skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Entropy generation in the viscous parts of turbulent boundary layers

Journal Article · · Journal of Fluids Engineering
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2928376· OSTI ID:932236

The local (pointwise) entropy generation rate per unit volume S is a key to improving many energy processes and applications. Consequently, in the present study, the objectives are to examine the effects of Reynolds number and favorable streamwise pressure gradients on entropy generation rates across turbulent boundary layers on flat plates and—secondarily—to assess a popular approximate technique for their evaluation. About two-thirds or more of the entropy generation occurs in the viscous part, known as the viscous layer. Fundamental new results for entropy generation in turbulent boundary layers are provided by extending available direct numerical simulations. It was found that, with negligible pressure gradients, results presented in wall coordinates are predicted to be near “universal” in the viscous layer. This apparent universality disappears when a significant pressure gradient is applied; increasing the pressure gradient decreases the entropy generation rate. Within the viscous layer, the approximate evaluation of S differs significantly from the “proper” value but its integral, the entropy generation rate per unit surface area S, agrees within 5% at its edge.

Research Organization:
Idaho National Lab. (INL), Idaho Falls, ID (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
DOE - NE
DOE Contract Number:
DE-AC07-99ID-13727
OSTI ID:
932236
Report Number(s):
INL/JOU-06-11078; JFEGA4; TRN: US200812%%668
Journal Information:
Journal of Fluids Engineering, Vol. 130, Issue 6; ISSN 0098-2202
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English