Non-Condensation Turbulence Models with Different Near-Wall Treatments and Solvers Comparative Research for Three-Dimensional Steam Ejectors

Steam ejectors are important energy-saving equipment for solar thermal energy storage; however, a numerical simulation research method has not been agreed upon. This study contributes to a comprehensive selection of turbulence models, near-wall treatments, geometrical modeling (2-D and 3-D), solvers...

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Main Authors: Yiqiao Li, Hao Huang, Dingli Duan, Shengqiang Shen, Dan Zhou, Siyuan Liu
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2024-11-01
Series:Energies
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5586
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author Yiqiao Li
Hao Huang
Dingli Duan
Shengqiang Shen
Dan Zhou
Siyuan Liu
author_facet Yiqiao Li
Hao Huang
Dingli Duan
Shengqiang Shen
Dan Zhou
Siyuan Liu
author_sort Yiqiao Li
collection DOAJ
description Steam ejectors are important energy-saving equipment for solar thermal energy storage; however, a numerical simulation research method has not been agreed upon. This study contributes to a comprehensive selection of turbulence models, near-wall treatments, geometrical modeling (2-D and 3-D), solvers, and models (condensation and ideal-gas) in the RANS equations approach for steam ejectors through validation with experiments globally and locally. The turbulence models studied are <i>k-ε</i> Standard, <i>k-ε</i> RNG<i>, k-ε</i> Realizable, <i>k-ω</i> Standard, <i>k-ω</i> SST, Transition SST, and linear Reynolds Stress. The near-wall treatments assessed are Standard Wall Functions, Non-equilibrium Wall Functions, and Enhanced Wall Treatment. The solvers compared are pressure-based and density-based solvers. The root causes of their distinctions in terms of simulation results, applicable conditions, convergence, and computational cost are explained and compared. The complex phenomena involving shock waves, choking, and vapor condensation captured by different models are discussed. The internal connections of their performance and flow phenomena are analyzed from the mechanism perspective. The originality of this study is that both condensation and 3-D asymmetric effects on the simulation results are considered. The results indicate that the <i>k-ω</i> SST non-equilibrium condensation model coupling the low-Re boundary conditions has the most accurate prediction results, best convergence, and fit for the widest range of working conditions. A 3-D asymmetric condensation model with a density-based solver is recommended for simulating steam ejectors accurately.
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spelling doaj-art-c1fdfb5a739d435bb08a324864d9285a2025-08-20T02:08:15ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-11-011722558610.3390/en17225586Non-Condensation Turbulence Models with Different Near-Wall Treatments and Solvers Comparative Research for Three-Dimensional Steam EjectorsYiqiao Li0Hao Huang1Dingli Duan2Shengqiang Shen3Dan Zhou4Siyuan Liu5Zhan Tianyou College, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, ChinaZhan Tianyou College, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, ChinaDepartment of Thermal Energy and Power Engineering, Yantai University, Yantai 264005, ChinaSchool of Energy and Power Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian 116024, ChinaBingshan Refrigeration & Heat Transfer Technologies Co., Ltd., Dalian 116630, ChinaZhan Tianyou College, Dalian Jiaotong University, Dalian 116028, ChinaSteam ejectors are important energy-saving equipment for solar thermal energy storage; however, a numerical simulation research method has not been agreed upon. This study contributes to a comprehensive selection of turbulence models, near-wall treatments, geometrical modeling (2-D and 3-D), solvers, and models (condensation and ideal-gas) in the RANS equations approach for steam ejectors through validation with experiments globally and locally. The turbulence models studied are <i>k-ε</i> Standard, <i>k-ε</i> RNG<i>, k-ε</i> Realizable, <i>k-ω</i> Standard, <i>k-ω</i> SST, Transition SST, and linear Reynolds Stress. The near-wall treatments assessed are Standard Wall Functions, Non-equilibrium Wall Functions, and Enhanced Wall Treatment. The solvers compared are pressure-based and density-based solvers. The root causes of their distinctions in terms of simulation results, applicable conditions, convergence, and computational cost are explained and compared. The complex phenomena involving shock waves, choking, and vapor condensation captured by different models are discussed. The internal connections of their performance and flow phenomena are analyzed from the mechanism perspective. The originality of this study is that both condensation and 3-D asymmetric effects on the simulation results are considered. The results indicate that the <i>k-ω</i> SST non-equilibrium condensation model coupling the low-Re boundary conditions has the most accurate prediction results, best convergence, and fit for the widest range of working conditions. A 3-D asymmetric condensation model with a density-based solver is recommended for simulating steam ejectors accurately.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5586non-equilibrium condensationnear-wall treatmentsRANSsteam ejectorsthree-dimensional effectturbulence model
spellingShingle Yiqiao Li
Hao Huang
Dingli Duan
Shengqiang Shen
Dan Zhou
Siyuan Liu
Non-Condensation Turbulence Models with Different Near-Wall Treatments and Solvers Comparative Research for Three-Dimensional Steam Ejectors
Energies
non-equilibrium condensation
near-wall treatments
RANS
steam ejectors
three-dimensional effect
turbulence model
title Non-Condensation Turbulence Models with Different Near-Wall Treatments and Solvers Comparative Research for Three-Dimensional Steam Ejectors
title_full Non-Condensation Turbulence Models with Different Near-Wall Treatments and Solvers Comparative Research for Three-Dimensional Steam Ejectors
title_fullStr Non-Condensation Turbulence Models with Different Near-Wall Treatments and Solvers Comparative Research for Three-Dimensional Steam Ejectors
title_full_unstemmed Non-Condensation Turbulence Models with Different Near-Wall Treatments and Solvers Comparative Research for Three-Dimensional Steam Ejectors
title_short Non-Condensation Turbulence Models with Different Near-Wall Treatments and Solvers Comparative Research for Three-Dimensional Steam Ejectors
title_sort non condensation turbulence models with different near wall treatments and solvers comparative research for three dimensional steam ejectors
topic non-equilibrium condensation
near-wall treatments
RANS
steam ejectors
three-dimensional effect
turbulence model
url https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/22/5586
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