Abstract

The present work reports the results of numerical simulations, using four different k - ε tubulence models of the experiments performed on buoyancy-influenced ascending flow of air in a heated vertical tube. The calculations have been performed using a variable property fomulation of the governing equations. The simulations have been performed using a constant value of the tubulent Prandtl number of 0.85. Of the models considered it has been found that the Sato, Shimada and Nagano and Lamder and Shama models are perfoming well under conditions described by the experimental data. However, these models are still not reliable enough to be recomended for the modelling of the buoyancy-influenced flows.