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Article
Publication date: 9 January 2009

A. Saario and A. Oksanen

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of a computational grid in computational fluid dynamics‐based mathematical modeling, focusing on but not limiting the attention to…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to study the effect of a computational grid in computational fluid dynamics‐based mathematical modeling, focusing on but not limiting the attention to industrial‐scale boilers.

Design/methodology/approach

A full boiler model is used to show the difficulties related to judging iteration and discretization errors in boiler modeling. Then, a single jet is studied in detail to determine the proper degree of local grid refinement required in the vicinity of jets in the full boiler model. Both a nonreactive axisymmetric jet exhausting into a quiescent atmosphere and a reactive jet exhausting into a crossfiow are studied.

Findings

Over two million computational cells are required for the grid‐independent solution for a single jet. Local grid refinement is shown to be a good option for improving the results consistently without an excessive increase in the number of computational cells. Using relatively coarse grids of tetrahedral cells with a finite‐volume‐based solver may cause serious errors in results, typically by overpredicting the jet spreading rate and underpredicting the mean axial centerline velocity. Relatively coarse grids of hexahedral cells are less prone to error in a case where a jet exhausts into a quiescent atmosphere. However, their performance deteriorates when a crossfiow is introduced. As assumed, the differences in the predicted reaction rate and species concentrations are significant in the reactive case. It is confirmed that the standard kε model tends to overpredict the axisymmetric jet spreading rate. The estimated inlet turbulence intensity is not among the most critical factors in modeling. Estimations of the axisymmetric jet centerline velocity from the analytical correlation may not coincide with the modeling results.

Practical implications

The error caused by the computational grid may easily dominate the errors caused by simplifying models used in industrial‐scale boiler modeling (turbulence, combustion, radiative heat transfer, etc.).

Originality/value

The present study deals with grid independency issues in industrial‐scale boiler modeling in a systematic and profound manner.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 19 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 March 2016

WenRuo Zhu, ZhongXin Gao, YongJun Tang, JianGuang Zhang and Li Lu

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the ability of turbulence models to model the flow field in the runner of a Francis turbine. Although the complex flow in the turbine can…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to analyze the ability of turbulence models to model the flow field in the runner of a Francis turbine. Although the complex flow in the turbine can be simulated by CFD models, the prediction accuracy still needs to be improved. The choice of the turbulence model is one key tool that affects the prediction accuracy of numerical simulations.

Design/methodology/approach

This study used the SST k-w and RNG k-e turbulence models, which can both accurately predict complex flow fields in numerical simulations, to simulate the flow in the entire flow passage of a Francis turbine with the results compared against experimental data for the performance and blade pressure distribution in the turbine to evaluate the applicability of the turbulence models.

Findings

The results show that the SST k-w turbulence model more accurately predicts the turbine performance than the RNG turbulence model. However, the blade surface pressures predicted by the SST k-w turbulence model were basically identical to those predicted by the RNG k-e turbulence model, with both accurately predicting the experimental data.

Research limitations/implications

Due to the lack of space, the method used to measure the blade surface pressure distributions is not introduced in this paper.

Practical implications

Turbine performance and flow field pressure in the runner, which are the basis of turbine preliminary performance judgment and optimization through CFD, can be used to judge the rationality of the turbine runner design. The paper provides an evidence for the turbulence selection in numerical simulation to predict turbine performance and flow field pressure in the runner and improves the CFD prediction accuracy.

Originality/value

This paper fulfils a test of the flow field pressure in the runner, which provide an evidence for judge the adaptability of turbulence model on the flow field in runner. And this paper also provides important evaluations of two turbulence models for modeling the flow field pressure distribution in the runner of a Francis turbine to improve the accuracy of CFD models for predicting turbine performance.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 33 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 16 September 2021

Sílvio Aparecido Verdério Júnior, Vicente Luiz Scalon and Santiago del Rio Oliveira

The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of the main physical–numerical parameters in the computational evaluation of natural convection heat transfer rates in…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to analyze the influence of the main physical–numerical parameters in the computational evaluation of natural convection heat transfer rates in isothermal flat square plates in the laminar regime. Moreover by experimentally validate the results of the numerical models and define the best parameter settings for the problem situation studied.

Design/methodology/approach

The present work is an extension of the study by Verderio Junior et al. (2021), differing in the modeling, results analysis and conclusions for the laminar flow regime with Rade=1×105. The analysis of the influence and precision of the physical–numerical parameters: boundary conditions, degree of mesh refinement, refinement layers and κω SST and κε turbulence models, occurred from the results from 48 numerical models, which were simulated using the OpenFOAM® software. Comparing the experimental mean Nusselt number with the numerical values obtained in the simulations and the analysis of the relative errors were used in the evaluation of the advantages, restrictions and selection of the most adequate parameters to the studied problem situation.

Findings

The numerical results of the simulations were validated, with excellent precision, from the experimental reference by Kitamura et al. (2015). The application of the κω SST and κε turbulence models and the boundary conditions (with and without wall functions) were also physically validated. The use of the κω SST and κε turbulence models, in terms of cost-benefit and precision, proved to be inefficient in the problem situation studied. Simulations without turbulence models proved to be the best option for the physical model for the studies developed. The use of refinement layers, especially in applications with wall functions and turbulence models, proved unfeasible.

Practical implications

Use of the physical–numerical parameters studied and validated, and application of the modeling and analysis methodology developed in projects and optimizations of natural convection thermal systems in a laminar flow regime. Just like, reduce costs and the dependence on the construction of experimental apparatus to obtain experimental results and in the numerical-experimental validation process.

Social implications

Exclusive use of free and open-source computational tools as an alternative to feasible research in the computational fluid dynamics area in conditions of budget constraints and lack of higher value-added infrastructure, with applicability in the academic and industrial areas.

Originality/value

The results and discussions presented are original and new for the applied study of laminar natural convection in isothermal flat plate, with analysis and validation of the main physical and numerical influence parameters.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 32 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 July 2004

P.C. Walsh and W.H. Leong

Heat transfer due to natural convection inside a closed cavity must be modeled to include the effects of turbulence if the Rayleigh number is sufficiently large. This study…

Abstract

Heat transfer due to natural convection inside a closed cavity must be modeled to include the effects of turbulence if the Rayleigh number is sufficiently large. This study assesses the performance of several commonly used numerical turbulence models such as k‐ε, Renormalized Group k‐ε and Reynolds stress model, in predicting heat transfer due to natural convection inside an air‐filled cubic cavity. The cavity is maintained at 307 K on one side and 300 K on the opposite side with a linear temperature variation between these values on the remaining walls. Two cases are considered, one in which the heated side is vertical, and the other in which it is inclined at 45° from the horizontal. Rayleigh numbers of 107, 108, 109 and 1010 are considered. Results of the three turbulence models are compared to experimentally determined values or values from correlations. It was found that the standard k‐ε model was the most effective model in terms of accuracy and computational economy.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 14 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 15 May 2009

Mehrdad Raisee and Arman Rokhzadi

The purpose of this paper is to investigate turbulent fluid flow and heat transfer through passages with an array of either detached or alternative attached‐detached ribs of…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate turbulent fluid flow and heat transfer through passages with an array of either detached or alternative attached‐detached ribs of square cross‐section.

Design/methodology/approach

The finite‐volume method in a partially staggered grid system has been applied. For the modeling of turbulence, the zonal as well as the linear and non‐linear low‐Reynolds number k  −  ε models have been employed.

Findings

The numerical results show that the presence of the ribs produces a very complex flow in the channel. The mean flow predictions for the channel with detached ribs show that the low‐Re k  −  ε models are able to reproduce most of the experimentally observed flow features away from the ribbed wall, but return lower stream‐wise velocities close to the wall. Additionally, all low‐Re k  −  ε models underpredict the stream‐wise turbulence intensity whilst producing correct cross‐stream turbulence intensity levels close to the measured data. All three turbulence models fail to completely reproduce the distribution of Nusselt number. Among three turbulence models examined in this work, the zonal k  −  ε model produces the best heat transfer predictions.

Originality/value

The work contributes in understanding of the flow and thermal development in passages with detached ribs. The present set of 2D and steady heat and fluid flow comparisons establishes a base‐level for more realistic three‐dimensional and unsteady computations. The results of this study may be of interest to engineers attempting to re‐design the internal cooling system of gas turbine blades and to researchers interested in the turbulent flow‐modification aspects of heat transfer enhancement of forced convection in ribbed passages.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 19 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 2000

X.‐Q. Chen and J.C.F. Pereira

Numerical results are reported for a dilute turbulent liquid‐solid flow in an axisymmetric sudden‐expansion pipe with an expansion ratio 2:1. The two‐phase flow has a mass‐loading…

Abstract

Numerical results are reported for a dilute turbulent liquid‐solid flow in an axisymmetric sudden‐expansion pipe with an expansion ratio 2:1. The two‐phase flow has a mass‐loading ratio low enough for particle collision to be negligible. The numerical predictions for the dilute two‐phase flow are based on a hybrid Eulerian‐Lagrangian model. A nonlinear k‐ε model is used for the fluid flow to account for the turbulence anisotropy and an improved eddy‐interaction model is used for the particulate flow to account for the effects of turbulence anisotropy, turbulence inhomogeneity, particle drift, and particle inertia on particle dispersion. The effects of the coupling sources, the added mass, the lift force and the shear stress on two‐phase flow predictions are separately studied. The numerical predictions obtained with the improved and conventional particle dispersion models are compared with experimental measurements for the mean and fluctuating velocities at the different measured planes.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 10 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 November 2018

Raja Marudhappan, Chandrasekhar Udayagiri and Koni Hemachandra Reddy

The purpose of this paper is to formulate a structured approach to design an annular diffusion flame combustion chamber for use in the development of a 1,400 kW range aero turbo…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to formulate a structured approach to design an annular diffusion flame combustion chamber for use in the development of a 1,400 kW range aero turbo shaft engine. The purpose is extended to perform numerical combustion modeling by solving transient Favre Averaged Navier Stokes equations using realizable two equation k-e turbulence model and Discrete Ordinate radiation model. The presumed shape β-Probability Density Function (β-PDF) is used for turbulence chemistry interaction. The experiments are conducted on the real engine to validate the combustion chamber performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The combustor geometry is designed using the reference area method and semi-empirical correlations. The three dimensional combustor model is made using a commercial software. The numerical modeling of the combustion process is performed by following Eulerian approach. The functional testing of combustor was conducted to evaluate the performance.

Findings

The results obtained by the numerical modeling provide a detailed understanding of the combustor internal flow dynamics. The transient flame structures and streamline plots are presented. The velocity profiles obtained at different locations along the combustor by numerical modeling mostly go in-line with the previously published research works. The combustor exit temperature obtained by numerical modeling and experiment are found to be within the acceptable limit. These results form the basis of understanding the design procedure and opens-up avenues for further developments.

Research limitations/implications

Internal flow and combustion dynamics obtained from numerical simulation are not experimented owing to non-availability of adequate research facilities.

Practical implications

This study contributes toward the understanding of basic procedures and firsthand experience in the design aspects of combustors for aero-engine applications. This work also highlights one of the efficient, faster and economical aero gas turbine annular diffusion flame combustion chamber design and development.

Originality/value

The main novelty in this work is the incorporation of scoops in the dilution zone of the numerical model of combustion chamber to augment the effectiveness of cooling of combustion products to obtain the desired combustor exit temperature. The use of polyhedral cells for computational domain discretization in combustion modeling for aero engine application helps in achieving faster convergence and reliable predictions. The methodology and procedures presented in this work provide a basic understanding of the design aspects to the beginners working in the gas turbine combustors particularly meant for turbo shaft engines applications.

Details

Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, vol. 91 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1748-8842

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 May 2013

Maher Raddaoui

Rotating flows are very important because they are found in industrial and domestic applications. For a good performance, it is important to dimension correctly the energy…

Abstract

Purpose

Rotating flows are very important because they are found in industrial and domestic applications. For a good performance, it is important to dimension correctly the energy efficiency and the lifespan of the apparatuses while studying, for example, the influence of their physical and geometrical characteristics on the various hydrodynamic constraints, thermal and mechanics which they will support. The purpose of this paper is to describe experiments and a numerical study of the inter‐disc space effects on the mean and the turbulent characteristics of a Von Karman isotherm steady flow between counter‐rotating disks.

Design/methodology/approach

Experimental results are obtained by the laser Doppler anemometer technique performed at IRPHE (Institute of Research on the Phenomena out Equilibrium) in Marseille, France. The numerical predictions are based on one‐point statistical modeling using a low Reynolds number second‐order full stress transport closure (RSM model).

Findings

It was found that the level of radial velocity increases with the aspect ratio near to the axis of rotation but this phenomenon is reversed far from this zone; the level of tangential velocity, of turbulence kinetic energy and of the torsion are definitely higher for the largest aspect ratio. The best contribution of this work is, at the same time, the new experimental and numerical database giving the effect of the aspect ratio of the cavity on the intensity of turbulence for Von Karman flow between two counter rotating disks.

Research limitations/implications

The limitation of this work is that it concerns rotating flows with very high speeds because the phenomena of instability appear and the application of this model for cavities of forms is not obvious.

Practical implications

This work is of technological interest; it can be exploited by industrialists to optimize the operation of certain machines using this kind of flow. It can be exploited in the teaching of certain units of Masters courses: gathering experimental techniques; numerical methods; and theoretical knowledge.

Social implications

This work can also have a social interest where this kind of simulation can be generalized with other types of flows responsible for certain phenomena of society, such as the phenomenon of pollution. This work can have a direct impact on everyday life by the exploitation of the rotary flows, such as being a very clean and very economic means to separate the undesirable components present in certain fluid effluents.

Originality/value

The best contribution of this work is the new experimental and numerical database giving the effect of the aspect ratio of the cavity on the intensity of turbulence for Von Karman flow between two counter rotating disks.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 23 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 January 2022

Maximilien de Zordo-Banliat, Xavier Merle, Gregory Dergham and Paola Cinnella

The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations represent the computational workhorse for engineering design, despite their numerous flaws. Improving and quantifying the…

101

Abstract

Purpose

The Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations represent the computational workhorse for engineering design, despite their numerous flaws. Improving and quantifying the uncertainties associated with RANS models is particularly critical in view of the analysis and optimization of complex turbomachinery flows.

Design/methodology/approach

First, an efficient strategy is introduced for calibrating turbulence model coefficients from high-fidelity data. The results are highly sensitive to the flow configuration (called a calibration scenario) used to inform the coefficients. Second, the bias introduced by the choice of a specific turbulence model is reduced by constructing a mixture model by means of Bayesian model-scenario averaging (BMSA). The BMSA model makes predictions of flows not included in the calibration scenarios as a probability-weighted average of a set of competing turbulence models, each supplemented with multiple sets of closure coefficients inferred from alternative calibration scenarios.

Findings

Different choices for the scenario probabilities are assessed for the prediction of the NACA65 V103 cascade at off-design conditions. In all cases, BMSA improves the solution accuracy with respect to the baseline turbulence models, and the estimated uncertainty intervals encompass reasonably well the reference data. The BMSA results were found to be little sensitive to the user-defined scenario-weighting criterion, both in terms of average prediction and of estimated confidence intervals.

Originality/value

A delicate step in the BMSA is the selection of suitable scenario-weighting criteria, i.e. suitable prior probability mass functions (PMFs) for the calibration scenarios. The role of such PMFs is to assign higher probability to calibration scenarios more likely to provide an accurate estimate of model coefficients for the new flow. In this paper, three mixture models are constructed, based on alternative choices of the scenario probabilities. The authors then compare the capabilities of three different criteria.

Details

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

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 June 2018

Lejla Turulja and Nijaz Bajgoric

The purpose of this paper is to draw on dynamic capability view and contingency theory to clarify the nature of the effect of environmental turbulence on the relationships between…

3331

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to draw on dynamic capability view and contingency theory to clarify the nature of the effect of environmental turbulence on the relationships between firm’s both product and process innovations and business performance.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors developed and empirically tested two structural models using structural equation modeling approach. The first model deals with both product and process innovations as the mediators between environmental turbulence and business performance. The second model considers the moderating effect of environmental turbulence between innovation and business performance.

Findings

The findings show that environmental turbulence does not moderate the relationship between innovation and business performance. The authors have found a clear role of environmental turbulence in boosting innovation rather than moderating the relationship between innovation and performance.

Research limitations/implications

The data set is a cross-section of heterogeneous firms regarding the industry.

Practical implications

Managers should be aware of the importance of the innovation for the environmental turbulence and dynamism counteracting. The results imply a negative influence of environmental turbulence on business performance. However, with the innovation in the equation, this influence can be positive, because it boosts firms to innovate and though to achieve better business performance.

Originality/value

It contributes the management and innovation research and practice through offering insights into the role of environmental turbulence in product innovation, process innovation as well as organizational business performance through comprehensive analysis of mediation and moderation effects between the observed constructs.

Details

European Journal of Innovation Management, vol. 22 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1460-1060

Keywords

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