Abstract
The flow structure of one isothermal swirling case in the Sydney swirl flame database was studied using two numerical methods. Results from the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approach and large eddy simulation (LES) were compared with experimental measurements. The simulations were applied in two different Cartesian grids which were investigated by a grid independence study for RANS and a post-estimator for LES. The RNG k-ɛ turbulence model was used in RANS and dynamic Smagorinsky-Lilly model was used as the sub-grid scale model in LES. A validation study and cross comparison of ensemble average and root mean square (RMS) results showed LES outperforms RANS statistic results. Flow field results indicated that both approaches could capture dominant flow structures, like vortex breakdown (VB), and precessing vortex core (PVC). Streamlines indicate that the formation mechanisms of VB deducted from the two methods were different. The vorticity field was also studied using a velocity gradient based method. This research gained in-depth understanding of isothermal swirling flow.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Gupta, A.K., Lilley, D.J., Syred, N.: Swirl flows. Abacus Press, Tunbridge Wells, Kent (1984)
Syred, N., Beér, J.M.: Combustion in swirling flows: A review. Combustion and Flame 23(2), 143–201 (1974)
Lucca-Negro, O., O’Doherty, T.: Vortex breakdown: a review. Prog. Energy Combust. Sci. 27(4), 431–481 (2001)
Syred, N.: A review of oscillation mechanisms and the role of the precessing vortex core (PVC) in swirl com bustion systems. Prog. Energy Combust. Sci. 32(2), 93–161 (2006). doi:10.1016/j.pecs.2005.10.002
Al-Abdeli, Y.M., Masri, A.R.: Recirculation and flowfield regimes of unconfined non-reacting swirling flows. Experimental Thermal and Fluid Science 27(5), 655–665 (2003)
Al-Abdeli, Y.M., Masri, A.R.: Precession and recirculation in turbulent swirling isothermal jets. Combust. Sci. Technol. 176(5–6), 645–665 (2004). doi:10.1080/0010 2200490427883
Al-Abdeli, Y.M., Masri, A.R.: Stability characteristics and flowfields of turbulent non-premixed swirling flames. Combust. Theory Model. 7(4), 731–766 (2003)
Kalt, P.A.M., Al-Abdeli, Y.M., Masri, A.R., Barlow, R.S.: Swirling turbulent non-premixed flames of methane: Flow field and compositional structure. Proc. Combust. Inst. 29, 1913–1919 (2002)
Masri, A.R., Kalt, P.A.M., Barlow, R.S.: The compositional structure of swirl-stabilised turbulent nonpremixed flames. Combustion and Flame 137(1–2), 1–37 (2004). doi:10.1016/j.combustflame.2003.12.004
Al-Abdeli, Y.A., Masri, A.R., Marquez, G.R., Starner, S.H.: Time-varying behaviour of turbulent swirling nonpremixed flames. Combustion and Flame 146(1–2), 200–214(2006). doi:10.1016/j.combustflame.2006.04.09
Masri, A.R., Kalt, P.A.M., Al-Abdeli, Y.M., Barlow, R.S.: Turbulence-chemistry interactions in non-premixed swirling flames. Combust. Theory Model. 11(5), 653–673 (2007). doi:10.1080/13647830701213482
Stein, O., Kempf, A.: LES of the Sydney swirl flame series: A study of vortex breakdown in isothermal and reacting flows. Proc. Combust. Inst. 31, 1755–1763 (2007). doi:10.1016/j.proci.2006.07.255
Malalasekera, W., Dinesh, K., Ibrahim, S.S., Kirkpatrick, M.P.: Large eddy simulation of isothermal turbulent swirling jets. Combust. Sci. Technol. 179(8), 1481–1525 (2007). doi:10.1080/00102200701196472
Kempf, A., Malalasekera, W., Ranga-Dinesh, K.K.J., Stein, O.: Large Eddy Simulations of Swirling Non-premixed Flames with Flamelet Models: A Comparison of Numerical Methods. Flow Turbul. Combust. 81(4), 523–561 (2008). doi:10.1007/s10494-008-9147-1
Stein, O., Kempf, A.M., Janicka, J.: LES of the Sydney Swirl flame series: An initial investigation of the fluid dynamics. Combust. Sci. Technol. 179(1–2), 173–189 (2007). doi:10.1080/00102200600808581
Olbricht, C., Ketelheun, A., Hahn, F., Janicka, J.: Assessing the Predictive Capabilities of Combustion LES as Applied to the Sydney Flame Series. Flow, Turbulence and Combustion 85(3), 513–547 (2011). doi: 10.1007/s10494-010-9300-5
Masri, A.R.: Swirl flows and flames database. Sydney University website. http://sydney.edu.au/engineering/aeromech/thermofluids/swirl.htm (2006).
Pope, S.B.: Ten questions concerning the large-eddy simulation of turbulent flows. New J. Phys. 6, 24 (2004). doi:3510.1088/1367-2630/6/1/035
Celik, I., Klein, M., Janicka, J.: Assessment Measures for Engineering LES Applications. Journal of Fluids Engineering-Transactions of the ASME 131(3) (2009). doi: 10.1115/1.3059703
ANSYS FLUENT User’s Guide, Release 13.0. ANSYS, Inc., Canonsburg, PA. November 2010.
ANSYS FLUENT Theory Guide, Release 13.0. ANSYS, Inc., Canonsburg, PA. November 2010.
Kempf, A., Lindstedt, R.P., Janicka, J.: Large-eddy simulation of a bluff-body stabilized nonpremixed flame. Combustion and Flame 144(1–2), 170–189 (2006). doi:10.1016/j.combustflame.2005.07.006
Syred, N., Beér, J.M., Combustion in swirling flows: A review, Combustion and Flame, 23(2), 143–201 (1974). doi:10.1016/0010-2180(74)90057-1.
Ranga Dynes, K.K.J., Kirkpatrick, M.P.: Study of jet precession, recirculation and vortex breakdown in turbulent swirling jets using LES. Computers & Fluids 38(6), 1232–1242 (2009)
Jeong, J., Hussain, F.: On the Identification of a Vortex. J. Fluid Mech. 285, 69–94 (1995).
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Yang, Y., Kær, S.K. Comparison of Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes based simulation and large-eddy simulation for one isothermal swirling flow. J. Therm. Sci. 21, 154–161 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-012-0530-9
Received:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11630-012-0530-9