Lean flame blowout is investigated experimentally within a high-speed combustor to analyze the temporal extinction dynamics of turbulent premixed bluff body stabilized flames. The lean blowout process is induced through fuel flow reduction and captured temporally using simultaneous high-speed particle imaging velocimetry (PIV) and CH* chemiluminescence. The evolution of the flame structure, flow field, and the resulting strain rate along the flame are analyzed throughout extinction to distinguish the physical mechanisms of blowout. Flame-vortex dynamics are found to be the main driving mechanism of flame extinction; namely, a reduction of flame-generated vorticity coupled with an increase of downstream shear layer vorticity. The vorticity dynamics are linked to hydrodynamic instabilities that vary as a function of the decreasing equivalence ratio. Frequency analysis is performed to characterize the dynamical changes of the hydrodynamic instability modes during flame extinction. Additionally, various bluff body inflow velocity regimes are investigated to further characterize the extinction instability modes. Both equivalence ratio and flow-driven instabilities are captured through a universal definition of the Strouhal number for the reacting bluff body flow. Finally, a Karlovitz number-based criterion is developed to consistently predict the onset of global extinction for different inflow velocity regimes.

Large Eddy Simulation (LES) of bluff body stabilized premixed and partially premixed combustion close to the flammability limit is carried out in this thesis. The LES algorithm has no ad-hoc adjustable model parameters and is able to respond automatically to variations in the inflow conditions. Algorithm validation is achieved by comparison with reactive and non-reactive experimental data. In the reactive flow, two scalar closure models, Eddy Break-Up (EBULES) and Linear Eddy Mixing (LEMLES), are used and compared. Over important regions, the flame lies in the Broken Reaction Zone regime. Here, the EBU model assumptions fail. The flame thickness predicted by LEMLES is smaller and the flame is faster to respond to turbulent fluctuations, resulting in a more significant wrinkling of the flame surface. As a result, LEMLES captures better the subtle effects of the flame-turbulence interaction. Three premixed (equivalence ratio = 0.6, 0.65, and 0.75) cases are simulated. For the leaner case, the flame temperature is lower, the heat release is reduced and vorticity is stronger. As a result, the flame in this case is found to be unstable. In the rich case, the flame temperature is higher, and the spreading rate of the wake is increased due to the higher amount of heat release Partially premixed combustion is simulated for cases where the transverse profile of the inflow equivalence ratio is variable. The simulations show that for mixtures leaner in the core the vortical pattern tends towards anti-symmetry and the heat release decreases, resulting also in instability of the flame. For mixtures richer in the core, the flame displays sinusoidal flapping resulting in larger wake spreading. More accurate predictions of flame stability will require the use of detailed chemistry, raising the computational cost of the simulation. To address this issue, a novel algorithm for training Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) for prediction of the chemical source terms has been implemented and tested. Compared to earlier methods, the main advantages of the ANN method are in CPU time and disk space and memory reduction.

The flow around a finite square prism has not been studied extensively when compared with an “infinite” (or two-dimensional) square prism. In the present study, the effect of a wake-mounted splitter plate on the flow around a surface-mounted square prism of finite height was investigated experimentally using a low-speed wind tunnel. Of specific interest were the combined effects of the splitter plate length and the prism’s aspect ratio on the vortex shedding, mean drag force coefficient, and the mean wake. Four square prisms of aspect ratios AR = 9, 7, 5 and 3 were tested at a Reynolds number of Re = 7.4×104 and a boundary layer thickness of /D = 1.5. Splitter plate lengths of L/D = 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, and 7, were tested, with all plates having the same height as the prism. Measurements of the mean drag force were obtained with a force balance, and measurements of the vortex shedding frequency were obtained with a single-component hot-wire probe. A seven-hole pressure probe was used to measure the time-averaged wake velocity at a Reynolds number of Re = 3.7×104 for AR = 9 and 5 with splitter plates of lengths L/D = 1, 3, 5, and 7. These measurements were carried out to allow for a better understanding of how the splitter plate affects the mean wake of the finite prism. The results show that the splitter plate is a less effective drag-reduction, but more effective vortex-shedding-suppression, device for finite square prisms than it is for infinite square prisms. Significant reduction in the mean drag coefficient was realized only for short prisms (of AR ≤ 5) when long splitter plates (of L/D ≥ 5) were used. A splitter plate of length L/D = 3 was able to suppress vortex shedding for all aspect ratios tested. However, for square prisms of aspect ratios AR ≤ 7, the splitter plate is a less effective vortex-shedding-suppression device when compared to its use with finite circular cylinders, i.e. longer splitter plates are needed for vortex shedding suppression with square prisms. Wake measurements showed distinct wake velocity fields for the two prisms tested. For the prism of AR = 9, a strong downwash flow in the upper part of the wake became weaker towards the ground plane. For the prism of AR = 5, the downwash remained strong close to the ground plane. With splitter plates installed, the downwash became weaker for both prisms. The splitter plate was found to narrow the wake width, especially close to the ground plane, and led to the stretching of the streamwise vortex structures in the vertical direction, and increased entrainment towards the wake centreline in the cross-stream direction.

It is well known that most fluid flows observed in nature or encountered in engineering applications are turbulent and involve separation. Fluid flows in turbines, diffusers and channels with sudden expansions are among the widely observed areas where separation substantially alters the flow field and gives rise to complex flow dynamics. Such types of flows are referred to as internal flows since they are confined within solid surfaces and predominantly involve the generation or utilization of mechanical power. However, there is also a vast variety of engineering applications where the fluid flows past solid structures, such as the flow of air around an airplane or that of water around a submarine. These are called external flows and as in the former case the downstream evolution of the flow field is crucially influenced by separation. The present doctoral thesis addresses both internal and external separated flows by means of direct numerical simulations of the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. For internal flows, the wall-driven flow in a onesided expansion channel and the pressure-driven flow in a plane channel with a single thin-plate obstruction have been studied in the fully developed turbulent state. Since such geometrical configurations involve spatially developing turbulent flows, proper inflow conditions are to be employed in order to provide a realistic fully turbulent flow at the input. For this purpose, a newly developed technique has been used in order to mimic an infinitely long channel section upstream of the expansion and the obstruction, respectively. With this approach, we are able to gather accurate mean flow and turbulence statistics throughout each flow domain and to explore in detail the instantaneous flow topology in the separated shear layers, recirculation regions as well as the recovery zones. For external flows, on the other hand, the flow past a prolate spheroid has been studied. Here, a wide range of Reynolds numbers is taken into consideration. Based on the characteristics of the vortical structures in the wake, the flow past a prolate spheroid is classified as laminar (steady or unsteady), transitional or turbulent. In each flow regime, the characteristic features of the flow are investigated by means of detailed frequency analysis, instantaneous vortex topology and three-dimensional flow visualizations.

Les décollements autour d’un corps en mouvement sont à l’origine de détériorations des performances aérodynamiques, de fatigues structurelles ou de nuisances sonores. La compréhension de ces phénomènes reste encore aujourd’hui l’un des enjeux majeurs de la recherche en aérodynamique. Le développement de systèmes permettant de contrôler l’écoulement et d’altérer ou de réduire les décollements apparaît comme une solution prometteuse en vue d’améliorer les performances aérodynamiques. On distingue les systèmes de contrôles passifs, simples d’utilisation mais incapables de s’adapter aux modifications de l’écoulement, des systèmes actifs qui disposent d’une grande adaptabilité mais nécessitent un apport extérieur d’énergie pour fonctionner. La stratégie du contrôle auto-adaptif s’apparente à un compromis entre ces deux méthodes. En s’inspirant de mécanismes présents dans la nature, elle permet d’associer amélioration des performances aérodynamiques, adaptabilité et autonomie. Ce travail de thèse porte sur l’étude expérimentale du contrôle du sillage turbulent d’un corps épais à l’aide d’actionneurs bio-inspirés avec un double objectif : i. déterminer les paramètres optimaux du dispositif de contrôle qui prend la forme d’un couple de volets flexibles, ii. Identifier les mécanismes physiques d’interactions entre l’actionnement et l’écoulement. Pour mener à bien cet objectif, de nombreux instruments de mesure complémentaires ont été mis en oeuvre. Une étude paramétrique a permis de démontrer l’efficacité du dispositif pour différentes configurations (fixes et auto-adaptatives) et d’identifier des configurations d’intérêt. La caractérisation de l’écoulement autour et dans le sillage du cylindre carré sans et avec contrôle a révélé un allongement de la longueur de recirculation à l’arrière du cylindre et la réduction de l’expansion du sillage. L’un des résultats majeurs de l’étude est que la réduction de traînée obtenue est principalement liée à une action du système sur l’anisotropie des fluctuations de l’écoulement et plus particulièrement sur l’entrainement du fluide dans le sillage de l’obstacle. / Flow separations around moving bodies lead to detrimental effects such as aerodynamic performances loss, structural fatigue and noises production. The understanding of these phenomena remains one of the most challenging issue of modern fluid dynamics. A promising solution to improve aerodynamic performances relies on the development of flow control devices able to prevent or mitigate the effects of separation. One can distinguish the passive flow control strategy, with easy to use devices but unable to adapt to the flow changes, from the active flow control strategy which benefits from a great adaptability but requires external power supply. Self-adaptive flow control appears to be a good compromise between those two strategies. Inspired from mechanisms at play in Nature, it combines good aerodynamic performances, self-adaptability and self-sustainability. This PhD thesis is dedicated to the experimental investigation of the turbulent flow over a bluff-body controlled by means of bio-inspired devices. The objective is two-folds : i. Design the control device which consists of a couple of compliant flaps, ii. Identify the physical mechanisms governing the interactions between the flow and the devices. A great number of complementary measurement techniques have been used in order to achieve these objectives. The efficiency of the devices for different configurations – locked and self-adaptive flaps - has been demonstrated through a parametric study. It has led to the identification of the main parameters involved in the control mechanism. The flow characterization around and in the wake of both uncontrolled and controlled cylinder revealed an increase in the length of the recirculation region and the reduction of the wake width. One of the major findings of this study is that the control essentially modifies the turbulent velocity field leading to a reduction of the lateral flow entrainment in the wake of the obstacle.

[pt] Neste trabalho apresenta-se um estudo experimental de escoamentos turbulentos quimicamente inertes e reativos em um queimador tipo obstáculo. O objetivo principal é a caracterização do escoamento através da obtenção do campo de velocidade instantâneo utilizando técnicas óticas não intrusivas. As técnicas empregadas foram a Velocimetria Laser Doppler (LDV) e a Velocimetria por Imagem de Partículas (PIV), as quais possibilitaram a medição das componentes transversal e longitudinal da velocidade do escoamento em estudo. Os resultados experimentais obtidos foram comparados com aqueles oriundos da simulação numérica usando um programa computacional existente. São analisados os acordos e as discrepâncias obtidas, colocando-se em evidência a capacidade e as limitações de cada uma das técnicas utilizadas. / [en] This work presents an experimental study of chemically inert and reactive turbulent flows in a Bluff-Body burner. The main objective is the characterization of the flow through of the measurement of instantaneous velocity fields by using non intrusive optical techniques. The techniques employed were Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) and Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV), which makes possible the measurement of the transversal and longitudinal components of the flow velocity. The experimental results were compared with those obtained from a numerical simulation using a comercial computational program. The agreements and discrepancies obtained between the two experimental techniques and from experiments and computation were demonstrated and analized.

[pt] O presente trabalho tem por objetivo a realização de experimentos e simulações numéricas para estudar a interação da turbulência e da combustão em uma chama não pré-misturada de hidrogênio no ar estabilizada a jusante de um corpo rombudo. Para tanto, são utilizadas, simultaneamente, as técnicas de PIV, para a determinação de dois componentes da velocidade, e a técnica de PLIF para a determinação da intensidade de fluorecência do radical químico OH, que é um bom indicador da localização da frente de chama. São avaliados os métodos de pós processamento dos resultados do PIV com o intuito de maximizar a resolução espacial da técnica e ao mesmo tempo remover o maior número de vetores espúrios dos campos de velocidade instantâneos. Paralelamente, o queimador é modelado no software ANSYS/FLUENT e os resultados de simulação validados por comparação com os resultados experimentais. Modelos baseados nas médias de Reynolds são empregados para a caracterização da turbulência e o modelo de elementos de chama é adotado para a descrever a combustão. Os resultados experimentais indicam que, para as vazões de ar e hidrogênio adotadas, a combustão ocorre no regime de elementos de chama, onde a frente de chama apresenta algumas dobras, mas sem descontinuidades. Os resultados das simulações com combustão não obtiveram boa concordância com os resultados experimentais, indicando que a malha de cálculo precisa ser aprimorada. / [en] The aim of this work is to carry out experiments and numerical simulations to study the turbulence-combustion interaction in a nonpremixed hydrogen-air ame stabilized in a bluff body wake. For this purpose, are used a PIV technique for the determination of two velocity components and a PLIF technique to determine the uorescence intensity of the chemical species OH, which is a good indicator of the flame front location. PIV post-processing methods are evaluated in order to maximize the spatial resolution of the technique and to remove spurious instantaneous velocity vectors. In addition, the burner is modeled in ANSYS / FLUENT and the simulation results are validated by comparisons with the experimental results. Models based in the Reynolds avareges are used to characterize the turbulence and a flamelet model is adopted to describe combustion. The experimental results indicates that, for the ow rates of air and hydrogen adopted, combustion occurs in the flamelet regime, where the flame front is wrinkled, but without discontinuities. The reactive cases simulations did not agree with the experimental results, indicating that the computational mesh needs to be improved.

This thesis deals with the problem of designing vortex flow meter for a nominal range of 40 l.min-1. It describes the problems of vortex bodies and choice of methods for detection of vortices. The thesis includes solution of various problems in the design, which were published in scientific articles or patents. The following describes the design solution vortex flow meter for the specified range, which uses ultrasonic sensors to vortices detection. The proposed flow meter is calibrated with reference flow meter and compared with commercially produced vortex flow by the TST electronics and Burkert companies, which are designed for the specified ranges.

In order to study three-dimensional unsteady turbulent flow fields such as the wakes of bluff bodies, a Digital Particle Image Velocimetry (DPIV) system was developed. This system allows non-intrusive two-dimensional and time varying velocity measurements. Software and hardware modifications necessary to enhance the capabilities of the system were preformed, resulting in increased frequency resolution. However, due to hardware limitations and limitations inherited from the implementation of the method, space resolution is reduced. Subsequently, digital image processing tools to improve the space resolutions were developed. The advantages and limitations of the method for the study of turbulent flows are presented in detail. The developed system is employed in the documentation of time-varying turbulent flow fields. Initially we study the spanwise variation of the near wake of a low-aspect ratio, surface-mounted, circular cylinder piercing a free surface. The asymmetry of the end conditions combined with the natural unsteadiness of the vortex shedding generates a very complex flow filed which is difficult to study with conventional methods. By employing the aforementioned system we are able to reveal a departure of the two-dimensional character of the flow in the form of oblique vortex shedding. The effect of free surface on the vortex formation length and on the vortex reconnection process is documented. Near the free surface the alternate mode of vortex shedding is suppressed, leading to simultaneous shedding of vortices in the wake. Indications of vortex dislocations and change of the vortex axis in order to reconnect to the free surface are observed. Finally, a novel approach of reconstructing the three-dimensional, time -varying volume of the flow field by obtaining simultaneous measurements of Laser Doppler Velocimetry and Particle Image Velocimetry planes is presented. The same field is investigated with focus on the streamwise structures. Three-dimensional streamwise vortical structures are known to exist due to instabilities of plane shear layers. Similar streamwise vortices, also known as braid vortices have been observed in the past in the wake of circular cylinders with symmetric boundary conditions. The present spatio-temporal analysis demonstrated coexistence of two types of streamwise vortices in the wake, bilge and braid type of vortices. These may be due to the three dimensionality introduced by the free surface. In addition, the sufficient time resolution allowed the detection of the primary Von-Karman vortex through a plane of interrogation normal to the free stream, thus revealing the spanwise variation of the vortex shedding and its evolution at different downstream stations. The combination of the effect of the asymmetric boundary conditions with a free surface is investigated by adding one more source of three-dimensionality in terms of inclination of the cylinder axis. Hydrogen-bubble and particle-flow visualizations are preformed in combination with Laser-Doppler Velocimetry measurements. From both qualitative and quantitative results the effects of inclination and Froude number are documented. It is proved that the vortex shedding is suppressed for high values of the Froude number, however the inclination counteracts the vortex suppression and favors the vortex shedding mechanism. In addition, in the region of the no-slip boundary condition the flow is dominated by the effect of the horseshoe vortex. The case of a three-dimensional separated flow over a surface-mounted prism is investigated using a modified version of the system. The character of the separated from the leading edge corner shear layer and the formed separation bubble are documented in space and time along the mid-plane of symmetry of the body. Three different flows corresponding to different Reynolds numbers are studied. The unsteadiness of the flow is presented indicating a pseudo-periodic character. Large-scale, low-frequency oscillations of the shear layer that have been observed in the past using point measurement methods are now confirmed by means of a whole field velocity measurement, technique allowing a holistic view of the flow. In addition, the unsteadiness of the point of reattachment is associated with the flapping of the shear layer and the shedding of vorticity in the wake. Finally, it is demonstrated that the apparent vortex shedding mechanism of such flows is dependent on the interaction of the primary vortex of the separation bubble with a secondary vortex formed by the separation of the reverse flow boundary layer. By performing measurements with such time and space resolution the inadequacy of time averaged or point measurement methods for the treatment of such complex and unsteady flow fields becomes evident. In final case we employ Particle-Image Velocimetry to show the effect of unsteady excitation on two-dimensional separated flow over a sharp edged airfoil. It is proved that such an approach can be used to effectively control and organize the character of the flow, potentially leading to lift increase and drug reduction of bluff bodies / Ph. D.

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