Fluid dynamic measurements

The numerical method presented in this study attempts to predict the mean, non-uniform flow field upstream of a propeller partially immersed in a thick turbulent boundary layer with an actuator disk using CFD based on RANS in ANSYS FLUENT. Three different configurations, involving an infinitely thin actuator disk in the freestream (Configuration 1), an actuator disk near a wall with a turbulent boundary layer (Configuration 2), and an actuator disk with a hub near a wall with a turbulent boundary layer (Configuration 3), were analyzed for a variety of advance ratios ranging from J = 0.48 to J =1.44. CFD results are shown to be in agreement with previous works and validated with experimental data of reverse flow occurring within the boundary layer above the flat plate upstream of a rotor in the Virginia Tech’s Stability Wind Tunnel facility. Results from Configuration 3 will be used in future aero-acoustic computations.

A motion compensated ADV system was evaluated to determine its ability to
make measurements necessary for characterizing the variability of the ambient current in
the Gulf Stream. The impact of IMU error relative to predicted turbulence spectra was
quantified, as well as and the ability of the motion compensation approach to remove
sensor motion from the ADV measurements. The presented data processing techniques
are shown to allow the evaluated ADV to be effectively utilized for quantifying ambient
current fluctuations from 0.02 to 1 Hz (50 to 1 seconds) for dissipation rates as low as
3x10-7. This measurement range is limited on the low frequency end by IMU error,
primarily by the calculated transformation matrix, and on the high end by Doppler noise.
Inshore testing has revealed a 0.37 Hz oscillation inherent in the towfish designed and
manufactured as part of this project, which can nearly be removed using the IMU.

For aerospace and naval applications where low radiated noise levels are a
requirement, rotor noise generated by inflow turbulence is of great interest. Inflow
turbulence is stretched and distorted as it is ingested into a thrusting rotor which can have
a significant impact on the noise source levels. This thesis studies the distortion of
subsonic, high Reynolds number turbulent flow, with viscous effects ignored, that occur
when a rotor is embedded in a turbulent boundary layer. The analysis is based on Rapid
Distortion Theory (RDT), which describes the linear evolution of turbulent eddies as they
are stretched by a mean flow distortion. Providing that the gust does not distort the mean
flow streamlines the solution for a mean flow with shear is found to be the same as the
solution for a mean potential flow with the addition of a potential flow gust. By
investigating the inflow distortion of small-scale turbulence for various simple flows and
rotor inflows with weak shear, it is shown that RDT can be applied to incompressible
shear flows to determine the flow distortion. It is also shown that RDT can be applied to more complex flows modeled by the Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes (RANS)
equations.

This study assesses the viability of using a towfish mounted ADV for quantifying water velocity fluctuations in the Florida Current relevant to ocean current turbine performance. For this study a motion compensated ADV is operated in a test flume. Water velocity fluctuations are generated by a 1.3 cm pipe suspended in front of the ADV at relative current speeds of 0.9 m/s and 0.15 m/s, giving Reynolds numbers on the order of 1000. ADV pitching motion of +/- 2.5 [degree] at 0.3 Hz and a heave motion of 0.3 m amplitude at 0.2 Hz are utilized to evaluate the motion compensation approach. The results show correction for motion provides up to an order of magnitude reduction in turbulent kinetic energy at frequencies of motion while the IMU is found to generate 2% error at 1/30 Hz and 9% error at 1/60 Hz in turbulence intensity.