Evaluation of dynamic correction of turbulence wall boundary conditions to simulate roughness effect in minichannel with rotating walls
International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow
ISSN: 0961-5539
Article publication date: 22 August 2023
Issue publication date: 22 November 2023
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is an assessment of the existing roughness models to simulate the flow in the narrow gap between corotating and rough disks. A specific configuration of the flow through the gap, which forms a minichannel with variable cross sections and rotating walls, makes it a complex problem and, therefore, worth discussing in more detail.
Design/methodology/approach
Two roughness models were examined, the first one was based on the wall function modification by application of the shift in the dimensionless velocity profile, and the second one was based on the correction of turbulence parameters at the wall, proposed by Aupoix. Due to the lack of data to validate that specific case, the approach to deal with was selected after a systematic study of reported test cases. It started with a zero-pressure-gradient boundary layer in the flow over a flat plate, continued with flow through minichannels with stationary walls, and finally, focused on the flow between corotating discs, pertaining each time to smooth and rough surfaces.
Findings
The limitations of the roughness models were highlighted, which make the models not reliable in the application to minichannel flows. It concerns turbulence models, near-wall discretization and roughness approaches. Aupoix’s method to account for roughness was selected, and the influence of minichannel height, mass flow rate, fluid properties and roughness height on the velocity profile between corotating discs in both smooth and rough cases was discussed.
Originality/value
The originality of this study is the evaluation and validation of different methods to account for the roughness in rotating mini channels, where the protrusions can cover a substantial part of the channel. Flow behavior and performance of different turbulence models were analyzed as well.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The presented research was conducted within the UMO-2019/35/B/ST8/01871 research project financed by the Polish National Science Centre and internal project 08/050/BKM_22/0271 financed by the Silesian University of Technology.
Citation
Pahlavanzadeh, M., Rusin, K. and Wróblewski, W. (2023), "Evaluation of dynamic correction of turbulence wall boundary conditions to simulate roughness effect in minichannel with rotating walls", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 33 No. 12, pp. 3915-3939. https://doi.org/10.1108/HFF-03-2023-0160
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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