International Journal of Rotating Machinery 
Volume 6 (2000), Issue 5, Pages 375-382
doi:10.1155/S1023621X0000035X

Comparison of Various Turbulence Models in Rotating Machinery Blade-to-Blade Passages

E. Y. K. Ng1 and S. T. Tan2

 1School of Mechanical and Production Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Nanyang Avenue, Singapore 639798, Singapore
2FerroTec Cooperation (S) Pte Ltd, Kallang Basin Industry Estate, Kallang Ave., Singapore 639798, Singapore
Received 26 February 1999; Revised 22 March 1999

Abstract

Numerical calculations on four blade passages are done using Q3D Navier-Stokes solver with a simple mixing length turbulence model and two more advanced transport-equation approaches. Mixing length is simple and cheap but crude, while more sophisticated transport approaches are more physical but more expensive. Predicted results using different turbulent models are discussed and compared with the laminar flow and well documented experimental results. Studies show that the model with more transport-equation predicts improved result as it includes the effects of upstream history into the velocity scale.