Turbulence length scale
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(Added normal length-scale definition and made a note about the Fluent version based on the mixing-length) |
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In the [[Standard k-epsilon model|k-epsilon model]] the turbulent length scale can be computed as: | In the [[Standard k-epsilon model|k-epsilon model]] the turbulent length scale can be computed as: | ||
| - | :<math>l = | + | :<math>l = \frac{k^\frac{3}{2}}{\epsilon}</math> |
| - | <math>C_\mu</math> is a model constant which in the standard version of the k-epsilon model has a value of 0.09. | + | Please note that some CFD codes, Fluent for example, uses a different length scale definition base on the mixing-length. Then the following formula should be used instead: |
| + | |||
| + | :<math>l = C_\mu^{3/4} \, \frac{k^\frac{3}{2}}{\epsilon}</math> | ||
| + | |||
| + | Where <math>C_\mu</math> is a model constant which in the standard version of the k-epsilon model has a value of 0.09. | ||
==Estimating the turbulence length scale== | ==Estimating the turbulence length scale== | ||
Revision as of 11:01, 15 June 2011
The turbulence length scale, 
, is a physical quantity describing the size of the large energy-containing eddies in a turbulent flow.
The turbulent length scale is often used to estimate the turbulent properties on the inlets of a CFD simulation. Since the turbulent length scale is a quantity which is intuitively easy to relate to the physical size of the problem it is easy to guess a reasonable value of the turbulent length scale. The turbulent length scale should normally not be larger than the dimension of the problem, since that would mean that the turbulent eddies are larger than the problem size.
In the k-epsilon model the turbulent length scale can be computed as:
Please note that some CFD codes, Fluent for example, uses a different length scale definition base on the mixing-length. Then the following formula should be used instead:
Where 
is a model constant which in the standard version of the k-epsilon model has a value of 0.09.
Estimating the turbulence length scale
It is common to set the turbulence length scale to a certain percentage of a typical dimension of the problem. For example, at the inlet to a turbine stage a typical turbulence length scale could be say 5% of the channel height. In grid-generated turbulence the turbulence length scale is often set to something close to the size of the grid bars.
Fully developed pipe flow
In pipe flows the turbulence length scale can be estimated from the hydraulic diameter. In fully developed pipe flow the turbulence length scale is 7% of the hydraulic diameter (in the case of a circular pipe the hydraulic diameter is the same as the diameter of the pipe). Hence:
Where 
is the hydraulic diameter.
Wall-bounded inlet flows
When the inlet flow is bounded by walls with turbulent boundary layers, the turbulence length scale can be estimated (approximately) from the inlet boundary layer thickness. Set to half the inlet boundary layer thickness.
