Project Title:

A Probability Density Function (PDF) Method for Turbulent Reacting Flows

01.01-6576
900683
A Probability Density Function (PDF) Method for Turbulent Reacting Flows

Abstract:

Modeling methods developed for non-reacting turbulent flows are not able to capture
important turbulence/combustion interactions. An alternative approach solves an equation
for the joint probability density function (pdf) of the local velocity and composition,
instead of solving a set of equations for their first- and second-order moments.
While pdf methods have been proposed in the past, they have only been used in certain
simplified situations. In this project, the company will develop an efficient pdf
solution procedure for general reacting flows. In Phase I, a stand-alone module will
be developed using a Lagrangian Monte Carlo solution method. The module will be validated
by comparison with benchmark data. These comparisons will be used to assess the feasibility
of the pdf method and to determine the requirements for coupling the module with
a finite-volume CFD code. In Phase II, the coupling would be performed and the methodology
extended to three-dimensional flows. The pdf module and finite volume code will be
fully documented and delivered to NASA at the end of Phase II.
The developed pdf module and coupled CFD code will advance the state-of-the-art of
numerical simulations of turbulent reactive flows, and will be of significant interest
to all organizations associated with aeronautical and space propulsion systems.
turbulent reacting flows, turbulence-combustion interactions, monte corlo methods,
probability density functions, computational fluid dynamics