforation ratios and injection/suction intensities are some possibilities.

Practical implications

Control of the vortex shedding and wake region behind bluff bodies is of vital interest in fluid dynamics. Therefore, applying uniform injection and suction from a perforated bluff body into the main flow can be used as a drag reduction mechanism, thermal protection and heat transfer enhancement.

Originality/value

This study provides unique insights into the active flow control method around pentagonal cylinders that can be useful for researchers in the field of fluid dynamics and aeronautics.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 32 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 12 June 2009

Burhan Çuhadaroğlu

This paper aims to predict the effects of uniform injection or suction through a porous square cylinder on the flow field and on some aerodynamic parameters.

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to predict the effects of uniform injection or suction through a porous square cylinder on the flow field and on some aerodynamic parameters.

Design/methodology/approach

The finite volume method has been used for solving the ensemble averaged Navier–Stokes equations for incompressible flow in conjunction with the k‐ ε turbulence model equations including the Kato and Launder modification.

Findings

The parameters taken into account are injection or suction velocity, position of injection and suction surface, drag and lift coefficients and Strouhal number. The numerical results show that increasing suction velocity decreases the drag coefficient for all the suction configurations considered in the present study, except that of suction through rear surface. The vortex‐shedding motion gets weak by the suction application through top and bottom surfaces.

Research limitations/implications

The problem is restricted with a 2‐D simple geometry such as square cylinder due to the limited computer capability. Further extensions of the present study could include the more complex configurations and some other aspects such as heat transfer between porous cylinder and main flow.

Practical implications

The injection or suction application through a porous bluff body can be used as an efficient drag and vortex control method in aerodynamics.

Originality/value

This paper describes an attempt to simulate numerically the flow around square cylinder with uniform injection and suction in a manner different from what is given in the literature.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 19 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

1 – 10 of 164