Coalescing axisymmetric turbulent plumes

Abstract

The coalescence of two co-flowing axisymmetric turbulent plumes and the resulting single plume flow is modelled and compared to experiments. The point of coalescence is defined as the location at which only a single peak appears in the horizontal buoyancy profile, and a prediction is made for its height. The model takes into account the drawing together of the two plumes due to their respective entrainment fields. Experiments showed that the model tends to overestimate the coalescence height, though this discrepancy may be partly explained by the sensitivity of the prediction to the entrainment coefficient. A model is then developed to describe the resulting single plume and predict its virtual origin. This prediction and subsequent predictions of flow rate above the merge height compare very well with experimental results.