Investigation of the thermal mixing in a T-junction flow with different SRS approaches

• Global (SAS, DDES) and zonal (ELES-WMLES) models are compared for the T-junction flow.
• All the models accurately predict mean, RMS, and spectral quantities.
• ELES-WMLES approach yields very good results independent of the advection scheme.
• SAS and the DDES models are slightly less accurate.
• SAS depends on the advection scheme.

An investigation of different turbulence Scale-Resolving Simulation (SRS) modeling approaches for the flow in a T-junction has been conducted using the Scale-Adaptive Simulation (SAS), the Delayed Detached Eddy Simulation (DDES) and the Embedded Large Eddy Simulation (ELES) methods. The results show that all models are able to accurately predict mean and RMS velocity profiles and velocity spectra, when are used in combination with a low dissipation advection scheme. However, when a slightly more dissipative scheme is used, the SAS model yields less accurate results, indicating that this flow does not produce a strong enough flow instability to allow the safe application of this model. The DDES and the ELES models show less sensitivity to the numerical setting compared to the SAS model. The main goal of the study is the accurate prediction of heat transfer on the walls in the mixing zone. In that respect, the ELES method produces the most consistent agreement with the experimental data.