Comparison of Reynolds averaged Navier-Stokes based simulation and large-eddy simulation for one isothermal swirling flow

The flow structure of one isothermal swirling case in the Sydney swirl flame database was studied using two numerical methods. Results from the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approach and large eddy simulation (LES) were compared with experimental measurements. The simulations were applied in two different Cartesian grids which were investigated by a grid independence study for RANS and a post-estimator for LES. The RNG k-ɛ turbulence model was used in RANS and dynamic Smagorinsky-Lilly model was used as the sub-grid scale model in LES. A validation study and cross comparison of ensemble average and root mean square (RMS) results showed LES outperforms RANS statistic results. Flow field results indicated that both approaches could capture dominant flow structures, like vortex breakdown (VB), and precessing vortex core (PVC). Streamlines indicate that the formation mechanisms of VB deducted from the two methods were different. The vorticity field was also studied using a velocity gradient based method. This research gained in-depth understanding of isothermal swirling flow.