7th GRACM International Congress on Computational Mechanics Athens, 30 June 2 July 2011

INFLUENCE OF A CIRCULAR EXIT WALL BOUNDARY ON THE AXISYMMETRIC JET FLOW

1 2 1 1 Alexandros P. Vouros , Michalis D. Mentzos , Efstathios I. Xanthopoulos , Andronikos E. Filios and 2 Dionissios P. Margaris 1 Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery School of Pedagogical and Technological Education (ASPETE) Heraklion, Athens, GR-14121, Greece e-mail: aefilios@meed-aspete.net; web page: http://www.fmtulab.meed-aspete.net Fluid Mechanics Laboratory and Applications Department of Mechanical Engineering and Aeronautics, University of Patras Patras, GR-26500, Greece e-mail: margaris@mech.upatras.gr; web page: http://www.mead.upatras.gr Keywords: Engineering Education, Axisymmetric Jet, Computational Fluid Dynamics. Abstract. In the frame of engineering education activities, the Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery (FMTULAB/ASPETE) is continuously targeting to create links between education and basic research activities in fluid mechanics/dynamics. This task is expected to attract and motivate young engineers and scientists to join the fluid dynamics sector, which significantly contributes to the improvement of efficiency of applications relating clean energy sources and air pollution control. For this purpose computational and experimental studies are combined mainly in fundamental topics, while innovative results are produced to improve the knowledge of additional effects rising from the adoption of alternative flow configurations. Axisymmetric jet flow constitutes a subject of research from the origins of fluid dynamics; however it remains a subject of interest due to the new findings regarding the influence of flow and geometry conditions utilized in configurations that diverge from the theoretical free-jet case. Parameters under consideration include the type of the exit nozzle that can be smoothed contraction or long pipe, the dimensions of the room or channel used for jets evolution, and the range of the Reynolds number at which the jet emanates from nozzle exit. The influence of a flat plate placed on nozzles exit also, appears to be capable of altering typical jets features. In the present study, the effect of a wall boundary produced by a circular disk of twice the jet diameter placed on the exit of the jet is investigated numerically. Mean and turbulent velocity statistics are compared to typical free jet profiles. Computational simulations are performed to predict the flow characteristics by incorporating several turbulence models, while supportive pressure measurements are used to evaluate the predictions within the initial region of jets development.
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1 INTRODUCTION The study of fluids provides significant knowledge on a number of phenomena in nature, while fluid dynamics will always affect the improvement of life quality through the invention and development of efficient and pollution-free consumer appliances and industrial systems. Currently, demands and opportunities increase as a large amount of clean energy technologies and policies contribute beneficially in this direction when they are implemented in novel or currently used procedures. Regarding education, the first, necessary step to face the new challenges is the refinement of educational programs, which will capitalize the existing knowledge, will demonstrate and disseminate the benefits of research, and will give the opportunity to students to gain experiences towards up-to-date problems and technological issues. In addition, computer and web-based learning environments and methods have to be developed and used in order to improve teaching and learning procedures supported by lively and stimulating computer-aided and web-based tools. The basic research project organized in FMTULAB/ASPETE in cooperation with affiliated laboratories will address fundamental fluid dynamics topics in order to give a unified introduction of analytical, experimental and computational methodologies, demonstrating the interrelations between seemingly different applications. Subjects will be focused on the study of boundary layers and basic shear flows including turbulent wakes and jets, as these flows offer illustrative examples providing a clear insight of flow properties and mechanisms while, on the other hand, are continuously faced in real-life applications. Research topics will also include

Alexandros P. Vouros, Michalis D. Mentzos, Efstathios I. Xanthopoulos, Andronikos E. Filios and Dionissios P. Margaris.

particular problems producing novel results related to passive flow control and alternative schemes influencing the typical, main flows. Theoretical aspects, statistical representation of flow characteristics, state-of-the-art experimental methods (flow visualization/imaging, pressure probes, hot-wire anemometry) and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) tools, will be applied to support projects objectives. In this part of research, the turbulent axisymmetric jet flow is under consideration, since, despite the large number of studies and bibliographic sources, this type of flow remains a field of research when experiments or computational efforts are focusing on the influence of a variety of flow and geometry conditions. In particular, recent findings include the effects of confinement [1, 2], the range of Reynolds number [3, 4] and the shape of nozzle (smoothed, contraction, contoured etc.) on the region of jets development as well as on the shape of the self-similar profiles of mean and turbulent properties in the far-field [5-7]. In addition, since the time that this work was in the design face, a single experimental study [8] was referring to the influence of a flat plate imposed as a wall boundary on the exit of the jet, constituting the most significant motivation in order to produce novel results by altering jet geometry using this type of confinement. The effect of the imposition of a circular disk imposed at the jet exit (else called flat plate) is under investigation in the present study, for two Reynolds numbers, involving mainly CFD tools, but also supportive Prandtl tube measurements. Results presented in this paper include mean and turbulent characteristics in the initial region of jets development -up to 25 jets diameters-, produced by standard (k-) and more advanced (Reynolds-Stress) turbulent models, while different solvers are also incorporated using a commercial CFD Package (Fluent). Under the prism of a modern educational programme implemented in fluid mechanics/dynamics courses of FMTULAB/ASPETE, this work is directly related to high-level objectives, giving the opportunity in new engineers and mechanical educators to plan and conduct research activities, during which students are expected to be introduced to fundamental concepts of fluid mechanics, encouraged to use CFD as a flow prediction and analysis tool, to generate meshes in a computational domain, to assess the accuracy of numerical solutions along with experimental measurements and also, to contribute in setting up the measurement chain and in the development of custom made software to suit an experiment.

2 EXPERIMENTAL SETUP AND COMPUTATIONAL MODEL 2.1 Experimental Apparatus

Figure 1. Experimental setup The jet flow was produced by a variable speed axial fan in a cylindrical duct of 298mm diameter and 653mm length. Two contraction nozzles were used reducing in stages the diameter to 100 and 50 mm. Measurements were carried out for two different but of the same order of magnitude initial velocities (Re~50000, 65000). A circular disk with a 100 mm diameter was placed perpendicular the exit, while for each test case the typical free-jet was initially monitored. The experimental setup, along with the details of the measuring system is presented in Figure 1. The total and static pressure ports of the Prandtl tube were connected to the high and low

Alexandros P. Vouros, Michalis D. Mentzos, Efstathios I. Xanthopoulos, Andronikos E. Filios and Dionissios P. Margaris.

pressure inputs of a Dwyer differential pressure transmitter MS-311-LCD (pmax=1250Pa, Accuracy: 1%), while time-series were collected and stored in a personal PC, using a National Instruments DAQ Card Interface and an in-house developed LabView software. 2.2 Computational Model

Figure 2. Computational model The grid of the computational domain is shown in Figure 2. Structured, or mapped, mesh accounts 74600 cells, distributed with respect to the geometrical features and details of the model. Axisymmetry was used to reduce the number of cells and consequently the time spent for the simulations, while except of the velocity inlet and pressure outlet conditions used for the jet exit and the right boundary of the geometry respectively, all the external boundaries were set as pressure inlets. External boundaries were placed 110 and 55 jets diameters far from the exit, while 15 jets diameters were used for the region behind jets exit. With these dimensions, the total number of iterations and cpu time for a 2.4GHz, i5 processor with 4GB Dell Laptop Computer varied between 1000 and 15000 and 20 and 150 minutes respectively, depending on the solver settings and model used for the simulations. 3 RESULTS

Preliminary tests were performed to assess the accuracy and the time-cost of flow solvers and turbulence models. In particular, two different solvers were utilized, i.e Simple and Coupled [9]. The latter was capable of reducing significantly both the number of iterations and the time spent for the convergence of the solution. Convergence criteria were imposed to 10-4 for the mean and turbulent velocities and stresses respectively, while a 10-6 criterion was used for continuity. The residual of the latter appeared to be the most sensitive with respect to the incorporated models and solvers, and in particular, when the Simple algorithm was used, although the extended use of proper relaxation factors, it was characterized by oscillations for a large number of iterations before convergence. Two different turbulence models were incorporated, i.e k- and Reynolds-Stress model, in order to predict except of the mean flow properties additional variables, such as the axial and radial normal stresses and, in particular, the uv turbulent shear stress [10]. Figure 3 illustrates the decay of the mean streamwise velocity on the central axis of the jet. A logarithmic scale is used for the y-axis to demonstrate the linear variation of this variable with the axial distance just after the potential core of the jet, where the mean velocity remains almost constant. It is evident that the predictions of the k- model combined with the coupled solver stand closer to the experimental measurements [11], however for the higher Reynolds number it is also evident that the model is not adequate to reveal the differences rising from the imposition of the exit wall boundary, since the corresponding curves are almost identical, showing a different trend compared to measurements, which seem to be systematic for the two test cases (i.e. jet with and without exit wall boundary) after the potential core of the jet, for the higher Reynolds number. In contrast, Reynolds-stress model seems to be more capable of assessing the influence of the exit wall boundary for both the Reynolds numbers, although it systematically over predicts the axial velocity decay compared to the experimental results. The latter indicate a slightly different behavior for the two Reynolds numbers. For the lower velocity, measurements of the jet with the exit wall boundary lie over those of the free jet, while the differences diminish with the axial distance, and for the higher Reynolds number minor differences are observed within the potential core, while the jet with the exit wall boundary seems to decay more rapidly in the far field.

Alexandros P. Vouros, Michalis D. Mentzos, Efstathios I. Xanthopoulos, Andronikos E. Filios and Dionissios P. Margaris.

Figure 3. Mean streamwise velocity decay

Figure 4. Streamwise and radial mean velocity profiles

Alexandros P. Vouros, Michalis D. Mentzos, Efstathios I. Xanthopoulos, Andronikos E. Filios and Dionissios P. Margaris.

Figure 5. Turbulent stresses uu,vv and uv Based on the above observations, in the following we will discuss analytically the influence of the exit wall boundary using the radial profiles of the mean and turbulent properties as they are predicted by the Reynolds

Alexandros P. Vouros, Michalis D. Mentzos, Efstathios I. Xanthopoulos, Andronikos E. Filios and Dionissios P. Margaris.

stress model for the higher Reynolds number. Although it has been shown that this model over predicts the axial decay of the streamwise velocity, it is assumed as the most convenient to describe the differences rising from the imposition of the exit wall boundary and furthermore, it gives the opportunity to discuss advanced flow properties, such as the normal and shear turbulent stresses. The radial profiles of the streamwise and radial mean velocities are presented in Figure 4, for a region between 5 and 25 diameters from jet exit. No significant divergences are observed for the two test cases, since the distributions seem to coincide until 10 diameters, while after this distance minor differences occur in the central part of the streamwise velocity and the outer part of the radial velocity component. In particular, when the exit wall boundary is imposed, the axial velocity is systematically lower close to the central axis of the jet (see also Figure 3), while the radial velocity is insensibly higher in the outer part, indicating the slightly reduced entrainment of ambient surroundings from the jet flow. More significant effects account for the turbulent flow properties when the exit wall boundary is imposed. Regarding the uu stress (Figure 5), the distributions reach to systematically lower values in the central part of the jet, although the differences seem to diminish moving towards the outer part of the flow. Similar trends characterize the radial normal stress vv, while for the shear stress uv the most significant differences occur in the central part of the distributions, where also the free-jet flow presents a more effective mixing layer with the ambient surrounding compared to the jet with the exit wall boundary. This behavior is expected, due to the zero value that corresponds to the central jets axis for any jet flow considering this particular variable, and keeping in mind that the peak of this variable denotes the maximum shear of the velocity field. 4 DISCUSSION

It is used to present the radial profiles of the mean and turbulent statistics in a non dimensional form by utilizing the local velocity and length scales at each axial distance, i.e the maximum or centerline velocity and the half-width of the jet, which is the radial distance at which the axial velocity has the half of the centerline value. In this way, it is possible to assess the self-similarity region, which is defined as the region where the non dimensional profiles of the flow properties coincide, or in a more theoretical basis, where a dynamic equilibrium between the mean and turbulent components is established [6]. In addition, by presenting the self-similar profiles of different experiments where the flow and geometry conditions vary, the influence of each particular parameter in the formation of the self-similar characteristics, including the shape of the self-similar profiles and also, the distance at which the self-similarity itself is established, is discussed. Although according to the classical theory of turbulence, the effects of the initial conditions were expected to diminish in the far field, so that all the jets emanating with the same amount of momentum would reach a self-similarity state with similar features, considering for example the shape of the self-similar profiles, during the last decades a large number of studies showed that the initial conditions play significant role in the development of the jet but also in the selfsimilarity state. Those studies actually motivated the present work, which, except of the computational simulations presented in this paper, includes also the experimental investigation of the influence of the exit wall boundary incorporating demonstrative, such as flow visualization and imaging, and advanced, i.e hot-wire anemometry, techniques.

Figure 6. Non dimensional streamwise velocity Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the non dimensional mean streamwise velocity and Reynolds shear stress 15, 20 and 25 diameters downstream the jet exit, respectively. For the independent variable the axial distance from the

Alexandros P. Vouros, Michalis D. Mentzos, Efstathios I. Xanthopoulos, Andronikos E. Filios and Dionissios P. Margaris.

jet exit is utilized instead of the half width of the jet, since after the potential core a linear variation between these two variables is established. Considering the mean velocity, the differences between the two test cases are reversed in comparison to the corresponding dimensional profiles, as the profile of the jet with the exit wall boundary stands systematically over that of the free-jet case. However, as the axial distance increase, the differences seem to diminish, while, in addition, the profiles for each test case tend to coincide, approaching a self-similar profile for the velocity variable. Regarding the uv shear stress, the trend in the non dimensional profiles is also reversed, with the distributions of the free-jet case lying on lower values due to the higher centerline velocity compared to that of the jet with the exit wall boundary test case, at each distance. The differences for the two test cases are becoming clear moving downstream from the exit, indicating a stronger mixing layer for the jet with the exit wall boundary. Keeping in mind that this attribute refers to axial distances where the centerline streamwise velocity is equal for the two test cases, it can be explained by the tendency of the jet with the exit wall boundary to maintain its momentum although entraining and engulfing ambient fluid from a smaller region, and in particular without entraining fluid trapped behind the wall boundary. Reviewing the previous findings on the effect of flat plate with a plate to jet diameter equal to 8:1 imposed at the exit of the same order of magnitude Reynolds number jet [8], the present results agree well considering the streamwise velocity, while the radial profiles of the turbulent properties are actually questioned. In general, the turbulent statistics are expected to be more sensitive to the imposition of the exit wall boundary, since they are closely related to the strength of the mixing layer formed between the main flow and the ambient air. On the other hand, the dimensions of the wall boundary placed at the exit are considered to significantly affect the development of the jet, thus it is convenient to admit that additional effects are expected when a more confining wall is used.

Figure 7. Non dimensional turbulent shear stress 5 CONCLUSIONS

In the frame of an ongoing basic research activities project implemented in the educational programme of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery Laboratory (FMTULAB) courses in ASPETE, an experimental and computational study focuses on the influence of different inflow conditions on the typical free turbulent axisymmetric jet. Although circular jets flow field constitutes a subject of research from the origins of the study of turbulence, recent findings indicate that the flow and geometry conditions can alter jets development as well as the features of the self-similar profiles in the far field. The present study, focuses on the effect of a wall boundary produced by a circular disk of twice the jet diameter placed on the exit of the jet. Velocity distributions are analyzed and compared to those of the typical free jet, based on simulations utilizing different Fluents solvers, while supportive pressure measurements are used for the evaluation of turbulence models. Results are presented in dimensional and non-dimensional form, in order to evaluate the effects of the exit wall boundary with respect to local velocity and length scales. When the exit wall boundary is used, the mean streamwise centreline velocity decays slightly faster, while the radial profiles of the mean and turbulent velocity moments indicate that at the same distance from orifice, the free-jet forms a stronger mixing layer with the surroundings. In contrast, when the non dimensional profiles are considered, the trends are reversed, since the

Alexandros P. Vouros, Michalis D. Mentzos, Efstathios I. Xanthopoulos, Andronikos E. Filios and Dionissios P. Margaris.

profiles for jet with the exit wall boundary lie on systematically higher values, indicating that for similar centreline streamwise velocities, it is this type of jet that interacts excessively with the ambient air. REFERENCES [1] [2] [3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [11] Hussein, H., Capp, S. and George, W. (1994), Velocity Measurements in a High-Reynolds-Number, Momentum-Conserving, Axisymmetric, Turbulent Jet, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 258, pp. 3175. Kandakure, M.T., Patkar, V.C, and Patwarhan, A.W. (2008), Characteristics of turbulent confined jets, Chemical Engineering and Processing, Vol. 47, pp. 1234-1245. Todde, V., Spazzini, P.G, and Sandberg, M., (2009), Experimental analysis of low-Reynolds number free jets - Evolution along the jet centerline and Reynolds number effects, Experiments in Fluids, Vol. 47(2), pp. 279-294. Kwon, S.J. and Seo, I.W. (2005), Reynolds number effects on the behavior of a non-buoyant round jet, Experiments in Fluids, Vol. 38, pp. 801812. Antonia, R.A. and Zhao, Q. (2001), Effect of initial conditions on a circular jet, Experiments in Fluids, Vol. 31(3), pp. 319-323. Mi, J., Nobes, D.S., and Nathan, G.S. (2001), Influence of Exit Conditions on the Scalar Field of an Axisymmetric Free Jet, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, Vol. 432, pp. 91-125. Quinn W.R. (2006), Upstream nozzle shaping on near field flow in round turbulent free jets, European Journal of Mechanics B/ Fluids, Vol. 25, pp. 279-301. Abdel-Rahman, A.A., Chakroun, W. and Al-Fahed, S.F. (1997) LDA Measurements in the Turbulent Round Jet, Mechanics Research Communications, Vol. 24(3), pp. 277-288. Introductory Fluent Notes (2002), Fluent Users Services Center, Fluent Inc. ANSYS Fluent Theory Guide (2009), Fluent Inc., pp.4-11, 4-48. Xanthopoulos, E. (2010), Development of measurement chains for controlling and automating laboratory exercises: a) Venturi tube and b) Air jet flow, Student Thesis, Laboratory of Fluid Mechanics and Turbomachinery, DT-074/2010-02, ASPETE (in Greek).