CFD analysis of the flow in the near wake of a generic PWR mixing grid

For various distances from the mixing grid, calculated horizontal profiles of the cross flow velocity and of the axial velocity are compared to measurements. It seems that the flow patterns directly downstream of the grid are insensitive to the used turbulence model. Inertia forces related to the geometry of the mixing vanes are dominant in this region. Thus, the application of turbulence models should not be tested close to mixing grids.