Visualization and velocity measurement of unsteady flow in a gas generator using cold-flow technique

Modeling of internal flow fields with hot, compressible fluids and sometimes combustion using cold flow techniques is discussed. The flow in a gas generator has been modeled using cold air. Experimental set up was designed and fabricated to simulate the unsteady flow with different configurations of inlet tubes. Tests were run for flow visualization and measurement of axial velocity at different frequencies ranging from 4 Hz to 12 Hz. Flow visualization showed that the incoming flow was a complex jet flow conformed to a cylindrical enclosure, while the outgoing flow resembled the venting of a pressurized vessel. The pictures show a complex flow pattern due to the angling of the jet towards the wall for the bent tube configurations and straightened flows with straight tube and other configurations with straighteners. Velocity measurements were made at an inlet Re of 8.1 x 10⁴ based on maximum velocity and inlet diameter using a single sensor hot wire anemometer at several locations in the plane of the inlet tube at 4 Hz, 8 Hz and 12 Hz for the straight tube and bent tube inlet configurations. The axial velocity near the entrance showed a strong component of the forcing frequency. Phase averaged mean velocities were observed to be well defined during charging and diminished during venting inside the cylinder. The jet flow penetrated most for the 4 Hz and least for the 12 Hz case. For the straight tube inlet comparison with a steady flow measurement of sudden expansion flow showed a qualitative similarity of the mean axial velocity distribution and centerline velocity decay during the charging phases. For the bent tube inlet case the contour plots showed the flow tendency towards the wall. Two cells were seen in the contours for the 8 Hz and 12 Hz cases. The deviation of the point of occurrence of maximum velocity in a radial profile was found to be about 6.5°. Entrance velocity profiles showed symmetry for the straight tube inlet while were skewed for the bent tube inlet. Contour plots of the phase averaged axial turbulence intensity for bent tube cases showed higher values in the core and near the wall in the region of impingement. Axial turbulence intensity measured for the straight tube case showed features as observed in an axisymmetric sudden expansion flow.