Vol. 11 No. 3 (2012): Mapana Journal of Sciences
Research Articles

A Numerical Simulation of Turbulent Flow through a Curved Duct

  • A K Biswas,
  • Ashoke K Raman,
  • A N Mullick
A K Biswas
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur 713209, WB, India
Ashoke K Raman
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur 713209, WB, India
A N Mullick
Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Durgapur 713209, West Bengal, India.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.12723/mjs.22.11

Published 2012-08-21

Abstract

This paper presents the comparison the results of an experimental work with a numerical work keeping the geometry of the test duct and inlet boundary conditions unaltered. The numerical simulation is validated with the experimental results based on the wall y+ approach for different turbulence models suited for this type of geometry. The experimental work is carried out at mass averaged mean velocity of 40m/s with the measurement of total pressure by a pre-calibrated multi-hole pressure probe and the results presented in the form of a pressure contours in 2-D. For validation of the numerical results Standard k-ε, k-ω and Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) are used to solve the closure problem. The turbulence models are investigated in the commercial CFD code of Fluent using y+ value as guidance in selecting the appropriate grid configuration and turbulence model. Based on the wall y+ values for different turbulence models, it is concluded in the present study that the mesh resolving the fully turbulent region is sufficiently accurate in terms of qualitative features and RSM turbulence model predicts the best results while comparing with the experimental results.

References

  1. M Rowe, Measurements and computations flow in pipe bends, J. Fluid Mechanics, vol. 43, pp. 771-783, 1970.
  2. P Bansod and P Bradshaw, The flow in S-shaped ducts, Aeronautical Quarterly, vol. 23, pp. 131-140, 1972.
  3. M M Enayet, M M Gibson, A M K P Taylor and M Yianneskis, Laser doppler measurements of laminar and turbulent flow in a bend, Int. J. Heat and Fluid Flow, vol. 3, pp. 211-217, 1982.
  4. J Azzola, A C Humphrey, H Iacovides and B E Launder, Developing turbulent flow in a U-bend circular cross-section: Measurement and computations, Trans. ASME: J. Fluid Engineering, vol. 108, pp. 214-221, 1986.
  5. H Lacovides, B E Launder and P A Loizou, Numerical computation of turbulent flow through a squared sectioned 90° bend, Int. Journal of Heat and Fluid Flow, vol. 8, pp. 320-325, 1987.
  6. A M K P Taylor, J H Whitelaw and M Yianneskis, Curved ducts with strong secondary motion: Velocity measurements of developing laminar and turbulent flow, Trans. ASME: J Fluid Engineering, vol. 104, pp. 350-358, 1982.
  7. S Thangam and N Hur, Laminar secondary flows in curved rectangular ducts, J Fluid Mechanics, vol. 217, pp. 421-440, 1990.
  8. W J Kim and V C Patel, Origin and decay of longitudinal vortices in the development of flow in a curved rectangular duct, Trans. ASME, J. Fluid Engineering, vol. 116, pp. 45-52, 1994.
  9. J M Burns, H H Fernholz and P A Mankewitz, An experimental investigation of a three dimensional turbulent boundary layer in an S-shaped duct, J. Fluid Mechanics, vol. 393 , pp. 175-213, 1999.
  10. N Singh, S N Singh and V Seshadri, Flow characteristics of an asymmetric Y-shaped duct, Proceedings of 31st National Conference on Fluid Mechanics and Fluid Power, Jadavpur University, pp. 749-757, 2004.