Turbulence Modeling Insights into Supercritical Nitrogen Mixing Layers

Leandro Magalhães, Francisco Carvalho, André Silva and Jorge Barata
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Leandro Magalhães: LAETA-Aeronautics and Astronautics Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Francisco Carvalho: LAETA-Aeronautics and Astronautics Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
André Silva: LAETA-Aeronautics and Astronautics Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Jorge Barata: LAETA-Aeronautics and Astronautics Research Center, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal

Energies, 2020, vol. 13, issue 7, 1-20

Abstract: In Liquid Rocket Engines, higher combustion efficiencies come at the cost of the propellants exceeding their critical point conditions and entering the supercritical domain. The term fluid is used because, under these conditions, there is no longer a clear distinction between a liquid and a gas phase. The non-conventional behavior of thermophysical properties makes the modeling of supercritical fluid flows a most challenging task. In the present work, a Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS) computational method following an incompressible but variable density approach is devised on which the performance of several turbulence models is compared in conjunction with a high accuracy multi-parameter equation of state. In addition, a suitable methodology to describe transport properties accounting for dense fluid corrections is applied. The results are validated against experimental data, making it clear that there is no trend between turbulence model complexity and the quality of the produced results. For several instances, one- and two-equation turbulence models produce similar results. Finally, considerations about the applicability of the tested turbulence models in supercritical simulations are given based on the results and the structural nature of each model.

Keywords: turbulence modeling; supercritical injection; Liquid Rocket Engines (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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