M.Sc.

Thesis Entitled
Helwan University
“Flow Control in Industrial Injection Applications by
Changing the Exit Splitter Positions Inside a Fluidic
Oscillator”
By
Ahmed Mohamed Abdulnaim Mohamed
Mechanical Power Engineering Department

Under Supervision of

Prof. Dr. Hany Ahmed Moneib

Assoc. Prof. Ahmed Abdelrazik Emara

Cairo – 25 July 2019

Continuous
Combustion LASER Applications and

Laboratory Nanotechnology Laboratory

 Outline
Helwan University

Motivations

Overview

Scope and Objectives

Study Approach

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Recommendations

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Outline
Helwan University

Motivations

Overview

Scope and Objectives

Study Approach

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Recommendations

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Motivations
Helwan University

 Development of flow control strategies has been a motivation for a lot

of recent scientific research to achieve a progress in many applications
including:
 Active Combustion Control:
For better flame stability with lower emissions and fuel consumption.
 Aerodynamic Performance Enhancement:
By control the flow separation over diverse aerodynamic profiles.
 Heat Transfer Enhancement:
By covering a larger impinging cooling surface and increasing the
average Nu number.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Outline
Helwan University

Motivations

Overview

Scope and Objectives

Study Approach

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Recommendations

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
Flow Control Strategies
Helwan University

• Flow control strategies aim to manipulate the flow field to achieve a desired
change to improve efficiency or performance of the fluid flow systems.
• These strategies can be branched into two main categories:
Passive Control and Active Control.

• Passive control includes any geometric configurations (swirlers,

longitudinal channels…), and it is steady and does not require any external
power.
• Active control requires actuators - like Fluidic Oscillator - to perform the
desired action on the flow field.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
Fluidic Oscillator
Helwan University

• These devices produce an oscillating jet when supplied by a pressurized

fluid without any moving parts.
• This nature makes fluidic oscillators potentially attractive for use as an
actuator in active flow control applications.
• These actuators utilize Fluidics Technology, either via:
o Wall attachment mechanisms called the Coanda effect (feedback
fluidic oscillator), and/or
o Fluid interactions (feedback-free fluidic oscillator).

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
Double Feedback Fluidic Oscillator
Helwan University

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
Theory of Operation (Coanda Effect)
Helwan University

Coanda effect states that:

A jet flow ejected through a nozzle tends to follow an adjacent flat or
curved surface and entrains fluid from the surroundings so that a region
of lower pressure develops.

1 2 3 1 2

Free jet stream Confined jet stream Pitcher example

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
The Sequence of Operation
Helwan University

T 0/4 T 1/4 T 2/4 T 3/4

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
The Sequence of Operation
Helwan University

T 0/4 T 1/4 T 2/4 T 3/4

Feedback Flow

Separation Bubble

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
The Sequence of Operation
Helwan University

T 0/4 T 1/4 T 2/4 T 3/4

Feedback Flow

Separation Bubble

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
The Sequence of Operation
Helwan University

T 0/4 T 1/4 T 2/4 T 3/4

Feedback Flow

Feedback Flow
Separation Bubble

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
The Sequence of Operation
Helwan University

2. A part of the flow is 1. The jet impinges onto

guided back to the inlet the feedback channel

3. And feeds the separation bubble,

which pushes the jet to the other side https://doi.org/10.1103/APS.DFD.2015.GFM.V0015
M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim
 Overview
Linearity of The Frequency
Helwan University

• There is a linear relation between Reynolds number and the Fluidics

frequency as calculated experimentally from the hydrophone signals
using water (reproduced from the literature).

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
Exit Configuration
Helwan University

• A fluidic oscillator can produce two jet types depending on the exit
configuration, pulsating or sweeping jet.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
State-of-the-art
Helwan University

• Many studies were obtained on fluidic oscillators to understand the

internal flow dynamics and oscillation characteristics, and determine
the parameters affecting the oscillation process.
• A previous study determined experimentally seven design modulation
parameters affect the oscillation period (Emara, 2011 ).
• Another study (Bobusch et al. 2013) investigated the influence of
internal geometry changes (control throat and feedback channels) on
frequency and jet deflection angle.
• Other study (Hossain et al. 2017) investigated the effects of the
roughness of the internal surfaces on the actuator performance.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Overview
Principal Conclusion
Helwan University

• The internal flow of small-scale double feedback fluidic oscillators is

very difficult to investigate experimentally because of small and
complex geometries.
• There is no direct investigation of the influence of the exit
configuration or splitter length on the flow dynamics.
• In order to expand upon the current understanding of these points,
research objectives were set to satisfy this investigation.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Outline
Helwan University

Motivations

Overview

Scope and Objectives

Study Approach

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Recommendations

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Scope and Objectives
Helwan University

 Perform a computationally study on a small-scale double feedback

Fluidic Oscillator and identify the main oscillation characteristics of
the flow.
 Studying the influence of the exit configuration on the flow dynamics
of the actuator.
 Studying the influence of the splitter position on the flow dynamics of
the actuator.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Outline
Helwan University

Motivations

Overview

Scope and Objectives

Study Approach

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Recommendations

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Study Approach
Numerical Approach
Helwan University

• Performed transient numerical simulations on 2-D grids.

• The unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) equations
are solved employing the shear stress transport (SST) turbulence
model as provided in ANSYS CFX.
• It was found in a previous study that using a 2-D model based on
URANS equations and employing the SST model is sufficient to
express the flow fields and oscillation characteristics qualitatively as
well as quantitatively (Krüger et al., 2013).
• The simulations were accomplished using the commercial licensed
software ANSYS 18.1 Workbench (CFX module).
• The geometries and grids were modeled using ANSYS Geometry and
Meshing modules.
M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim
 Study Approach
Investigated Configurations
Helwan University

Six different configurations

have been modeled to
determine the influence of
the exit configuration and
splitter position on the flow
dynamics of the fluidic
oscillator.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Study Approach
Investigated Configurations
Helwan University

Six different configurations

have been modeled to
determine the influence of
the exit configuration and
splitter position on the flow
dynamics of the fluidic
oscillator.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Study Approach
Geometry Preparation
Helwan University

• The computational domain was extended by a rectangle (10Dh × 10Dh) at outlet

to investigate the outer flow field.
• An inflow section at inlet (10Dh) to make the model independent of the inlet
boundary conditions.
• Boundary conditions superimposed onto the schematic of the computational
domain for FX100 model:

Dh

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Study Approach
Mesh Generation
Helwan University

• All grids are 2-D block-structured meshes.

• All grids were extruded by one cell thickness in normal direction.
• All grids were refined at high-velocity gradient zones and at near wall
zones to resolve the shear layers and flow separations.
• A grid study was carried out with three different grids (coarse, baseline
and fine).

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Study Approach
Simulation Set-up
Helwan University

• The fluid was set as water with a temperature of 293 K.

• The flow was considered to be turbulent, incompressible, and isothermal.
• The inlet velocity was set to be 0.746 m/s (87 l/h) resulting in Re = 6337
as computed with the hydraulic diameter at the power nozzle exit.
• The boundary condition at the outlet was set as an opening to
atmospheric pressure.
• The conditions of the walls were selected as non-slip walls.
• The transient simulation started with a steady solution and conducted
with a time step of 0.5 ms, with 5000 time-steps (total simulation time is
2.5 s).

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Study Approach
Monitoring Points
Helwan University

Five points were selected to monitor velocity fluctuations:

• Two points inside the oscillating chamber,
• One point at the middle of the control throat, and
• Two points at the exit limbs.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Study Approach
Flow Fields Analysis
Helwan University

• Internal and external flow fields are demonstrated and visualized through
velocity contours and streamlines.
• Since the emanating jet has an oscillatory movement, a complete cycle was
determined by the completion of one cycle inside the oscillation chamber,
and it was divided into 360 degrees (6 phase angles, one per 60o) to
demonstrate the different phase angles (θ) of the oscillator.
• The contours and streamlines are graphed only for half the oscillation cycle
(θ = 0o, 60o, 120o, and 180o) because the phenomenon is inversely repeating.
• The next equation was used to calculate the phase angles (θ):
u (m/s)

T t (s)
360 θ (o)
o

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Outline
Helwan University

Motivations

Overview

Scope and Objectives

Study Approach

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Recommendations

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Grid Convergence Study
Helwan University

Streamwise velocity fluctuation at the exit limbs for the three different grids:
2.5 2.5 2.5
Lower Lower Lower

Streamwise Velocity, u [m/s]

Streamwise Velocity, u [m/s]

Streamwise Velocity, u [m/s]

2 Upper 2 Upper 2 Upper

1.5 1.5 1.5

1 1 1

0.5 0.5 0.5

0 0 0

-0.5 -0.5 -0.5

0 50 100 150 0 50 100 150 0 50 100 150
Time [ms] Time [ms] Time [ms]

Coarse Baseline Fine

Upper Limb
Inlet
Lower Limb

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Grid Convergence Study
Helwan University

Fast Fourier transform of the streamwise velocity signals at points OU left

and OL right for the three grids of the grid convergence study:

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Grid Convergence Study
Helwan University

Comparison of the dominant frequencies and their corresponding amplitudes

that resulted from the three grid resolutions:

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Flow Field Validation
Helwan University

Contours of streamwise velocity (u/UB) for FX100 at Re = 6337

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Flow Field Validation
Helwan University

Contours of radial velocity (v/UB) for FX100 at Re = 6337

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Flow Analysis of The Baseline Model FX100
Helwan University

The baseline model FX100 was simulated with an inlet flow rate of 87 l/min
resulting in an oscillation frequency of 16.11 Hz.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Flow Analysis of The Baseline Model FX100
Helwan University

Velocity magnitude contours at different phase angles and Re = 6337 for the
baseline model FX100

Ɵ = 0o Ɵ = 120
o

o o
Ɵ = 60 Ɵ = 180

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Flow Analysis of The Baseline Model FX100
Helwan University

The averaged velocity magnitude contours with the velocity vectors

superimposed of baseline model FX100

V/UB [-]

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Flow Analysis of The Baseline Model FX100
Helwan University

Streamwise velocity (u/UB) contours at different phase angles and Re = 6337

for the baseline model FX100

Ɵ = 0o Ɵ = 120o

o o
Ɵ = 60 Ɵ = 180

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Flow Analysis of The Baseline Model FX100
Helwan University

Streamwise velocity (v/UB) contours at different phase angles and Re = 6337

for the baseline model FX100

Ɵ = 0o Ɵ = 120o

o o
Ɵ = 60 Ɵ = 180

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Flow Analysis of The Baseline Model FX100
Helwan University

Streamlines colored by velocity magnitude (V/UB) contours at different phase

angles and Re = 6337 for the baseline configuration FX100

Ɵ = 0o Ɵ = 120o

o o
Ɵ = 60 Ɵ = 180

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
Flow Analysis of The Baseline Model FX100
Helwan University

Frequency analysis of baseline model FX100

3
Streamwise Velocity, u [m/s]

2
FX100
1 u (IU)
u (IL)
0 u (C)
u (OU)
-1 u (OL)

-2
0 60 120 180 240 300 360
Phase Angle, Theta [degrees]
1
FX100, A (IL)
FX100, A (C)
0.8
Amplitude, A [m/s]

FX100, A (OL)

0.6

0.4

0.2

0
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Frequency, f [Hz]
M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim
 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Exit Configuration
Helwan University

Velocity magnitude (V/UB) contour plots at different phase angles and Re =

6337 for configurations FX100, FX0 and FX0'
o o o
Ɵ=0 Ɵ = 60 Ɵ = 120 Ɵ = 180o
FX100
FX0
FX0'

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Exit Configuration
Helwan University

Streamwise velocity (u/UB) contour plots at different phase angles and Re =

6337 for configurations FX100, FX0 and FX0'
o o o
Ɵ=0 Ɵ = 60 Ɵ = 120 Ɵ = 180o
FX100
FX0
FX0'

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Exit Configuration
Helwan University

Radial velocity (v/UB) contour plots at different phase angles and Re = 6337
for configurations FX100, FX0 and FX0'
o o o
Ɵ=0 Ɵ = 60 Ɵ = 120 Ɵ = 180o
FX100
FX0
FX0'

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Exit Configuration
Helwan University

Streamlines colored by velocity magnitude (V/UB) contours at different phase

angles and Re = 6337 for configurations FX100, FX0 and FX0'
o o o
Ɵ=0 Ɵ = 60 Ɵ = 120 Ɵ = 180o
FX100
FX0
FX0'

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Exit Configuration
Helwan University

Comparison between the streamwise velocities and the frequency spectrums

for configurations (FX100, FX0 and FX0') at deferent monitoring points
3 1.2
Streamwise Velocity, u [m/s]

FX100, A (IL)
1 FX0, A (IL)

Amplitude, A [m/s]
2 FX0', A (IL)
FX100 0.8
1 u (IU)
u (IL) 0.6
0 u (C)
0.4
u (OU)
-1 u (OL) 0.2

-2 0
0 60 120 180 240 300 360 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Phase Angle, Theta [degrees] Frequency, f [Hz]
3
Streamwise Velocity, u [m/s]

FX100, A (C)
0.3 FX0, A (C)

Amplitude, A [m/s]
2 FX0', A (C)
FX0
1 u (IU) 0.2
u (IL)
0 u (C)
u (OU) 0.1
-1 u (OL)

-2 0
0 60 120 180 240 300 360 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Phase Angle, Theta [degrees] Frequency, f [Hz]
3 0.8
Streamwise Velocity, u [m/s]

FX100, A (OL)
FX0, A (OL)
Amplitude, A [m/s]

2 0.6 FX0', A (OL)

FX0'
1 u (IU)
u (IL) 0.4
0 u (C)
u (OU)
0.2
-1 u (OL)

-2 0
0 60 120 180 240 300 360 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Phase Angle, Theta [degrees] Frequency, f [Hz]

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Splitter Position
Helwan University

Velocity magnitude (V/UB) contour plots at different phase angles and Re = 6337 for
configurations FX100, FX75, FX50 and FX25
Ɵ = 0o Ɵ = 60o Ɵ = 120o Ɵ = 180
o
FX100
FX75
FX50
FX25

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Splitter Position
Helwan University

Streamwise velocity (u/UB) contour plots at different phase angles and Re = 6337 for
configurations FX100, FX75, FX50 and FX25
Ɵ = 0o Ɵ = 60o Ɵ = 120o Ɵ = 180
o
FX100
FX75
FX50
FX25

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Splitter Position
Helwan University

Radial velocity (v/UB) contour plots at different phase angles and Re = 6337 for
configurations FX100, FX75, FX50 and FX25
Ɵ = 0o Ɵ = 60o Ɵ = 120o Ɵ = 180
o
FX100
FX75
FX50
FX25

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Splitter Position
Helwan University

Streamlines colored by velocity magnitude (V/UB) contours at different phase angles and
Re = 6337 for configurations FX100, FX75, FX50 and FX25
Ɵ = 0o Ɵ = 60o Ɵ = 120o Ɵ = 180
o
FX100
FX75
FX50
FX25

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Splitter Position
Helwan University

Comparison between the streamwise velocities and the frequency spectrums for
configurations (FX100, FX75, FX50 and FX25) at deferent monitoring points
3
Streamwise Velocity, u [m/s]

1 FX100, A (IL)
2 FX75, A (IL)

Amplitude, A [m/s]
FX100
1 u (IU) 0.8 FX50, A (IL)
u (IL) FX25, A (IL)
0 u (C) 0.6
u (OU)
-1 u (OL)
0.4
-2
0 60 120 180 240 300 360 0.2
Phase Angle, Theta [degrees]
3
Streamwise Velocity, u [m/s]

0
2 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
FX75 Frequency, f [Hz]
1 u (IU) 0.4
u (IL) FX100, A (C)
0 u (C)
FX75, A (C)

Amplitude, A [m/s]
u (OU)
-1 u (OL) 0.3 FX50, A (C)
FX25, A (C)
-2
0 60 120 180 240 300 360
0.2
Phase Angle, Theta [degrees]
3
Streamwise Velocity, u [m/s]

2 0.1
FX50
1 u (IU)
u (IL) 0
0 u (C) 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
u (OU) Frequency, f [Hz]
-1 u (OL)
0.8
-2
FX100, A (OL)
0 60 120 180 240 300 360 FX75, A (OL)
Amplitude, A [m/s]

Phase Angle, Theta [degrees] 0.6 FX50, A (OL)

3
Streamwise Velocity, u [m/s]

FX25, A (OL)
2
FX25 0.4
1 u (IU)
u (IL)
0 u (C) 0.2
u (OU)
-1 u (OL)
0
-2
0 60 120 180 240 300 360
5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50
Phase Angle, Theta [degrees] Frequency, f [Hz]

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Splitter Position
Helwan University

Influence of shorting the splitter on internal and external flow fields

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Splitter Position
Helwan University

Influence of shorting the splitter on internal and external flow fields

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Splitter Position
Helwan University

Influence of shorting the splitter on internal and external flow fields

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Results and Discussion
The Effect of Splitter Position
Helwan University

Influence of shorting the splitter on internal and external flow fields

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Outline
Helwan University

Motivations

Overview

Scope and Objectives

Study Approach

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Recommendations

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Conclusions
Helwan University

• A small-scale double feedback fluidic oscillator has been undergone

numerical investigations.
• Time-resolved flow fields and pressure measurements using PIV laser
system and hydrophone were adopted from a previous study to
provide experimental data to the process of validation.
• Unsteady simulations were performed on six models with different
exit configurations and splitter positions to appraise the impact of
these configurations on the flow dynamics of the actuator.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Conclusions
Helwan University

A few key concluded remarks are listed below:

1) Resolving the internal flow fields experimentally is difficult due to
the complex and small geometries (feedback channels).
2) The computational model results of the baseline model FX100 (with
exit channel and splitter) showed a good matching with the
experimental results with frequency error around 1%.
3) The existence of the splitter at the exit in the baseline model (FX100)
led to producing separated pulses with higher amplitudes, which are
adequate to diverse applications including active combustion
control.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Conclusions
Helwan University

4) The absence of the splitter in the FX0 configuration led to confine

the jet between the channel sides, which produced double pulses.
5) When the exit channel was removed in the FX0' configuration, the
jet became a free sweeping jet, which is suitable for many
applications of active flow control including flow separation control.
6) For the rest configurations (FX75, FX50, and FX25) with different
splitter’s length, the size of the inner recirculation zone is inversely
proportional to the splitter length and position.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Conclusions
Helwan University

7) The emanating jets are deflecting due to shorting the splitter, which
shorting the exit limbs' paths.
8) The dominant frequency of the emanating jet is not affected by the
splitter length, while its amplitude changes in an irregular manner.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Outline
Helwan University

Motivations

Overview

Scope and Objectives

Study Approach

Results and Discussion

Conclusions

Recommendations

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Recommendations
Helwan University

It is recommended for future studies to:

1) Retain the splitter position and change the exit channel length.
2) Change the splitter width and the wedge angle.
3) Change the shape of the splitter (half a circle, oval, etc.).
4) Study flow-interactions between the emanating jets and cross-flows
or swirling-flows.

cross-flows

swirling-flows

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

 Published Papers
Helwan University

A. M. Abdulnaim, A. A. Emara, and H. A. Moneib, “Influence of Exit

Configuration on the Flow Fields and Oscillation Characteristics Inside and
Outside the Fluidic Oscillator,” The 18th International Conference on
Aerospace Sciences & Aviation Technology (ASAT-18), Military Technical
College, Cairo, Egypt, 2019.

M.Sc. Thesis Ahmed Abdulnaim

Helwan University

Thank You for

Your Attention

Continuous
Combustion LASER Applications and

Laboratory Nanotechnology Laboratory