Computational fluid dynamics validation of buoyant turbulent flow heat transfer

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is commonly implemented in industry to perform fluid-flow and heat-transfer analysis and design. Turbulence model studies in literature show that fluid flows influenced by buoyancy still pose a significant challenge to modeling. The Experimental Fluid Dynamics Laboratory at Utah State University constructed a rotatable buoyancy wind tunnel to perform particle image velocimetry experiments for the validation of CFD turbulence models pertaining to buoyant heat-transfer flows. This study validated RANS turbulence models implemented within the general purpose CFD software STAR-CCM+, including the k – ε models: realizable two-layer, standard two-layer, standard low-Re, v2 – f, the k- ω models from Wilcox and Menter, and the Reynolds stress transport and Spalart - Allmaras models. The turbulence models were validated against experimental heat flux and velocity data in mixed and forced convection flows at mixed convection ratios in the range of 0.1 ≤ Gr/Re2 ≤ 0.8. The k- ε standard low-Re turbulence model was found most capable overall of predicting the fluid velocity and heat flux of the mixed convection flows, while mixed results were obtained for forced convection