On the modelling of scalar and mass transport in combustor flows

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Abstract
The results of a numerical study of swirling and non‐swirling combustor flows with and without density variations are presented. Constant‐density arguments are used to justify closure assumptions invoked for the transport equations for turbulent momentum and scalar fluxes, which are written in terms of density‐weighted variables. Comparisons are carried out with measurements obtained from three different axisymmetric model combustors. The three experiments cover recirculating flow, swirling flow and variable‐density, swirling flow inside model combustors. Together, they offer wide ranging flow conditions to test the validity of the models. Results show that the Reynolds stress/flux models do a credible job of predicting constant‐density, swirling and non‐swirling combustor flows with passive scalar transport. However, their improvements over algebraic stress/flux models are marginal. The extension of the constant‐density models to variable‐density flow calculations shows that the models are equally valid for such flows. Therefore, the present results argue well for the adoption of constant‐density models for variable‐density flows until a successfully validated variable‐density model is available.

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