Analysis and Control of Complex Flows in U-Bends using Computational Fluid Dynamics

Date

2014-08-07

Author

Guden, Yigitcan
Yavuz, Mehmet Metin

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Analysis and control of flow structure in U-bends are crucial since U-bends are used in many different engineering applications. As a flow parameter in U-bends, the ratio of inertial and centrifugal forces to viscous forces is called as Dean number. The increase of Dean number destabilizes the flow and leads to a three-dimensional flow consisting of stream wise parallel counter-rotating vortices (Dean vortices) stacked along the curved wall. Due to the curvature in U-bends, the flow development involves complex flow structures including Dean vortices and high levels of turbulence that are not seen in straight duct flows. These are quite critical in considering noise problems and structural failure of the ducts. In this work, computational fluid dynamic (CFD) models are developed using ANSYS FLUENT to simulate these complex flows patterns in square sectioned U-bend with a radius of curvature R-c/D=0.65. The predictions of mean velocity profiles on different angular positions of the U-bend are compared against the experimental results available in the literature and previous numerical studies. Performance of six different turbulence models are evaluated, namely: the standard k-epsilon, the k-epsilon Realizable, the k-epsilon RNG, the k-omega) SST, the Reynolds Stress Model (RSM) and the Scale-Adaptive Simulation Model (SAS), to propose the best numerical approach with increasing the accuracy of the solutions while reducing the computation time. Numerical results show remarkable improvements with respect to previous numerical studies and good agreement with the available experimental data. The best turbulence model for this application is proposed considering both the computation time and the result accuracy. In addition, different flow control techniques are still under investigation to eliminate Dean vortices and to reduce turbulence levels in U-bends.

Subject Keywords

Turbulent-flow

URI

https://hdl.handle.net/11511/53352

Conference Name

4th ASME Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Diviison Summer Meeting

Collections

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Conference / Seminar

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Citation Formats

Y. Guden and M. M. Yavuz, “Analysis and Control of Complex Flows in U-Bends using Computational Fluid Dynamics,” presented at the 4th ASME Joint US-European Fluids Engineering Diviison Summer Meeting, 2014, Accessed: 00, 2020. [Online]. Available: https://hdl.handle.net/11511/53352.