Self-sustained oscillations in opposed impinging jets in an enclosure

The flow of jets in confining enclosures has significant application in many engineering processes. In particular, the impingement of axisymmetric jets in a confined space has been examined using flow visualization, laser Doppler anemometry, and numerical simulations. Several flow regions were found; stable steady, regular oscillatory, and irregular oscillatory. Initially, a steady flow field existed for all arrangements for Re-d < <similar to>90 (based on the nozzle diameter d, the fluid kinematic viscosity v and the volumetric flow rate Q through the nozzle (Q = pid(2)/4(avg))) but subsequent increments in the fluid velocity caused a regularly oscillating flow field to emerge. The onset of the oscillations and the upper limit of finite oscillations were found to be a function of the Re-d, and the nozzle diameter to chamber dimension ratio. Steady numerical simulations predicted the steady flow field well and good agreement was obtained in unsteady simulations of the oscillating flow field. The oscillating flow field is considered to be a class of self-sustaining oscillations where instabilities in the jet shear layer are amplified because of feed back from pressure disturbances in the impingement region.