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Experimental and Numerical Modelling of Free-Surface Turbulent Flows in Full Air-Core Water Vortices

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Advances in Hydroinformatics

Part of the book series: Springer Water ((SPWA))

Abstract

The results from analytical, numerical and experimental modelling of free-surface vortex flows are presented. Vortex flow is induced in a gravity-driven, open-channel flow chamber with a subcritical approach flow and is simulated using the ANSYS CFX steady Eulerian multiphase flow model in order to determine water surface- and velocity-field characteristics. Solution sensitivity to mesh type, density and various turbulence closure methods is considered. The water surface and tangential velocity profile are also modelled using the Vatistas (n = 2) analytical model. The numerical solution is validated using experiments conducted in a scaled physical model of the chamber which permits the investigation of the air/water interface and determination of the velocity fields using particle tracking velocimetry. The sensitivity analysis carried out presents a case for mesh independence and gives evidence that the baseline Reynolds stress model is most suited in simulating free-surface vortex flows. The predicted shape of the air core is in agreement with the physical model but the location of the resolved free-surface interface is under predicted. Concerning the velocity field, the Reynolds stress model makes a fair to moderate prediction of the tangential velocity field; however, the radial velocity field is typically underpredicted. It is concluded that unsteady flow features inherent in the vortex, namely, free-surface instabilities, are preventing the steady-state model from achieving the required accuracy, thus requiring further transient analysis.

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Abbreviations

\( \phi_{k} \) :

Volume fraction of phase \( k \)

\( f \) :

Laser pulse frequency (Hz)

g:

Gravitational acceleration (m s−2)

\( r \) :

Radius (m)

\( r_{c} \) :

Vortex core radius (m)

\( \theta , r, z \) :

Cylindrical coordinate system (rad, m, m)

\( x, y, z \) :

Cartesian coordinate system (m, m, m)

\( t \) :

Time (s)

\( v_{\theta } \) :

Tangential velocity (m s−1)

\( v_{r} \) :

Radial velocity (m s−1)

\( v_{z} \) :

Axial velocity (m s−1)

\( \varGamma \) :

Vortex circulation (m2 s−1)

P:

Static pressure (Pa)

\( H_{r} \) :

Vortex depth at \( r \) (m)

\( D \) :

Effective diameter (m)

\( d \) :

Orifice diameter (m)

\( d_{p} \) :

Particle diameter (m)

\( B \) :

Channel width (m)

\( B_{In} \) :

Inlet width (m)

\( \rho \) :

Fluid density (kg m−3)

\( \mu \) :

Dynamic viscosity (N.s m−2)

T:

Fluid temperature (K)

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Acknowledgments

The authors would like to express their gratitude to the Irish Research Council for the financial support of this work. In addition, the authors would like to thank the School of Engineering and Design and Estates Management at IT Sligo for facilitating the fluid dynamics research laboratory.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CERIS, Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, Institute of Technology, Ash Lane, Sligo, Ireland

    Sean Mulligan

  2. Department of Civil Engineering and Construction, Institute of Technology, Sligo School of Science, Institute of Technology, Sligo, Ireland

    John Casserly & Richard Sherlock

Authors
  1. Sean Mulligan
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  2. John Casserly
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  3. Richard Sherlock
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Correspondence to Sean Mulligan .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. University of Nice-Sophia Antipolis, Sophia Antipolis, France

    Philippe Gourbesville

  2. Society Hydrotechnique of France, La Tronche, France

    Jean A. Cunge

  3. ARTS et METIERS PARISTECH, LILLE cedex, Paris, France

    Guy Caignaert

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Mulligan, S., Casserly, J., Sherlock, R. (2016). Experimental and Numerical Modelling of Free-Surface Turbulent Flows in Full Air-Core Water Vortices. In: Gourbesville, P., Cunge, J., Caignaert, G. (eds) Advances in Hydroinformatics. Springer Water. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-287-615-7_37

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