SCALE EFFECT ON FLOW CHARACTERISTICS OF CONSERVATIVE AND NON-CONSERVATIVE INCLINED THERMALS

The scale effects on the conservative and non-conservative inclined thermals are examined by the numerical analysis using the κ-ε turbulence model. The saline inclined thermals are analyzed as an example of the conservative case. The inclined turbidity thermals in which fine solid particles are suspended in water are analyzed as an example of the non-conservative case. The scale effects on the flow charactersitics of the small scale and large scale themals are discussed. The variation of travel speed, the maximum height, the maximum concentration arc compared. The scale effects on the entrainment coefficient of ambient water are discussed. The contours of concentration and velocity vectors of the small scale and the large scale themals are discussed. While the flow characteristics of conservative saline thermals are similar despite of different flow scales, those of non-conservative turbidity thermals vary according to flow scales.