Turbulence modeling of confined flow in rotating disk systems

Turbulent confined flows with strong rotation are a severe test for turbulence models. The present work considers more specifically the numerical prediction of the turbulent flow in rotor-stator systems with and without throughflow. The turbulent flow regimes are treated on the basis of one-point closures with three different turbulence models: a fc-e low Reynolds number model, a zonal modeling using an algebraic stress model linked to the k-e model near the walls, and a full Reynolds stress transport closure. The computational procedure is based on a finite volume method and has been validated on experimental data. A study of the influence of the rotation rate on the flow is done. Even if discrepancies remain, the second-order models including low Reynolds number treatment provide better predictions than the low Reynolds number k-e model and prove to be a suitable level of closure necessary to deal with such complex situations.