Prediction of turbulent mixing at the interface of density stratified, shear flows using CFD

Numerical simulations were performed involving stratified, shear flows that have been investigated experimentally. One set of simulations dealt with a homogeneous shear flow involving miscible fluids. The other set of simulations dealt with a developing shear layer involving immiscible fluids. The re-fueling of a compensated fuel/ballast tank, which is partially characterized by a shear layer, was also simulated. In all the simulations a single fluid, scalar transport multiphase model and the k-epsilon turbulence model were used. In the simulations involving miscible fluids an interfacial thickness relationship given by delta/H∼(Ri*)--2.1 and an entrainment relationship given by E∼(Ri*)--1.1 were predicted. These relationships agree with experimental observations. Results from the simulations involving immiscible fluids show a strong gradient Richardson number dependence where the gradient Richardson number ranged from Ri G = 0.05 to RiG = 0.25. The simulations of the compensated fuel/ballast tank showed that buoyant flow events around internal manholes caused a significant amount of mixing.

Name thesis:degree_name

MS

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Year dc:date.available

1998

Author dc:creator

• Umbel, Matthew Robert

Contributors dc:contributor

• Ismail Celik.

• Mechanical engineering
• Chemical engineering

Identifier

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/938

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1941