Numerical and experimental study of a double jet inclination variation on its dynamic evolution within a crossflow
Abstract
This paper deals with the dynamics of the flowfield resulting from the interaction of twin inclined elliptic jets with an oncoming crossflow. It will particularly focus on the impact of the initial streamwise inclination angle of the emitted jets on the different flow dynamic features. This particular side of the question is of an extremely high interest as it allows a better understanding of the mixing of the different interacting flows. A well understanding of this mechanism is likely to enable us to control the jets’ trajectories, expansion, confinement, etc. all these processes are in tight relationship with the atmospheric pollution and the pollutants’ dispersion which are nowadays alarming questions needing urgent constraining measures and viable solutions. The consideration of the question was first carried out experimentally by means of the particle image velocimetry (PIV) technique in order to track the evolution of the jets among the environing flow. The second step of this work consisted in the numerical simulation of the same configuration by solving the Navier-Stokes equations with the finite volume method and the Reynolds stress model (RSM) second-order turbulent model. The use of this particular model is in itself a new contribution in the “jets in crossflow” examination; and its merit comes from its high ability to detect the shear stresses that are precisely determinant in the mixing enhancement. The efficiency of this model was proved in our work by the satisfying matching of the numerical results and the experimental data. Once the validation obtained, we enhanced our model by introducing a temperature gradient between the interacting flows and by injecting a non reactive fume through the jet nozzles. We also varied the initial angle of the emitted jets in order to evaluate the impact of this parameter on some dynamic characterizing features such as the global jets’ plumes, the windward and the leeward jets’ spread, the size, the location and the magnitude of the reverse flow region, the penetration and the deflection of the jets’ trajectories, the mass entrainment of the discharged pollutants from the jets’ nozzles, some of the shear stress components, etc. a thorough description of these parameters is likely to well characterize the exact progression of a given particle contained within the jets (in the case of the polluted jets) which will help us find the adequate way to control it.
Keywords
Particle Image Velocimetry Inclination Angle Horseshoe Vortex Reynolds Stress Model Counter Rotate Vortex PairList of symbols
- d
Jet nozzle diameter (m)
- D
Nozzles’ spacing (m)
- f
Mass fraction
- g
Gravitational acceleration (m/s2)
- Gk
Term of production due to buoyancy forces [kg/(m s3)]
- κ
Thermal diffusivity (m2/s)
- k
Kinetic energy of turbulence (m2/s2)
- Pk
Term of production due to the mean gradients [kg/(m s3)]
- R
Injection to mainstream velocity ratio (R = u i /U ∞ )
- Sij
Mean strain rate
- T
Temperature (K)
- U∞
Crossflow velocity (m/s)
- V0
Injection velocity (m/s)
- \( \overline{{u_{i} ''u_{j} ''}} \)
Reynolds stress (m2/s2)
- ui, uj
Velocity components along the i and j directions
- u, v, w
Velocity components along x, y, and z directions (m/s)
- x, y, z
Cartesian coordinates (m)
Greek symbols
- ρ
Density (kg/m3)
- β
Thermal expansion coefficient (K−1)
- ε
Dissipation rate of the turbulent kinetic energy
- μ
Kinetic viscosity [kg/(m s)]
- μt
Turbulent (or eddy) viscosity [kg/(m s)]
- α
Injection angle with reference to the free stream (x-axis, °)
- ν
Kinematic viscosity (m2/s)
- λ
Thermal conductivity [W/(mK)]
- Cp
Specific heat [J/(kg K)]
- δij
Kronecker symbol (=1 if i = j and 0 if i ≠ j)
Subscripts
- ∞
Conditions in crossflow
- 0
Exit section of the jet
Superscripts
- -
Reynolds average
- ˜
Favre average
Dimensionless groups
- Pr
Prandtl number (Pr = μ C p /λ)
- Re
Reynolds number (Re = u i d/ν)
- Sc
Schmidt number (Sc = ν/κ)
1 Introduction
Research within the realms of fluid mechanics and aerodynamics often comes across the common configuration of “jets in crossflow”. Generally, it is question of single jets in crossflow due to their wide presence in several engineering applications. Nevertheless, the incessant need for increasing the efficiency of the handled applications (cooling, heating, mixing, dispersion, etc.) has multiplied the number of the emitted jets and oriented the concentration towards the “multiple jets in crossflow”. The examination of the intermediate configuration; i.e. the twin jets in crossflow is, however, primordial as it shows the newly developed mechanisms (mixing between the emitted jets) and structures as well as the changes occurred on the already existing features.
The “twin jets in crossflow” configuration is frequently related to environmental concerns in applications like the smoke stacks exhausted from either industrial or vehicle (cars, ships, etc.) chimneys. It is also related to water pollution that is met in the discharge of liquid effluents through piping systems into the rivers, seas or oceans, etc. In such applications, the main goal is to be able to control the mixing and dispersion processes in order to respond to the constraints imposed by regulatory agencies. The environmental side of these applications has become so alarming that these constraints are becoming multiplied and tightened from day to day.
The well understanding and control of the mixing process is also important from a technical point of view. In fact, in applications like the injection of gas through combustion and other mixing chambers in the chemical process industries, it is highly recommended to increase the operating temperature for performance concerns. On the other side, we are always limited by the melting temperature of the handled material which acquires the cooling process a further importance.
Other uses of the jets in crossflow are evident in aerospace applications like the thrust vector control in rockets or in VSTOL aircrafts. In the latter, the need is to restore the flight comfort that is damaged by aerodynamic disturbances. They are mainly engendered by the interference of the lifting jets efflux with the surrounding mainstream during the transition stage from hover to forward flight. We see then that a better knowledge of the jets in crossflow mixing behavior is essential for the control of the emitted jets and even in the design of more efficient flow mixing systems.
Consequently to this large amount of applications making use of the “twin jets in crossflow” configuration, several authors paid attention to their different developing stages. Herein, we have to precise that the twin jets may be arranged differently towards the oncoming crossflow as they may be aligned (tandem) with the mainstream, side by side or opposite. Rare are the works that have dealt exclusively with the inline jets. To our knowledge, Ohanian and Rahai [1] are the only authors to have done this by conducting numerical investigations of two turbulent planer jets in crossflow. The main goal of their paper was the evaluation of a dynamic and a geometric parameter; the injection ratio and the jet nozzle spacing, respectively; on the resulting flow dynamics. That clearly demonstrated the absence of the jets’ coupling and the enhancement of the throw distance in the crossflow before tilting at the highest jet spacing distance. The mixing is, however, enhanced under the opposite conditions; that is to say under an increase of the jets’ coupling.
Disimile et al. [2] tested the influence of the same parameters; the injection ratio and the nozzle spacing; on the both single and double jet configurations. These tests were carried out experimentally by means of video digitization and managed to relate the jets’ development to the imposed parameters. They also allowed the determination of the averaged jets’ penetration as well as an intermittency function demonstrating the similarity of the handled models’ behaviors.
These two configurations have also been considered by Makihata and Miyai [3] in order to compare their dynamic features. To reach this goal, experimental and theoretical predictions of the trajectories of both configurations have been carried out in the case of buoyant and non-buoyant jets in a uniform crossflow. The velocity measurements acquired under various velocity ratios and normalized distances (rate of the distance between the nozzles and the jet diameter) showed a clear transition of the outline of the velocity contour maps from circular to kidney shaped.
The work of Ibrahim and Gutmark [4] followed the same procedure since it compared the flowfield resulting from a single and a double jet in crossflow. Their results, obtained experimentally by means of the particle image velocimetry (PIV) system, were tracked under different velocity ratios. These experiments allowed the characterization of the jet trajectory and penetration, the deflection of the jet trajectory, the mass entrainment approximation based on the jet trajectory, the windward and leeward jet spread, etc. It was concluded from the observation of these features that the double jet behaves like a higher blowing ratio single jet in crossflow.
Some other authors chose to compare the double to both single and multiple jets in crossflow configurations. Ziegler and Wooler [5] are pioneers in the domain since they established this comparison since the early seventies (1973). They have even considered the question since earlier by comparing normal twin inline and side by side jets in crossflow [6]. This comparison was established by means of a physical model that was validated by confrontation with test data relative to normal and inclined (60°) twin jets in crossflow. This model could mainly explain the jets’ development in terms of pressure forces and entrainment of the mainstream fluid. It also detailed the asymmetric dependence of the jets on each other since the downstream one depends closely on the upstream one whereas the contrary is not true.
The comparison of the number of the emitted jets has been conducted a little later by the same authors [5] and was based on the velocity stratification. For the matter, jets with different exit velocity stratifications have been considered: jets with a relatively high velocity core, jets with a relatively low velocity core and jets originating from a vaned nozzle. The first one was represented by a uniform exit velocity profile, the second by an ideal nozzle and the last one by a more elaborated motion equation. The confrontation of the numerical calculations to the experimental data resulted in a satisfying agreement which allowed a consistent characterization of the mutual interference effects between the jets.
A further dynamic comparison between single, double and multiple jets in crossflow behaviors has been conducted by Isaac and Jakubowski [7]. It was performed experimentally by means of hot-wire anemometry in a wind tunnel on jets characterized by a velocity ratio equal to 2 and a jet spacing of 4 nozzle diameters. The experiments proved the similarity of the downstream of the inline jets behavior with reference to the single jet one with, however, a slightly higher trajectory. This similarity was established in the far field (x/d > 10) in terms of mean velocity and turbulence mechanisms. These features and others like the Reynolds stress profiles also demonstrated the similarity of the single and multiple jet cases. It was finally suggested that the initial condition have significant role on the each of the jet trajectories even if they do not affect the turbulent parameters themselves.
Xiao [8] considered the same configurations with, however, the limitation of the number of the multiple jets to three. All of them are emitted within a confined crossflow with constant boundary conditions for the jets and the duct flow. In the double and triple jets system, the centre-to-centre distances between the jets were 0.68 and 0.20 m, respectively. A blockage effect and a recirculation of the mainstream were generated and were strongly affected by the reigning parameters since they were weaker at larger jet spacing and more significant when the number of the emitted jets increased.
Direct numerical simulations (DNS) of the same single, double and triple jets in crossflow configurations have been performed by Maidi et al. [9]. The jet exit section is, however, square and the jets are emitted normally with respect to a jet to cross-flow velocity ratio of 2.5 and a Reynolds number of 225, based on the free-stream quantities and the jet width. The DNS gave a satisfying agreement with the findings of other researchers; both numerical and experimental. The corresponding results proved the dependency of the merging process of the counter-rotating vortex pair of the twin jets on the spacing that separates them. The exploration of the triple jet configuration revealed the existence of more complicated flow interactions between individual jets and cross-flow likely to enhance their corresponding engineering applications.
At the end of this brief literature glimpse, we can say that too few works were exclusively devoted to the inline twin jets in crossflow. Most of the available papers consider rather different arrangements (side by side or opposite) and/or different number of emitted jets (single or multiple) that are most of the time normal to the crossflow. The injection ratio and the jet spacing are the most tested parameters in order to evaluate their impact on the established flowfield and its structural features. In our work, we propose to consider two tandem jets emitted within a cooler oncoming crossflow according to a variable initial inclination angle. Our purpose is to evaluate the impact of this parameter on the dynamics of the resulting flowfield and more particularly on its velocity components and shear stresses. Such an examination is likely to provide us with an overall idea about the mixing process occurring between both of the jets from one side and between the jets and the environing flow on the other side. A better knowledge of the mixing process is primordial for a more efficient control of the jets’ evolution (expansion, extent, elevation, etc.) which is of a high interest in all the already mentioned applications and further more in the ones that are in tight relationship with the environmental sake where the control of the toxic fumes is crucial.
The first step of our study will then consist in an experimental examination of two inline air jets within an air mainstream. A numerical simulation of the configuration is then carried out by means of the finite volume method based on the resolution of the Navier-Stokes equation by means of the RSM second-order turbulent model. The numerical results; validated by confrontation with the experimentally tracked data with the PIV technique, allowed the characterization of the resulting flowfield main dynamic features as well as its turbulent behavior that is mainly responsible for the mixing mechanism. Radhouane et al. [10] has recently considered this configuration and even evaluated the impact of the same parameter; inclination angle. Nevertheless their efforts were rather oriented towards the mass and heat transfers taking part among the interacting flows. The present work in addition to theirs is likely to give a fully developed idea about the impact of the jets’ inclination on the resulting flowfield and present viable solutions to the commonly met problems.
2 Presentation of the problem
Progressive evolution of the twin jets during their emission through the oncoming crossflow and the associated diagram of vortex system
Visualization of the different established vortices along the domain: a Horseshoe vortices, b shear layer vortices, c wake vortices, d counter rotating vortex pair. a and d are obtained numerically, and b and c are obtained experimentally for R = 1.29, α = 60° and D = 3d
As long as the jets emerge and penetrate through the mainstream, the jets’ plumes are deflected, rolled up and skewed resulting in the formation of jet shear layer vortices (SLV) (Fig. 2b) also known as leading edge or ring like vortices. These are quasi-steady vortices that take place in the interface between the front surface of the twin jets and the oncoming crossflow as a result of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability of the annular shear layer that separates from the edge of the injector. Kelso et al. [14] report that the shear layer rollup is limited to the upstream side of the jet for smaller Re, while for crossflow Reynolds numbers higher than 1,000, large scale roll up occurs along the entire perimeter of the shear layer. These structures are analogous to the vortex ring structures typically observed in free jets. The SLV may also turn and realign itself in the streamwise direction due to the momentum of the oncoming crossflow.
Between the injected jets’ lee-side and the injection plaque (wall), develop the upright vortices (UV) (Fig. 2c) also called wake vortices, zipper vortices, tornado like vortices or Fric’s vortices since they were first identified by Fric and Roshko [15] by means of smoke wire visualization. The boundary layer of the crossflow has been observed to provide the main source of vorticity in the wake vortices. Fric and Roshko [15] have also identified separate events where the wall boundary layer forms vortices which attach themselves to the lee-side of the jet and eventually form the wake vortex system. This finding is called an upright wake vortex system since one end of the vortex string is connected to the jet and follows the jet trajectory whereas the other end stays close to the cross flow wall, positioning the vortex in an upright orientation. For low Reynolds numbers, they are the only present unsteady structure.
Finally when the jets’ respective plumes join, a counter rotating vortex pair (CVP) appears in the mean flow (Fig. 2d); they have already appeared in the separated plumes but become more significant when they develop in the resulting plume. This vortex results from the bending of the jets in the streamwise direction and represents the most robust flow feature over all parameter ranges; that is why it has been a subject of numerous studies in the particular case of a single jet in crossflow [14, 16, 17, 18]. Though the CVP is present in the mean flow, it has significant unsteady components [19] and its instantaneous structure may be strongly asymmetric (Smith and Mungal [20]). The mechanism of the CVP’s formation is not yet fully understood in a single jet in crossflow’s configuration and even less in that of double jets in crossflow. Some authors have, however, tried to explain it in a two dimensional model of a single jet in crossflow like Muppidi and Mahesh [21] who stated that the deformation of the jet cross section can be explained in terms of the pressure field around the jet, and of the initial acceleration that the jet fluid experiences in the direction of the cross-flow. They also explained the experimentally observed dependence of the CVP formation on the velocity ratio with the jet acceleration dependence on the cross-flow velocity. Which is certain is that the CVP originates at the side-walls of the jets. As it is generally accepted that the jets’ shear layers fold and roll up very near to the pipes exits, leading to or contributing to the formation of the CVP, although there are still remaining questions related to the nature of vortex roll up just at the nozzles’ exits. It has also been stated that the tilting and the folding of the vortical structures significantly contribute to the downstream components of the vorticity which leads, on an averaged basis, to the formation of counter-rotating vortical structures. All this concern toward the origin and development of CVP is justified by its ability of controlling vorticity generation and evolution and then of controlling transverse jet mixing and, potentially, reaction processes.
An extended description of the formation and decay of these structures is available in the literature in the particular case of single jets in crossflow. The papers devoted to the twin jet structures are on the contrary very scarce [4, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26] and aim rather to the characterization of the vorticity fundamentals (turbulent vorticity flux, vorticity transport and circulation, establishment of describing formula, etc.). We propose in our paper to characterize the vorticity of the resulting flowfield by considering the shear stress distributions which are actually at the origin of the vortical structures.
3 Experimental set-up
Geometric disposition of the twin inclined jets among the whole domain and their relative dimensions
4 Computational set-up
The numerical side of this study is also similar to the one elaborated by Radhouane et al. [10]. We point out nevertheless that consideration was given to a steady, three-dimensional, incompressible and turbulent flow (Re = 3,333, Pr = 0.69 and Sc = 0.74). A Cartesian coordinate whose origin coincides with the center of the upstream jet system is adopted due to the asymmetry of the established flowfield in spite of the symmetry of the model geometry. The resolution of the Navier-Stokes equations (thoroughly described in [10]) needs the use of a turbulence closure model able to characterize the fluctuating functions. The trial of both the k–ε standard turbulent model and the Reynolds stress model (RSM) second-order model together with a non uniform grid system particularly tightened in the vicinity of the jet nozzles’ exit led to the adoption of the latter due to its better fitting to the experimental data [10].
The discretized equations were then solved by means of the finite volume method, the correction of the calculated pressure was carried out by means of the Patankar and Spalding’s algorithm “SIMPLE” [27] and finally the convergence of the calculations was obtained when the sum of the normalized residues attained the critical value of 10−3.
Boundary conditions and composition of the introduced non reacting fume
| Boundaries | Velocity | Temperature | Mass fraction | Kinetic energy | Rate of dissipation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nozzle sections | \( \tilde{u} = V_{0} \cos \alpha \) \( \tilde{v} = V_{0} \sin \alpha \) \( \tilde{w} = 0 \) | \( \tilde{T} = T_{0} = 303.15\,{\text{K}} \) | \( \tilde{f} = f_{0} \) | k = k0 = 10−3V 0 2 [28] | ε = k 0 3/2 /0.5d [28] |
| Crossflow | \( \tilde{u} = U_{\infty } \) \( \tilde{v} = \tilde{w} = 0 \) | \( \tilde{T} = T_{\infty } = 403.15\,{\text{K}} \) | \( \tilde{f} = 0 \) | k = 0 | ε = 0 |
| Walls | \( \tilde{u} = \tilde{v} = \tilde{w} = 0 \) | \( \partial \tilde{T}/\partial y = 0 \) | \( \partial \tilde{f}/\partial y = 0 \) | \( \partial k/\partial y = 0 \) | \( \partial \varepsilon /\partial y = 0 \) |
| Other boundaries of the domain | \( \partial \tilde{u}/\partial n = \partial \tilde{v}/\partial n = \partial \tilde{w}/\partial n = 0 \) | \( \partial \tilde{T}/\partial n = 0 \) | \( \partial \tilde{f}/\partial n = 0 \) | ∂k/∂n = 0 | ∂ɛ/∂n = 0 |
| Fume composition | N2: 76.9%, CO2: 20.9%, O2: 1.8%, SO2: 0.4% | ||||
5 Results and discussion
5.1 Velocity field
Vertical distribution of the longitudinal velocity component in the symmetry plane (z = 0) in the different streamwise characterizing regions of the domain and under the different inclination cases
When we are located within the first jet nozzle (Fig. 4a), we note that the augmentation of the initial inclination affects essentially the initial value of the longitudinal velocity by reducing it progressively till it becomes null although we are inside the jet’s core; the least situation happens in the case of a normal injection (cosα = 0 when α = 90°). These observations lead us to suppose that increasing the initial transverse inclination tends to straighten the jets favoring rather a vertical (toward the y coordinates) expansion than a longitudinal one (x). Farther downstream, the profiles join together around a unique velocity value: the uniform velocity of the transverse flow. At that moment (in the vicinity of y = 50 mm), we join the surrounding flow that stayed outside the interaction zone whose velocity is U ∞ = 2.5 m/s.
Between the two jet nozzles (Fig. 4b), the initial velocity is the same because in all the cases we leave the injection plaque where the velocity is null and as we progress deeper in the domain (increasing y), the behavior varies with the injection angle. In fact, for the weakest one, for example, the jets are immediately tilted by the oncoming transverse flow; leading to an immediate increase of the velocity component. When the jets are straightened, their respective plumes go deeper vertically first before being tilted; leading to the delay of the velocity increase. We note as well the reduction of the registered velocity peaks since we reach them after a certain distance; meanwhile, the jet’s plume has lost some of its scale. Before reaching the peak in question, there is a deceleration in the velocity evolution that becomes wider (on the y-axis) and deeper (weaker velocity values). This is due to the same reason mentioned above, in fact, the rising of the inclination angle makes the plume of the jets flee further the injection plate; and so it is the case for their respective wake regions. So when we quit the injection plate, the velocity is first rising; but when we cross the wake region of the rear jet, a decline is noted on the velocity progression; this decline is intensified with the augmentation of the inclination since this augmentation engenders a wider wake region.
When we move to the third region; that is to say the downstream jet (Fig. 4c); we detect the presence of two velocity peaks relative to the passage through the twin jets’ plumes. The peaks are more distinct, closer one-to-another and maximum for the weakest injection case. In fact, under this condition, both jets are kept near the injection plate; and so is the case for their velocity magnitude; in other words, the jets do not expand too far from the plate that is why we detect their strength almost unchanged. Whereas when the jets are straightened, they expand deeper in the y direction before being tilted; which leads to the weakening of the registered peaks and their removing away. In the highest injection case, we no longer observe a velocity decline; as herein we are almost all the time crossing the jets’ cores and as soon as we quit the one relative to the rear jet, we join that of the downstream one, to finally join the surrounding flow whose velocity is the highest (U ∞).
When we are located downstream of the twin jets (Fig. 4d), the longitudinal velocity component behaves approximately the same as between the jets’ nozzles. Nevertheless we note some discrepancies, like the absence of the negative values we found between the jets. We also detect a slower homogenization of the flow since the uniform velocity is reached later (y = 45 mm rather than y = 28 mm).
Vertical variation of the vertical velocity component \( \tilde{V} \) on the symmetry plane (z = 0), in the different longitudinal locations (x) and under the different initial inclination angles
Between the jet nozzles, the inclination impact is clearer and more significant since we see that under the two-first inclination angles, the velocity attains a single peak. The latter corresponds to the crossing of the extended plume of the rear jet. The rising of the reached value is due to the higher impulse brought to the jet by the initial inclination since the velocity ratio is maintained constant. Straightening more the jets brings a second velocity peak that originates from the backward expanding of the downstream jet. The amplitude of the newly added maximum is different from the already existent one but not too far from it. In this particular location, the inclination factor seems also to widen the velocity profiles which results in a slower homogenization of the velocity of the resulting flowfield.
When we go beyond of the twin jet nozzles, the behavior of the vertical velocity remains unchanged under the two-first inclination cases. The change occurs in the following cases where a second peak develops along the velocity profile; the first one being much higher under α = 60° while the contrary happens under the highest inclination angle (α = 90°). This may be explained by referring to Fig. 8. In fact, when α = 60° we assist to the backward expanding of the second jet. Due to the presence of the rear jet, this backward expanding is actually transformed into a backward—lateral expanding as shown by the dashed lines on Fig. 8c and d. Since we are still too close to the injection plate this reverse flow is still not yet fully developed but if we flee further in the direction of increasing y coordinates we will certainly notice it more clearly. When the inclination angle attains 90° (the maximum tested angle), the jets are brought an impulse that guides them rather vertically than longitudinally, resulting in the least expanding in the x-direction and on the contrary in the most important backward expanding: that gives rise to a much higher second peak. Furthermore, we see that the homogenization is once more delayed since it occurs in the vicinity of y = 80 mm in stead of y = 60 mm when we are located within the jets’ nozzles.
Impact of the streamwise inclination on the lateral evolution of the vertical velocity component within the twin jets’ nozzles
Impact of the streamwise inclination on the lateral evolution of the vertical velocity component between and downstream of the twin jets’ nozzles
A global sight to the plotted distributions of the vertical velocity component within the primer locations shows Gaussian profiles that attain higher peaks as the initial inclination angle grows. Nevertheless this growing differs with the considered y-plane and the longitudinal location. In fact, when we are within the upstream jet and on the closest plane to the injection nozzles, the velocity peak sustains during a whole stage giving to the profile a square trend. The distance over which the peak is maintained constant corresponds to the injection hole dimension (d = 10 mm). The impact of the inclination angle at this level appears through the increase of the registered peak as the jets are straightened. Out of this zone and before completely vanishing the velocity accuses a decline that is more important in magnitude (deeper) and wider when the inclination angle increases. That is simply due to the fact that under a weak inclination angle, the first jet is rapidly tilted and flattened by the oncoming crossflow; leading to a rapid vanishing of the velocity. Whereas when the jets are straightened, they have a stronger impulse to flee the injection plate. That results in a higher velocity gradient leading to a wider reverse flow region and weaker reached values and then to deeper declines for the highest inclinations. These observations are comforted on the higher vertical planes since we note much deeper declines on both sides of the jet when the injection initial inclination is increased. On the other hand, we note the transformation of the square staged profiles into Gaussian ones attaining progressively decreasing and spaced maxima. The global decrease of all the profiles is engendered by the flattening of the jets under the influence of the oncoming crossing flow. However, this increase is more pronounced under the weakest inclination angle since the latter provides the jet with the least impulsion to cross the environing flow. Thus when we flee further the injection plate the detection of the jet velocity becomes harder to practically vanish on the highest plane (y = 8 mm). On this particular plane, we see that the velocity profile of only the highest injection angle still maintains its “strength” but if we move much higher (increasing y) we will certainly assist to the total vanishing of the velocity under this angle too: that would mean that we have reached a region where only exists the crossflow that stayed out of the interaction zone.
If we move to the next jet, the same dynamic behavior is maintained with, however, some minor discrepancies. First, whereas the intensity of the attained peaks remains unchanged on the closest plane (y = 2 mm), it accuses some augmentation on the following ones. This is due to the shielding effect provided by the rear jet on the downstream one, allowing it to maintain its “strength” much higher and farther. This same reason results in a less flattening of the second jet and then in the lessening (y = 8 mm) or even in the absence (y = 5 mm) of the negative decline occurring on both sides of the jet’s borders. Finally, we detect the general thinning of the velocity profiles always because of the flattening reduction of the downstream jet.
The first discrepancy that appears between the profiles plotted within the jets’ locations and elsewhere (Fig. 7) is the order of their superposition. In fact, whereas the velocity dominates under the highest inclination angle within the jets’ nozzles; it is rather the opposite that takes place between and beyond them. Let us examine more closely the evolution within these two locations. In the first one for example and immediately downstream of the nozzle’s exit (y = 2 mm), we see that the vertical velocity component responds to a Gaussian profile whose peak is decreasing as the jets are straightened. This decrease results from the combined effect of the oncoming crossflow and the first impulse brought by the initial inclination. In fact, under the weakest inclination case for example, the rear jet does not have a strong impulse that allows it to cross the environing flow, that is why it is almost immediately flattened and reoriented by the crossflow. This reorientation concerns all the jet’s features and the velocity magnitude is precisely the handled one in this case; that is why all the potential core of the velocity is tilted in the crossflow’s direction before being dispersed and that is finally why we don’t detect its “strength” within the jet’s location, but rather later when we are located within the twin jets’ nozzles or beyond them. As the jets are straightened, they are brought a stronger initial impulse to cross the transverse flow (increasing y) and then loose much of their velocity magnitude before reaching the x = 15 mm location leading to the decline of the registered peak.
Visualization of the vertical velocity contours on the vertical plane y = 2 mm under the different inclination cases
Thus the straightening of the jets between the jets tends to increase the registered peaks, to widen the profiles and to accentuate the decline on both sides of the symmetry plane when we are located within the jets’ location. Between and beyond them, it is rather the contrary that takes place with, however, maintaining the accentuation of the decline on both sides of the symmetry plane.
Impact of the streamwise inclination on the lateral evolution of the spanwise velocity component within the twin jets’ nozzles
Spanwise velocity contours on the plane y = 2 mm under the different inclination cases
Being located within the second jet nozzle brings a significant change on the distribution of the lateral velocity component. It consists in the development of two further peaks of opposite signs and located on both sides of the already present ones. These supplementary peaks clearly express the presence of the double jet since the interior peaks correspond to the second jet emission whereas those located on the periphery correspond to the extension of the reverse flow trapped between the twin jets’ columns (Fig. 10). The passage to a higher plane (y = 5 mm), brings changes on the development of the internal and external peaks. In fact, whereas the highest internal peaks are reached with the highest inclination angle on the first plane, this order is completely inversed in the current plane since the highest peaks correspond to the weakest angle. Furthermore, we note the disappearing of the periphery peaks under the weakest inclination case.
Spanwise velocity contours on two different vertical planes under the different inclination cases: a y = 5 mm and b y = 8 mm
Impact of the streamwise inclination on the lateral evolution of the spanwise velocity component between and downstream of the twin jets’ nozzles
5.2 Shear stress
Vertical distribution of the \( \overline{u''u''} \)—normal stress within the different characterizing streamwise locations and on the symmetry plane (z = 0)
A global sight to the different distributions reveals, before any deep examination, that the more distinct stress peaks are depicted within the twin jets’ columns; which does not automatically mean higher stress values. This region is in fact an interaction zone between the twin jets themselves and between the jets and the oncoming crossflow. If the \( \overline{u''u''} \) stress attains its maximum in this zone it is simply because it shields a high interaction activity indicating a maximum turbulence and subsequent diffusion production and. We propose to examine more closely all these variations and to begin let us consider the first jet location (Fig. 13a) where all the profiles share the same initial value that is contained in the first jet “background”. Once the upstream jet is emitted, we assist to the establishment of a single peak that is attained farther as the jets are straightened and whose magnitude goes increasing with the initial inclination angle. This increasing is logic since straightening the jets provides them with a higher impulse allowing them to cross the oncoming mainstream deeper before undergoing its deflecting process. The development of this peak is then simply generated by the interaction of the rear jet with the crossflow and its resistance to the deflection the latter experiences on it. Within the downstream jet location (Fig. 13c), the peaks are rather registered farther from the injection plate (y > 10 mm). In fact, due to the shielding effect of the rear jet, the second one is likely to progress deeper in the domain before being deflected. The turbulent activity which is engendered by the interaction of the emitted jets and the environing flow is consequently delayed which justifies the later peaks registration. It is further delayed as the jets are straightened due to their farther emission within the domain (increasing y coordinates).
Between and far downstream of the jets locations, we note a further interesting phenomenon. It consists in the registration of a maximum initial value under the weakest inclination case. This may be explained by the fact that under this case; the rear jet is kept close to the injection plate which allows it to exert an important perturbation on it. Elsewhere, we find back same order peaks: the highest and farthest peak of the \( \overline{u''u''} \) stress is attained under the highest inclination angle. When we reach the second jet location, we find back the same behavior adopted within the rear jet with, however, a global augmentation of the attained peaks; the initial adopted value being kept identical. This augmentation is due to our position within the interaction zone; nevertheless it is not as important as between the jets’ columns because the second jet does not entirely participate in this interaction since it is “protected” by the rear one. The global vanishing occurs, however, later because when we move downstream, the interaction takes place higher: after the jets’ lifting. Finally, when we go beyond of the twin jet locations (Fig. 13d), the normal \( \overline{u''u''} \) stress rises once again but attains less important peak values: in this zone we are no longer in the first and direct stage of the interaction. We are rather within in presence of stress that originates from small scale ring like vortices that still exist on the windward side of the combined jets.
Vertical distribution of the \( \overline{v''v''} \)—normal stress within the different characterizing streamwise locations and on the symmetry plane (z = 0)
Vertical distribution of the \( \overline{u''v''} \)—stress within the different characterizing streamwise locations and on the symmetry plane (z = 0)
Between the jets’ nozzles and far downstream, the \( \overline{u''v''} \) stress starts from a negative value that is deeper for the weakest inclination angle. This reduced initial value is essentially due to our progression from the lee-side of the rear jet and the combination of the twin jets, respectively. However, this parameter rapidly increases to remain in the vicinity of the zero along the rest of the domain even if some variation is present and is relatively more pronounced under the highest inclination angle.
6 Conclusion
The present dynamic study of two inline jets emitted within a cooler oncoming crossflow revealed the presence of a complex resulting flowfield. This complexity is expressed by the establishment of an elaborated vortical system composed of four main vortices: the horseshoe vortices, the upright vortices, the shear layer vortices and the counter rotating vortex pair. They are essentially due to momentum and pressure gradients; nevertheless their origin and exact mechanism are still not well established. This study demonstrated the extremely important role of the initial inclination angle of the emitted jets in their mutual interaction as well in their mixing within the mainstream. In fact, increasing the initial emission angle provides the jets with a higher “impulse” to expand deeper vertically in the environing flow which results in a further vertical mixing. Decreasing the initial inclination factor, on the contrary, allows rather a spanwise expanding since the jets are rapidly deflected by the oncoming crossflow; which promotes the trapping of the jets’ flow close to the injection plate. This eventuality is largely preferred in the case we handle polluted jets that we want to control rather than spread in the atmosphere (or water in water for liquid jets). All these conclusions were drawn from the experimentally visualized data by means of the PIV and the numerically processed results by means of the finite volume method and the RSM second-order turbulent closure model. Introducing the latter in such a configuration counts for the new brand brought by our work and presents the advantages of processing the different shear stresses and detecting the slightest turbulent variations that are responsible for the different developed vortices. We also examined the impact of the initial inclination on the shear stress components and could show that the straightest are the jets, the highest are the shear stresses. This could be justified by the fact that the straightest jets are provided with a stronger “impulse” that engenders a more “violent” interaction with the mainstream and then results in stronger vortices and consequently in a better mixing which is not a good idea in case of contaminated jets.
Notes
Open Access
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