Large-eddy simulation of variable-density turbulent axisymmetric jets

Three cases of variable-density turbulent round jets discharging from a straight circular pipe into a weakly confined low-speed co-flowing air stream are studied with the aid of large-eddy simulation. The density ratios considered are 0.14 [Helium/air], 1.0 [air/air] and 1.52 [CO2/air], with Reynolds numbers of 7000, 21,000 and 32,000, respectively. Detailed comparisons of the statistics show good agreement with the corresponding experiments. They confirm that a lower-density jet develops more rapidly than a denser jet with the same exit momentum flux. Pseudo-similarity behavior in the three variable-density round jets is well reproduced in the simulation. The coherent structures of the three jets are investigated by visualization of the iso-surface of pressure fluctuations and vorticity. In the developing stage of the Kelvin–Helmholtz instability, large finger-shape regions of vorticity are observed for the helium jet close to the nozzle lip. This feature, however, is not found in the air and the CO2 jet. The occurrence of strong streamwise vorticities across the shear layer in the helium jet is demonstrated by a characteristic quantity related to the orientation of the vorticity.