Numerical Simulation of Advected Thermal Using Gaussian-Vortex Model

Abstract

The Gaussian-vortex integral model is applied to laboratory data on an advected thermal and field experimental data for a single submerged sewage outfall. The Gaussian-vortex integral model is distinguished from other conventional jet integral models that do not consider vortex-pair formation effects on the behavior of a buoyant jet in the buoyancy- and ambient-dominated regions. The experimental data relative to an advected thermal, measured by a laser-induced fluorescence technique were used for verifications of the numerical model. With the incorporation of vortex-pair formation effects, the simulated results on the bulk characteristics of an advected thermal were in good agreement with the laboratory data, and for applications the simulated surface minimum dilutions also show fairly good agreement with field experimental data. Finally, the numerical model is applied to a horizontal buoyant jet in cross-flow to demonstrate the capability of the numerical model for the buoyant jet that has 3D characteristics.