Verification of RANS turbulence models for external flow around an oil cooler

The article considers the issues of mathematical modeling of external aerodynamic flow around a single section of an industrial oil cooler with a developed external surface. The velocity of the injected gas at the inlet to the external air ducts of a single section does not exceed 10 m/s, the Reynolds number calculated by the gap height varies in the range from 20 000 to 400 000 An additional geometrically conditioned turbulization of the flow in the air duct of a single section is also observed. The influence of RANS turbulence models on the flow structure in the air ducts of a single section of an oil cooler and behind the section, is investigated, and the influence of turbulence models on the pressure losses in the air duct is estimated. The quasi-stationary spatial problem of external aerodynamics is solved by mathematical modeling methods. Its formulation is consistent with experimental studies of flow in an open-type wind tunnel. The results of validation of RANS turbulence models on experimental data are presented. Based on the analysis of comparability of numerical and experimental distributions of excess pressure fields in the outlet section of a single section, a primary selection of turbulence models is made that allow for a correct description of the aerodynamics of the oil cooler. Based on the analysis of the calculated and experimental pressure (excess pressure) profiles in the central section of a single section, it is shown that for correct modeling of working processes in the external flow paths of an industrial oil cooler, it is advisable to use the BSL, BSL ERASM, Spalart-Almaras, and k -ω turbulence models and additional compaction of the calculation cells near the developed surfaces of a single section.

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