In fluid dynamics, turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) is the mean kinetic energy per unit mass associated with eddies in turbulent flow. Physically, the turbulence kinetic energy is characterised by measured root-mean-square (RMS) velocity fluctuations. In Reynolds-averaged Navier Stokes equations, the turbulence kinetic energy can be calculated based on the closure method, i.e. a turbulence model.
Generally, the TKE is defined to be half the sum of the variances (square of standard deviations) of the velocity components:
\( {\displaystyle k={\frac {1}{2}}\left(\,{\overline {(u')^{2}}}+{\overline {(v')^{2}}}+{\overline {(w')^{2}}}\,\right),} \)
where the turbulent velocity component is the difference between the instantaneous and the average velocity \( {\displaystyle u'=u-{\overline {u}}} \), whose mean and variance are \( {\displaystyle {\overline {u'}}={\frac {1}{T}}\int _{0}^{T}(u(t)-{\overline {u}})\,dt=0} \) and \( {\displaystyle {\overline {(u')^{2}}}={\frac {1}{T}}\int _{0}^{T}(u(t)-{\overline {u}})^{2}\,dt\geq 0} \) , respectively.
TKE can be produced by fluid shear, friction or buoyancy, or through external forcing at low-frequency eddy scales(integral scale). Turbulence kinetic energy is then transferred down the turbulence energy cascade, and is dissipated by viscous forces at the Kolmogorov scale. This process of production, transport and dissipation can be expressed as:
\( {\displaystyle {\frac {Dk}{Dt}}+\nabla \cdot T'=P-\varepsilon ,} \)
where:[1]
Dk/Dt is the mean-flow material derivative of TKE;
∇ · T′ is the turbulence transport of TKE;
P is the production of TKE, and
ε is the TKE dissipation.
Assuming density and viscosity both constant, the full form of the TKE equation is:
\( {\displaystyle \underbrace {\frac {\partial k}{\partial t}} _{\begin{smallmatrix}{\text{Local}}\\{\text{derivative}}\end{smallmatrix}}+\underbrace {{\overline {u}}_{j}{\frac {\partial k}{\partial x_{j}}}} _{\begin{smallmatrix}{\text{Advection}}\end{smallmatrix}}=-\underbrace {{\frac {1}{\rho _{o}}}{\frac {\partial {\overline {u'_{i}p'}}}{\partial x_{i}}}} _{\begin{smallmatrix}{\text{Pressure}}\\{\text{diffusion}}\end{smallmatrix}}-\underbrace {{\frac {1}{2}}{\frac {\partial {\overline {u_{j}'u_{j}'u_{i}'}}}{\partial x_{i}}}} _{\begin{smallmatrix}{\text{Turbulent}}\\{\text{transport}}\\{\mathcal {T}}\end{smallmatrix}}+\underbrace {\nu {\frac {\partial ^{2}k}{\partial x_{j}^{2}}}} _{\begin{smallmatrix}{\text{Molecular}}\\{\text{viscous}}\\{\text{transport}}\end{smallmatrix}}\underbrace {-{\overline {u'_{i}u'_{j}}}{\frac {\partial {\overline {u_{i}}}}{\partial x_{j}}}} _{\begin{smallmatrix}{\text{Production}}\\{\mathcal {P}}\end{smallmatrix}}-\underbrace {\nu {\overline {{\frac {\partial u'_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}{\frac {\partial u'_{i}}{\partial x_{j}}}}}} _{\begin{smallmatrix}{\text{Dissipation}}\\\varepsilon _{k}\end{smallmatrix}}-\underbrace {{\frac {g}{\rho _{o}}}{\overline {\rho 'u'_{i}}}\delta _{i3}} _{\begin{smallmatrix}{\text{Buoyancy flux}}\\b\end{smallmatrix}}} \)
By examining these phenomena, the turbulence kinetic energy budget for a particular flow can be found.[2]
Computational fluid dynamics
In computational fluid dynamics (CFD), it is impossible to numerically simulate turbulence without discretizing the flow-field as far as the Kolmogorov microscales, which is called direct numerical simulation (DNS). Because DNS simulations are exorbitantly expensive due to memory, computational and storage overheads, turbulence models are used to simulate the effects of turbulence. A variety of models are used, but generally TKE is a fundamental flow property which must be calculated in order for fluid turbulence to be modelled.
Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations
Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) simulations use the Boussinesq eddy viscosity hypothesis [3] to calculate the Reynolds stress that results from the averaging procedure:
\( {\displaystyle {\overline {u'_{i}u'_{j}}}={\frac {2}{3}}k\delta _{ij}-\nu _{t}\left({\frac {\partial {\overline {u_{i}}}}{\partial x_{j}}}+{\frac {\partial {\overline {u_{j}}}}{\partial x_{i}}}\right),} \)
where
\( {\displaystyle \nu _{t}=c\cdot {\sqrt {k}}\cdot l_{m}.} \)
The exact method of resolving TKE depends upon the turbulence model used; k–ε (k–epsilon) models assume isotropy of turbulence whereby the normal stresses are equal:
\( {\displaystyle {\overline {(u')^{2}}}={\overline {(v')^{2}}}={\overline {(w')^{2}}}.} \)
This assumption makes modelling of turbulence quantities (k and ε) simpler, but will not be accurate in scenarios where anisotropic behaviour of turbulence stresses dominates, and the implications of this in the production of turbulence also leads to over-prediction since the production depends on the mean rate of strain, and not the difference between the normal stresses (as they are, by assumption, equal).[4]
Reynolds-stress models (RSM) use a different method to close the Reynolds stresses, whereby the normal stresses are not assumed isotropic, so the issue with TKE production is avoided.
Initial conditions
Accurate prescription of TKE as initial conditions in CFD simulations are important to accurately predict flows, especially in high Reynolds-number simulations. A smooth duct example is given below.
\( k={\frac 32}(UI)^{2}, \)
where I is the initial turbulence intensity [%] given below, and U is the initial velocity magnitude;
\( {\displaystyle \varepsilon ={c_{\mu }}^{\frac {3}{4}}k^{\frac {3}{2}}l^{-1}.} \)
Here l is the turbulence or eddy length scale, given below, and cμ is a k–ε model parameter whose value is typically given as 0.09;
\( {\displaystyle I=0.16Re^{-{\frac {1}{8}}}.} \)
The turbulent length scale can be estimated as
\( l=0.07L, \)
with L a characteristic length. For internal flows this may take the value of the inlet duct (or pipe) width (or diameter) or the hydraulic diameter.[5]
References
Pope, S. B. (2000). Turbulent Flows. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. pp. 122–134. ISBN 978-0521598866.
Baldocchi, D. (2005), Lecture 16, Wind and Turbulence, Part 1, Surface Boundary Layer: Theory and Principles , Ecosystem Science Division, Department of Environmental Science, Policy and Management, University of California, Berkeley, CA: USA.
Boussinesq, J. V. (1877). "Théorie de l'Écoulement Tourbillant". Mem. Présentés Par Divers Savants Acad. Sci. Inst. Fr. 23: 46–50.
Laurence, D. (2002). "Applications of Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes Equations to Industrial Flows". In van Beeck, J. P. A. J.; Benocci, C. (eds.). Introduction to Turbulence Modelling, Held March 18–22, 2002 at Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics. Sint-Genesius-Rode: Von Karman Institute for Fluid Dynamics.
Flórez Orrego; et al. (2012). "Experimental and CFD study of a single phase cone-shaped helical coiled heat exchanger: an empirical correlation". Proceedings of ECOS 2012 – The 25th International Conference on Efficiency, Cost, Optimization, Simulation and Environmental Impact of Energy Systems, June 26–29, 2012, Perugia, Italy. ISBN 978-88-6655-322-9.
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