Experimental and numerical investigation of disturbed flow patterns by an asymmetric swirl generator

Abstract

In this article a disturbed flow pattern caused by an asymmetric swirl disturbance generator experimentally by laser-Doppler velocimetry (LDV) and numerically by computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is analyzed. From the data collected in experiment and simulation we create, evaluate and compare quantifiable contour and profile plots of the primary flow as well as flow-specific performance indicators in different cross-sections downstream from the disturbance generator. The results show a heavily asymmetric velocity distribution with little to no signs of relaxation over the course of the section of measurements. Significant similarities between measurement and simulation can be observed at small distances downstream from the impediment. Further downstream, with increasing distance, deviations and differences in the flow patterns become more apparent suggesting that the SST turbulence model can only partially reproduce the real flow occurring on the test rig.