Computational Characterization of a Rectangular Vortex Generator on a Flat Plate for Different Vane Heights and Angles

Vortex generators (VG) are passive flow control devices used for avoiding or delaying the separation of the boundary layer by bringing momentum from the higher layers of the fluid towards the surface. The Vortex generator usually has the same height as the local boundary layer thickness, and these V...

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Detalhes bibliográficos
Autores: Ibarra Udaeta, Iosu, Errasti Arrieta, Iñigo, Fernández Gámiz, Unai, Zulueta Guerrero, Ekaitz, Sancho Saiz, Javier
Tipo de documento: artigo
Data de publicação:2019
País:España
Recursos:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositório:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/32867
Acesso em linha:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/32867
Access Level:Acceso aberto
Palavra-chave:vortex generators
half-life radius
flow control
boundary layer
computational fluid dynamics
OpenFOAM
flow-control devices
boundary-layer
separation control
airfoil
Descrição
Resumo:Vortex generators (VG) are passive flow control devices used for avoiding or delaying the separation of the boundary layer by bringing momentum from the higher layers of the fluid towards the surface. The Vortex generator usually has the same height as the local boundary layer thickness, and these Vortex generators can produce overload drag in some cases. The aim of the present study was to analyze the characteristics and path of the primary vortex produced by a single rectangular vortex generator on a flat plate for the incident angles of beta = 10 degrees, 15 degrees, 18 degrees and 20 degrees. A parametric study of the induced vortex was performed for six VG heights using Reynolds average Navier-Stokes equations at Reynodls number Re = 27,000 based on the local boundary layer thickness, using computational fluid dynamics techniques with OpenFOAM open-source code. In order to determine the vortex size, the so-called half-life radius was computed and compared with experimental data. The results showed a similar trend for all the studied vortex generator heights and incident angles with small variations for the vertical and the lateral paths. Additionally, 0.4H and 0.6H VG heights at incident angles of beta = 18 degrees and beta = 20 degrees showed the best performance in terms of vortex strength and generation of wall shear stress.