A Numerical Investigation on Fluid Flow through a Sudden Expansion

摘要

In this work, an attempt has been taken to carry out a numerical study on fluid flow through a sudden expansion. Two-dimensional steady differential equations for conservation of mass and momentum have been solved for the Reynolds number ranging from 50 to 250 and aspect ratio ranging from 1.5 to 6.0 when fully developed velocity profile has been considered at the inlet. Stream functions in the flow domain are computed and several streamline contours are generated by MATLAB software. The effect of aspect ratio and Reynolds number on the streamline contours, reattachment length, wall pressure, average static pressure, distance of maximum average static pressure rise from throat, L_p~*, variation of maximum average static pressure rise (Δp~*), effectiveness, average stagnation pressure and average stagnation pressure drop (Δp_s~*) at Lp~* of the sudden expansion configuration have been extensively studied.