Calculations of steady and pulsating impinging jets - An assessment of 13 widely used turbulence models

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations of impinging jets have been performed with 13 widely spread Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) turbulence models using commercial CFD software. It was the aim of these calculation to assess how heat transfer and flow structure can be predicted at different Reynolds numbers and different nozzle-to-plate distances. The only model able to predict correctly the laminar-turbulent transition occurring at small nozzle-to-plate distance was the SST k-omega model (transitional flow option). Most of the other models can only satisfactorily predict heat transfer in the turbulent wall jet region. When the SST k-omega model with transitional flow option is applied for calculation of pulsating jets, the tendencies are predicted correctly.