Numerical modelling of turbulent flow through conical diffusers with uniform and wake velocity profiles at the inlet

This paper is mainly concerned with the modelling of turbulent flow through conical diffusers to determine the various boundary layer characteristics. Flow through 4.5° and 6.0° diffusers has been considered with uniform as well as wake velocity profiles at the inlet. A finite difference method has been used to solve the partial differential equation of u-momentum. For the solution, a marching integration technique with the tridiagonal matrix algorithm is used. The Prandtl mixing length hypothesis is used to model the turbulence. The velocity profiles, the displacement thickness, momentum thickness, shape factor, blockage factor, performance and effectiveness of these diffusers at various downstream stations have been predicted and compared with the available experimental results. The agreement in general is quite satisfactory. © 1988.