Effect of Coriolis and centrifugal forces on turbulence and transport at high rotation and buoyancy numbers

This study attempts to understand one of the most fundamental and challenging problems in fluid flow and heat transfer for rotating machines. The study focuses on gas turbines and electric generators for high temperature and high energy density applications, respectively, both of which employ rotating cooling channels so that materials do not fail under high temperature and high stress environment.; Prediction of fluid flow and heat transfer inside internal cooling channels that rotate at high rotation number and high density ratio similar to those that are existing in turbine blades and generator rotors is the main focus of this study. Both smooth-wall and rib-roughened channels are considered here. Rotation, buoyancy, bends, ribs and boundary conditions affect the flow inside theses channels. Ribs are introduced inside internal cooling channel in order to enhance the heat transfer rate. The use of ribs causes rapid increase in the supply pressure, which is already limited in a turbine or a generator and requires high cost for manufacturing. Hence careful optimization is needed to justify the use of ribs. Increasing rotation number (Ro) is another approach to increase heat transfer rate to values that are comparable to those achieved by introduction of ribs. One objective of this research is to study and compare theses two approaches in order to decide the optimum range of application and a possible replacement of the high-cost and complex ribs by increasing Ro.; A fully computational approach is employed in this study. On the basis of comparison of two-equation (k-epsilon and k-o) and RSM turbulence models against limited available experimental data, it is concluded that the two-equation turbulence models cannot predict the anisotropic turbulent flow field and heat transfer correctly, while RSM showed improved prediction. For the near wall region, two approaches with standard wall functions and enhanced near wall treatment were investigated. The enhanced near wall approach showed superior results to the standard wall functions approach. Thus RSM with enhanced near wall treatment is validated against available experimental data (which are primarily at low rotation and buoyancy numbers). The model was then used for cases with high Ro (as much as 1.29) and high-density ratios (DR) (up to 0.4). Particular attention is given to how turbulence intensity, Reynolds stresses and transport are affected by Coriolis and buoyancy/centrifugal forces caused by high levels of Ro and DR. Variations of flow total pressure along the rotating channel are also predicted. The results obtained are explained in view of physical interpretation of Coriolis and centrifugal forces. (Abstract shortened by UMI.)...