SRANS and URANS CFD Simulations of Turbulent VHTR Lower Plenum Flow

Author(s):  
A. Ridluan ◽  
A. Tokuhiro

Time-dependent and time-independent CFD simulations of the flow through a staggered tube bundle were performed. This flow configuration partially simulates the anticipated flow in the lower plenum of a Very High Temperature Reactor (VHTR) design. To design a nuclear reactor with confidence, one needs strict benchmarking as part of a validation and verification exercise for any and all commercial CFD codes. Thus CFD simulations (FLUENT) of isothermal (at present), periodic flow through a tube bundle using both Steady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (SRANS) and Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations were investigated. Selected turbulence models for a single tube diameter and inlet velocity based Re-number, Re ∼ 1.8 × 104, were investigated. The first-order turbulence models were: a standard k-ε turbulence model, a Renormalized Group (RNG) k-ε model, and lastly, a Shear Stress Transport (SST) k-ε model; the second-order model was a Reynolds Stress Model (RSM). Comparison of CFD simulations against experimental results of Simonin and Barcouda was undertaken at five stations (x, y) locations. Under the SRANS, we found the ability of the models to predict the turbulence stresses (u′u′, v′v′, u′v′) generally marginal to poor. However, upon adapting a concept from Large Eddy Simulation (LES), our URANS simulation with RSM revealed a spatiotemporal, oscillating flow structures in the wake. In contrast, it appears that the URANS with (even a) RNG k-ε model is unable to simulate this flow phenomena. In fact, the data suggests that the RNG k-ε model is too spatiotemporally dissipative. Some aspects of the SRANS versus URANS and using the aforementioned turbulence models will be presented.

2002 ◽  
Vol 124 (4) ◽  
pp. 924-932 ◽  
Author(s):  
Scott Morton ◽  
James Forsythe ◽  
Anthony Mitchell ◽  
David Hajek

An understanding of vortical structures and vortex breakdown is essential for the development of highly maneuverable vehicles and high angle of attack flight. This is primarily due to the physical limits these phenomena impose on aircraft and missiles at extreme flight conditions. Demands for more maneuverable air vehicles have pushed the limits of current CFD methods in the high Reynolds number regime. Simulation methods must be able to accurately describe the unsteady, vortical flowfields associated with fighter aircraft at Reynolds numbers more representative of full-scale vehicles. It is the goal of this paper to demonstrate the ability of detached-eddy Simulation (DES), a hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS)/large-eddy Simulation (LES) method, to accurately predict vortex breakdown at Reynolds numbers above 1×106. Detailed experiments performed at Onera are used to compare simulations utilizing both RANS and DES turbulence models.


2012 ◽  
Vol 594-597 ◽  
pp. 2676-2679
Author(s):  
Zhe Liu

Although the conventional Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) model has been widely applied in the industrial and engineering field, it is worthwhile to study whether these models are suitable to investigate the flow filed varying with the time. With the development of turbulence models, the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) model, detached eddy simulation (DES) and large eddy simulation (LES) compensate the disadvantage of RANS model. This paper mainly presents the theory of standard LES model, LES dynamic model and wall-adapting local eddy-viscosity (WALE) LES model. And the square cylinder is selected as the research target to study the flow characteristics around it at Reynolds number 13,000. The influence of different LES models on the flow field around the square cylinder is compared.


2005 ◽  
Vol 127 (5) ◽  
pp. 782-797 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Ge ◽  
Hwa-Liang Leo ◽  
Fotis Sotiropoulos ◽  
Ajit P. Yoganathan

Time-accurate, fully 3D numerical simulations and particle image velocity laboratory experiments are carried out for flow through a fully open bileaflet mechanical heart valve under steady (nonpulsatile) inflow conditions. Flows at two different Reynolds numbers, one in the laminar regime and the other turbulent (near-peak systole flow rate), are investigated. A direct numerical simulation is carried out for the laminar flow case while the turbulent flow is investigated with two different unsteady statistical turbulence modeling approaches, unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) and detached-eddy simulation (DES) approach. For both the laminar and turbulent cases the computed mean velocity profiles are in good overall agreement with the measurements. For the turbulent simulations, however, the comparisons with the measurements demonstrate clearly the superiority of the DES approach and underscore its potential as a powerful modeling tool of cardiovascular flows at physiological conditions. The study reveals numerous previously unknown features of the flow.


2020 ◽  
Vol 142 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yefang Wang ◽  
Fan Zhang ◽  
Shouqi Yuan ◽  
Ke Chen ◽  
Xueyuan Wei ◽  
...  

Abstract In this work, the unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (URANS) and three hybrid Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes-large eddy simulation (RANS-LES) models are employed to resolve the vortical flows in a typical single-stage side channel pump, to evaluate the suitability of these advanced turbulence models in predicting the pump hydraulic performance and unstable swirling flows. By the comparison of the overall performance, it can be observed that the results obtained by scale-adapted simulation (SAS) are closer to test data than shear stress transport (SST), detached eddy simulation (DES) and filter-based model (FBM). Simultaneously, the distribution of axial velocity on the plane near the interface is used to describe the position and intensity of internal fluid exchange between impeller and side channel. It is obvious that the intensity of mass flow exchange is strong near the inner and outer edges. Then, the vortex core region illustrates that the vortex is easily produced near the interface due to internal fluid exchange. Finally, the evolutions of circumferential in-plane vortical structures are presented to further account for the process of fluid exchange and the main vortex flows. It reveals that the recirculation flow presents a strong instability during 6–7 blade pitches as the fluid enters into the impeller and the flow is stable in downstream 7–8 blade pitches. Besides, the flow turns to be unsteady near outlet affected by the sudden change of fluid direction. This work could provide some suggestions for the choice of appropriate turbulence model in simulating strong swirling flows.


Author(s):  
J. Johansen ◽  
N. N. So̸rensen ◽  
J. A. Michelsen ◽  
S. Schreck

The Detached-Eddy Simulation model implemented in the computational fluid dynamics code, EllipSys3D, is applied on the flow around the NREL Phase-VI wind turbine blade. Results are presented for flow around a parked blade at fixed angle of attack and a blade pitching along the blade axis. Computed blade characteristics are compared with experimental data from the NREL/NASA Ames Phase-VI unsteady experiment. The Detached-Eddy Simulation model is a method for predicting turbulence in computational fluid dynamics computations, which combines a Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes method in the boundary layer with a Large Eddy Simulation in the free shear flow. The present study focuses on static and dynamic stall regions highly relevant for stall regulated wind turbines. Computations do predict force coefficients and pressure distributions fairly good and results using Detached-Eddy Simulation show considerably more three-dimensional flow structures compared to conventional two-equation Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes turbulence models, but no particular improvements are seen on the global blade characteristics.


2007 ◽  
Vol 51 (01) ◽  
pp. 22-38
Author(s):  
William C. Lasher ◽  
Peter J. Richards

Three semirigid models for International America's Cup Class spinnakers were tested in a wind tunnel with a simulated atmospheric boundary layer. These experiments were also simulated using a commercial Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solver with three different turbulence models. A comparison between the experimental and numerical force coefficients shows very good agreement. The experimentally measured differences in the driving force coefficients among the three sails were predicted well by all three turbulence models. The realizable k-e model produced the best results, and the standard k-e model produced the worst. The Reynolds stress model did not perform significantly better than the standard k-e model. The results suggest that RANS can be used as a design tool for optimizing spinnaker shape.


2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kudzai Chipongo ◽  
Mehdi Khiadani ◽  
Kaveh Sookhak Lari

Abstract The robustness and accuracy of Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) models was investigated for complex turbulent flow in an open channel receiving lateral inflow, also known as spatially varied flow with increasing discharge (SVF). The three RANS turbulence models tested include realizable k–ε, shear stress transport k–ω and Reynolds stress model based on their prominence to model jets in crossflows. Results were compared to experimental laser Doppler velocimetry measurements from a previous study. RANS results in the uniform flow region and farther from the jet centreline were more accurate than within the lateral inflow region. On the leeward side of the jet, RANS models failed to capture the downward velocity vectors resulting in major deviations in vertical velocity. Among RANS models minor variations were noted at impingement and near the water surface. Regardless of inadequately predicting complex characteristics of SVF, RANS models matched experimental water surface profiles and proved more superior to the theoretical approach currently used for design purposes.


Energies ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2348 ◽  
Author(s):  
Omar Mejia ◽  
Jhon Quiñones ◽  
Santiago Laín

Nowadays, the global energy crisis has encouraged the use of alternative sources like the energy available in the water currents of seas and rivers. The vertical axis water turbine (VAWT) is an interesting option to harness this energy due to its advantages of facile installation, maintenance and operation. However, it is known that its efficiency is lower than that of other types of turbines due to the unsteady effects present in its flow physics. This work aims to analyse through Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) the turbulent flow dynamics around a small scale VAWT confined in a hydrodynamic tunnel. The simulations were developed using the Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (URANS), Detached Eddy Simulation (DES) and Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) turbulence models, all of them based on k-ω Shear Stress Transport (SST). The results and analysis of the simulations are presented, illustrating the influence of the tip speed ratio. The numerical results of the URANS model show a similar behaviour with respect to the experimental power curve of the turbine using a lower number of elements than those used in the DES and DDES models. Finally, with the help of both the Q-criterion and field contours it is observed that the refinements made in the mesh adaptation process for the DES and DDES models improve the identification of the scales of the vorticity structures and the flow phenomena present on the near and far wake of the turbine.


Author(s):  
Kaushik Das ◽  
Debashis Basu ◽  
Scott Painter ◽  
Lane Howard ◽  
Steve Green

This paper compares different turbulent models for unsteady flow predictions for axial flow in a single rod channel configuration. The numerical analyses are carried out using the Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) equations and three different turbulent models. The predictions are compared with available experimental results. The three models considered in the present work include the RNG (Renormalization group) k-ε model, the realizable k-ε model, and the Reynolds stress model (RSM). With each model, an unsteady approach commonly referred to as URANS (Unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes) solution is used. Predicted results are compared with available experimental results. The predicted time-averaged mean velocity and turbulent stresses are in good agreement with the available experimental results. Flow unsteadiness, which is important for determining heat, momentum, and mass transfer in the gap region, is presented through time histories and spectra of flow and turbulent quantities and their influence on the transportation of fluid across the gap is also explored. The effect of inflow unsteadiness on the solution is explored through comparing the flow field for a constant velocity inlet boundary condition as well as time-varying boundary conditions for the RSM model.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document