Computer simulation of turbulent swirling flows

Simulation of turbulent swirling flows has been carried out to provide insight on streamline curvature effects. Numerical calculations were based on the control-volume method. Turbulence effects were represented by two-equation turbulence models. The analysis of steady flow between two concentric rotating cylinders showed that the most promising model which incorporates curvature effects is that based on mixing energy developed by Wilcox and Chambers, as opposed to the ad hoc modification to the standard k–ϵ model. This model has also been used to simulate the decay of turbulent swirling flow in a short cylinder. A comparison between calculations and experimental results for such flow fields has been presented.