Length scales of turbulent mixing

Two important length scales for describing turbulent mixing of an inert scalar are the scalar integral scale L, and the Batchelor scale A.B. The latter is defined in terms of the Kolmogorov scale r] and the Schmidt number by 

The scalar integral scale characterizes the largest structures in the scalar field, and is primarily determined by two processes (1) initial conditions - the scalar field can be initialized with a characteristic that is completely independent of the turbulence field, and (2) turbulent mixing - the energy-containing range of a turbulent flow will create scalar eddies with a characteristic length scale I.,p that is approximately equal to Lu. 

Obviously, a successful model for turbulent mixing must, at a minimum, be able to account for the time dependence of inhomogeneous turbulence.2 However, the situation 

Like the Kolmogorov scale in a turbulent flow, the Batchelor scale characterizes the smallest scalar eddies wherein molecular diffusion is balanced by turbulent mixing.3 In gas-phase flows, Sc 1, so that the smallest scales are of the same order of magnitude as the Kolmogorov scale, as illustrated in Fig. 3.1. In liquid-phase flows, Sc 1 so that the scalar field contains much more fine-scale structure than the velocity field, as 

1 In chemical-reaction engineering, this process is sometimes referred to as mesomixing. 

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