The near field behavior of turbulent gas jets in a long confinement

The near-field behavior of a turbulent gas jet (8.73 mm in diameter) in a long confinement was studied using a test rig with a confinement area ratio of about 205 and a length-to-jet diameter ratio of about 1700. Experiments were carried out with CO2, air, and He/air jets at different jet velocities, using a laser Doppler velocimeter for velocity and turbulence measurements and hot-wire anemometers for a detailed examination of the turbulent shear field of an air jet. The air column inside the tunnel was seen to be first compressed by the jet and then to be slowly pushed out of the tunnel, causing the jet to spread rapidly and to decay quickly. As a result, an equilibrium turbulence field is established in the first two diameters of the jet which bears a similarity to that found in self-preserving turbulent free jets and jets in short confinement. However, in contrast to the cases of the two latter jet types, the near field of jets in a long confinement is independent of jet fluid densities and velocities.