On the near field characteristics of axisymmetric turbulent buoyant jets in a uniform environment

Abstract A differential k-e- T′ 2 model is used to investigate the near field characteristics of buoyant jets discharging into a stagnant uniform environment. The lateral temperature and velocity profiles and the half width of turbulent buoyant jets in the zone of flow establishment are calculated. Also the mean centerline velocity and temperature decay, the turbulent kinetic energy and its dissipation rate are computed for a wide range of exit densimetric Froude numbers. A good agreement between the predicted and the available experimental data is obtained. The level of the turbulent fluctuations at the exit is found to have a strong influence on the jet characteristics in the near field region.