Large Eddy Simulation of Spanwise Rotating Turbulent Channel and Duct Flows by a Finite Volume Code at Low Reynolds Numbers

The objective of this study is to show the highly complex features of rotational turbulent flow using a widely known finite volume code. The flow subjected to an orthogonal rotation is investigated both qualitatively and quantitatively in a three-dimensional channel and a duct using FLUENT. The predictions of rotational flow calculations, presented for low Reynolds numbers, both in channel and duct are in good agreement with the DNS predictions. It is of interest to present the capability of the code for capturing the multi-physics of internal flow phenomena and to discuss the Coriolis effects for two rotational rates. The results show that FLUENT is able to predict accurately first and second order turbulent statistics and it also captures the proper secondary flow physics which occur due to rotation and the geometry itself. These results are very encouraging for the simulation of the flow in a centrifugal compressor, which is the main goal of the authors in the long term.