Direct Numerical Simulation of Pebble Bed Flows: Database Development and Investigation of Low-Frequency Temporal Instabilities Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • Computational analyses of fluid flow through packed pebble bed domains using the Reynolds-averaged NavierStokes (RANS) framework have had limited success in the past. Because of a lack of high-fidelity experimental or computational data, optimization of Reynolds-averaged closure models for these geometries has not been extensively developed. In the present study, direct numerical simulation (DNS) was employed to develop a high-fidelity database that can be used for optimizing Reynolds-averaged closure models for pebble bed flows. A face-centered cubic (FCC) domain with periodic boundaries was used. Flow was simulated at a Reynolds number of 9308 and cross-verified by using available quasi-DNS data. During the simulations, low-frequency instability modes were observed that affected the stationary solution. These instabilities were investigated by using the method of proper orthogonal decomposition, and a correlation was found between the time-dependent asymmetry of the averaged velocity profile data and the behavior of the highest-energy eigenmodes. Finally, the effects of the domain size and the method of averaging were investigated to determine how these parameters influenced the stationary solution. A violation of the ergodicity assumption was observed.

published proceedings

  • JOURNAL OF FLUIDS ENGINEERING-TRANSACTIONS OF THE ASME

author list (cited authors)

  • Fick, L. H., Merzari, E., & Hassan, Y. A.

citation count

  • 17

complete list of authors

  • Fick, Lambert H||Merzari, Elia||Hassan, Yassin A

publication date

  • May 2017