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Turbulence Measurements in:

Natural Convection
Swirling Jet
Boundary Layer

by
Abolfazl Shiri

Thesis Supervisor
William K. George

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Turbulence Measurements in:

Natural Convection
Swirling Jet
Boundary Layer

Why we did these two experiments?

They were both turbulent flows and we aimed to measure the turbulence parameters.

There is a lack of reliable experimental data in both flows.

The velocity measurement method in both experiments was laser Doppler anemometry.

Both have axisymmetric nature which simplifies the three-dimensionality of the flow.

Doing a related experimental study while designing and installing the other experimental facility.

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Swirling Jet Experiment

What is a jet flow?

Jet flow represent a class of free shear flows that evolve in the absence of walls.
Free Shear Flows

Wakes Jets Plumes Shear Layer Flows

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Anatomy of the Jet Flow

Regions:
Potential core ( X/D ~ 1 )
Mixing layer
Developing flow ( X/D ~ 20 )
Self-preserving flow

Characteristic velocity scale Uc(x)

Characteristic jet width 1/2(x)

Asymptotic behaviour of flow at

self-preserving region:
U ( x, r ) r
f( )
U c ( x) 1/ 2
Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010
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Entrainment

Jet mass flow

Self-preserved region:
When the mass entrained by the
turbulence overwhelms the
added mass at the source of jet.

Main application of jet flows in industry for mixing due to entrainment.

Laboratory jets cant be categorized as universal self-similar, point-source of momentum jets.
Virtual origin (x0) and jet growth rate (d/dx) are the parameters characterizing the initial condition.
Azimuthal velocity component (swirl) modifies the initial condition.
Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010
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Swirling Jet Flow

Two cases of low and moderate swirl (S = 0.15 & 0.25) were compared with a non-swirling jet.
Geometry of the nozzle and the velocity profile at the nozzle changes the initial condition.
How the additional swirl effects the nozzle velocity profile? Not a top-hat anymore!

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Jet Facility

1 inch jet nozzle diameter

Six injectors for tangential flow
derived by different blower
3.5m X 3.5m X 10m enclosure
Solid-body rotation for tangential
velocity distribution
Reynolds number at nozzle: 40,000

Same facility which used in Hussein, Capp & George 1994 for axisymmetric jets study.
Brought from university of Buffalo by George and modified to add the swirl components.

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Summary of the Swirling Jet Experiment

The far swirling jet is self-similar (like the non-swirling jet).
For S < 0.2, the effect of initial swirl is negligible.
There is no considerable effect of swirl on growth rate, consistent with the theory.
The change in the virtual origin of these jets are slight (consistent with the relatively
low swirl number)

U c 1/12 x 1

Wmax 1/ 22 x 2

The role of each term (production, advection, diffusion and dissipation) is similar in
both swirling and non-swirling jet.

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Natural Convection Experiment

Conduction Very Slow Process

Heat Transfer Modes

Forced Convection

Convection +
Natural Convection

Natural convection flows are among the least well undersood. No need for a medium

Radiation
Although to tranferthere
they are the most commonly occuring method of convective heat transfer, the heat
is a
lack of controlled and reliable experimental studies because of the difficulties.

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Natural Convection Applications

Natural-draft
cooling tower Reactor
heat exchanger

Heat-sink Radiator

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Some Definitions

g Ts T L3 Buoyancy forces
GrL
2 Viscous forces

GrL Natural GrL Natural

1 convection can Re 2 1 convection
Re 2L L
be neglected dominates

Ra L GrL Pr

For vertical surface, transition to turbulence at RaL 109

For a wall at T=70 C in air, transition starts at L 0.6 m

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Theory of the NCBL

Turbulent natural convection boundary layer flow next to a cylindrical surface:

Axisymmetric flow: homogeneous in tangential direction.
Newtonian, Incompressible flow.
Temperature gradient in the flow cause the density, viscosity and other
thermodynamics properties variation.
Buoyancy as the source of momentum.

To simplify the Inner layer Viscous and conduction terms are dominating
momentum and energy B.L. equation
equations of the flow separation Outer layer Viscous and conduction terms are negligible

For an acceptable seperation between the scales we need a really big Grashof number flow...
This was primary reason for the large experimetal facility at Chalmers.

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Experimental Rig
Previous experiments:
Most of the experiments were carried out next
to a vertical flat plate: Tsuji & Nagano (1988)
Measurements on vertical cylinder by Persson
& Karlsson (1996) were problematic:
Low Grashof number
Boundary conditions were not controlled.

New experimental
facility was built to
modify the rig used
by Persson & Karlsson

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Experimental Rig Schematic

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Measurement Methods

Velocity measurement: Laser Doppler Anemometry

(LDA)

Thermocouple
mean temperature
Temperature measurement:

Cold-wire thermometry
instantaneous temperature

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Temperature Measurement Errors

Prongs temperature gradient.
Wall temperature measurement errors.
Calibration uncertainities.
Temperature measurement errors in very low
velocity fluids.

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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Summary of the NCBL Experiment

The experiments were carried out in three different heights: 1.5m, 3m and 4m corresponding to the
Rayleigh numbers: Ra = 1.0 1010 , 7 1010 and 1.7 1011 respectively.

Simultaneous two components velocity and temperature measured across boundary layer in
turbulent region.

Temperature measurement methods were not suitable for this flow, but lack of any other alternative
method with the necessary accuracy forced us to use them, considering the short comings.

A comprehensive theoritical foundation was established for future investigations.

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010

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In Memory of

Professor Rolf Karlsson

(1945 2005)

Abolfazl SHIRI Feb. 19th, 2010