Turbulent flow definition

Noncircular Channels Calciilation of fric tional pressure drop in noncircular channels depends on whether the flow is laminar or tumu-lent, and on whether the channel is full or open. For turbulent flow in ducts running full, the hydraulic diameter shoiild be substituted for D in the friction factor and Reynolds number definitions, Eqs. (6-32) and (6-33). The hydraiilic diameter is defined as four times the channel cross-sectional area divided by the wetted perimeter. For example, the hydraiilic diameter for a circiilar pipe is = D, for an annulus of inner diameter d and outer diameter D, = D — d, for a rectangiilar duct of sides 7, h, Dij = ah/[2(a + h)].T ie hydraulic radius Rii is defined as one-fourth of the hydraiilic diameter. 

Re using the equivalent diameters defined in the following. This situation is, by arbitrary definition, opposite to that for the hydraulic diameter used for turbulent flow. 

The value of tire heat transfer coefficient of die gas is dependent on die rate of flow of the gas, and on whether the gas is in streamline or turbulent flow. This factor depends on the flow rate of tire gas and on physical properties of the gas, namely the density and viscosity. In the application of models of chemical reactors in which gas-solid reactions are caiTied out, it is useful to define a dimensionless number criterion which can be used to determine the state of flow of the gas no matter what the physical dimensions of the reactor and its solid content. Such a criterion which is used is the Reynolds number of the gas. For example, the characteristic length in tire definition of this number when a gas is flowing along a mbe is the diameter of the tube. The value of the Reynolds number when the gas is in streamline, or linear flow, is less than about 2000, and above this number the gas is in mrbulent flow. For the flow... 

In this definition, ps and pt are the solid and fluid densities, respectively. The characteristic diameter of the particles is ds (which is used in calculating the projected cross-sectional area of particle in the direction of the flow in the drag law). The kinematic viscosity of the fluid is vf and y is a characteristic strain rate for the flow. In a turbulent flow, y can be approximated by l/r when ds is smaller than the Kolmogorov length scale r. (Unless the turbulence is extremely intense, this will usually be the case for fine particles.) Based on the Stokes... 

The value of the Reynolds number which approximately separates laminar from turbulent flow depends, as previously mentioned, on the particular configuration of the system. Thus the critical value is around 50 for a film of liquid or gas flowing down a flat plate, around 500 for flow around a sphere, and around 2500 for flow through a pipe. The characteristic length in the definition of the Reynolds number is, for example, the diameter of the sphere or of the pipe in two of these examples. 

Equation (e) is merely a definition of the mass flow rate. Equation (/) is a standard correlation for the friction factor for turbulent flow. (Note that the correlation between /and the Reynold s number (Re) is also available as a graph, but use of data from a graph requires trial-and-error calculations and rules out an analytical solution.)... 

From this definition, it can be observed that T,(k. t) is the net rate at which turbulent kinetic energy is transferred from wavenumbers less than k to wavenumbers greater than k. In fully developed turbulent flow, the net flux of turbulent kinetic energy is from large to small scales. Thus, the stationary spectral energy transfer rate Tu(k) will be positive at spectral equilibrium. Moreover, by definition of the inertial range, the net rate of transfer through wavenumbers /cei and kdi will be identical in a fully developed turbulent flow, and thus... 

Note that hv operates on the random field U(r, f) and (for fixed parameters V, x, and t) produces a real number. Thus, unlike the LES velocity PDF described above, the FDF is in fact a random variable (i.e., its value is different for each realization of the random field) defined on the ensemble of all realizations of the turbulent flow. In contrast, the LES velocity PDF is a true conditional PDF defined on the sub-ensemble of all realizations of the turbulent flow that have the same filtered velocity field. Hence, the filtering function enters into the definition of /u u(V U ) only through the specification of the members of the sub-ensemble. 

We start by considering an arbitrary measurable10 one-point11 scalar function of the random fields U and 0 Q U, 0). Note that, based on this definition, Q is also a random field parameterized by x and t. For each realization of a turbulent flow, Q will be different, and we can define its expected value using the probability distribution for the ensemble of realizations.12 Nevertheless, the expected value of the convected derivative of Q can be expressed in terms of partial derivatives of the one-point joint velocity, composition PDF 13... 

As flow is, by definition, unpredictable, there is no single equation that defines the rate of turbulent flow as there is with laminar flow. However, there is a number that can be calculated in order to identify whether fluid flow is likely to be laminar or turbulent and this is called Reynold s number (Re). 

Figure 8 shows that the group Di /wde is roughly constant for all Reynolds numbers. Jacques and Vermeulen (Jl) found, however, that their data with regular arrangements of the particles showed a definite break in the values. This seems to be caused by a transition from laminar to turbulent flow. 

Bischoff and Levenspiel (B14) present some calculations using existing experimental data to check the above predictions about the radial coefficients. For turbulent flow in empty tubes, the data of Lynn et al. (L20) were numerically averaged across the tube, and fair agreement found with the data of Fig. 12. The same was done for the packed-bed data of Dorweiler and Fahien (D20) using velocity profile data of Schwartz and Smith (Sll), and then comparing with Fig. 11. Unfortunately, the scatter in the data precluded an accurate check of the predictions. In order to prove the relationships conclusively, more precise experimental work would be needed. Probably the best type of system for this would be one in laminar flow, since the radial and axial coefficients for the general dispersion model are definitely known each is the molecular diffusivity. 

Perhaps the simplest classification of flow regimes is on the basis of the superficial Reynolds number of each phase. Such a Reynolds number is expressed on the basis of the tube diameter (or an apparent hydraulic radius for noncircular channels), the gas or liquid superficial mass-velocity, and the gas or liquid viscosity. At least four types of flow are then possible, namely liquid in apparent viscous or turbulent flow combined with gas in apparent viscous or turbulent flow. The critical Reynolds number would seem to be a rather uncertain quantity with this definition. In usage, a value of 2000 has been suggested (L6) and widely adopted for this purpose. Other workers (N4, S5) have found that superficial liquid Reynolds numbers of 8000 are required to give turbulent behavior in horizontal or vertical bubble, plug, slug or froth flow. Therefore, although this classification based on superficial Reynolds number is widely used... 

Another explanation of the lithium gap in the Hyades could be found in terms of turbulent diffusion and nuclear destruction. Turbulence is definitely needed to explain the lithium abundance decrease in G stars. If this turbulence is due to the shear flow instability induced by meridional circulation (Baglin, Morel, Schatzman 1985, Zahn 1983), turbulence should also occur in F stars, which rotate more rapidly than G stars. Fig. 2 shows a comparison between the turbulent diffusion coefficient needed for lithium nuclear destruction and the one induced by turbulence. Li should indeed be destroyed in F stars This effect gives an alternative scenario to account for the Li gap in the Hyades. The fact that Li is normal in the hottest observed F stars could be due to their slow rotation. 

An interesting aspect arises in the transition region for the polyacrylamides B1 and M3, definite changeover points are recognizable, whereas for polyacrylamide 40/1 there is a steady transition, so that a difference between laminar and turbulent flow cannot be pinpointed. For the curve of PAAm M3, the Newtonian turbulence reference-line is not attained. This phenomenon will be discussed in more detail in the following section on concentration dependency. 

SQ iL/KAP)yi. Equivalent diameters are not the same as hydraulic diameters. Equivalent diameters yield the correct relation between flow rate and pressure drop when substituted into Eq. (6-36), but not Eq. (6-35) because V Q/(kDe/4). Equivalent diameter De is not to be used in the friction factor and Reynolds number f 16/Re using the equivalent diameters defined in the following. This situation is, by arbitrary definition, opposite to that for the hydraulic diameter DH used for turbulent flow. 

As an example, for steady, incompressible, and isothermal turbulent flows using the k- model, the independent equations are (1) the continuity equation, Eq. (5.61) (2) the momentum equation, Eq. (5.65) (3) the definition of the effective viscosity, /xeff (combination of Eq. (5.64) and Eq. (5.72)) (4) the equation of turbulent kinetic energy, Eq. (5.75) and (5) the equation for the dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy, Eq. (5.80). Thus, for a three-dimensional model, the total number of independent equations is seven. The corresponding independent variables are (1) velocity (three components) (2) pressure (3) effective viscosity (4) turbulent kinetic energy and (5) dissipation rate of turbulent kinetic energy. Thus, the total number of independent variables is also seven, and the model becomes solvable. 

Transition from laminar to turbulent flow within the condensed film can occur when the vapor is condensed on a tall surface or on a tall vertical bank of horizontal tubes [45] to [47]. It has been found that the film Reynolds number, based on the mean velocity in the film, um, and the hydraulic diameter, D, can be used to characterize the conditions under which transition from laminar flow occurs. The mean velocity in the film is given by definition as ... 

We have already likened the macroscopic transport of heat and momentum in turbulent flow to their molecular counterparts in laminar flow, so the definition in Eq. (5-60) is a natural consequence of this analogy. To analyze molecular-transport problems (see, for example. Ref. 7, p. 369) one normally introduces the concept of mean free path, or the average distance a particle travels between collisions. Prandtl introduced a similar concept for describing turbulent-flow phenomena. The Prandtl mixing length is the distance traveled, on the average, by the turbulent lumps of fluid in a direction normal to the mean flow. 

For situations where the droplets are subjected for a very short time to the disruptive stress (e.g., in turbulent flow), the viscosity of the internal phase will cause the droplet to react slowly to the external stress, and the definition into has to be extended ... 

When the turbulence is not too large, the main force on the droplets is caused by the shear imposed by the surrounding eddies. With the help of the Kolmogorov theory for turbulent flow, the external, disrupting force is can estimated as Text = V(e /c)- We then end up with a definition of the critical Weber number ... 

The hydrauhc diameter method does not work well for laminar flow because the shape affects the flow resistance in a way that cannot be expressed as a function only of the ratio of cross-sectional area to wetted perimeter. For some shapes, the Navier-Stokes equations have been integrated to yield relations between flow rate and pressure drop. These relations may be expressed in terms of equivalent diameters De defined to make the relations reduce to the second form of the Hagen-Poiseulle equation, Eq. (6-36) that is, De = 2 Q. L/ nAPY . Equivalent mameters are not the same as hydraulic diameters. Equivalent diameters yield the correct relation between flow rate and pressure drop when substituted into Eq. (6-36), but not Eq. (6-35) because V Q/IkDeH). Equivalent diameter De is not to be used in the friction factor and Reynolds number / 16/Re using the equivalent diameters defined in the following. This situation is, by arbitrary definition, opposite to that for the hydrauhc diameter Dh used for turbulent flow. 

In the study of reaction rates of organic acids with lead (Turnbull and Frey, 6), a solid lead cylinder was rotated at high speeds in a solvent containing the acid. The liquid space in the vessel and velocity of rotation were chosen to yield Reynold s numbers of the order of 12,000 to 60,000, thus definitely creating turbulent flow in the medium. The reaction rates measured in this system were of the order of 10 moles/sec./cm. metal surface. While the bulk of the liquid medium was doubtless in turbulent... 

Since a precise definition of turbulence is difficult, pictures and other visualizations of turbulent flows may give some idea of the complex characteristics of turbulence. Several such visualizations are available, including the famous painting The Deluge by Leonardo da Vinci. Banerjee (1992) included several such pictures in his excellent paper on turbulence structures. Van Dyke (1982) published an album of fluid motion which is a must see for any turbulence researcher. Several websites hold treasures of visual information on turbulence (see, for example, links listed at sites such as www.cfd-online.com and www.efluids.com). Pictures included in these resources show various aspects of turbulent flows and may give some intuitive understanding of turbulence. 

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