NUMERICAL SIMULATION OF A VERY LOW REYNOLDS CROSS-SHAPED JET

Abstract

A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) investi-gation of a free cross-shaped jet used in personalized ventilation (PV) was conducted in order to determine the best viscous model to be used for an accurate CFD numerical simulation of the flow. The conception of high induction diffusers by means of passive jet control became a challenge in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC). The aim of this study is to identify the optimal configuration for the numerical simulation study of anair cross-shaped jet. For this we compared the Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) experimental measurements on a cross-shaped jet with the results obtained by numerical simulation in Fluent software with four different viscous models: laminar, RNG k-, RSM (Reynold’s Stress Model) and LES. The objective is to assess the capability and limitations of the studied viscous models to predict the significant features of the cross-shaped air jet by numerical simulation. The study reveals that LES is the only model that is able to capture the flow characteristics.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.mech.19.5.5537