Large eddy simulation of thermal stratification effects on tracer gas dispersion in a cavity

Abstract This paper assesses the effect of thermal stratification on the prediction of inert tracer gas dispersion within a cavity of height ( H ) 1.0 m, and unity aspect ratio, using large eddy simulation. The Reynolds number of the cavity flow, was 67 000. Thermal stratification was achieved through the heating or cooling of one or more of the walls within the cavity. When compared to an isothermal (neutral) case, unstable stratification from surface heating generally has a weak influence on the primary recirculating cavity vortex, except in the case where the windward wall is heated. For windward wall heating, a large secondary vortex appears at the corner of the windward wall and cavity floor. Unstable stratification has no significant influence on the removal of pollutant mass from the cavity. Stable stratification through surface cooling drastically alters the flow pattern within the cavity, pushing the cavity vortex towards the upper quadrant of the cavity. As a result, large regions of stagnant fluid are present within the cavity, reducing the effectiveness of the shear layer at removing pollutant concentration from the cavity. Some stable stratification configurations can increase the pollutant mass within the cavity by over a factor of five, when compared to the neutral case. Pollutant concentration flux maps show that, in stably stratified cases, the majority of pollutant transport from the cavity is the result of entrainment into the primary cavity vortex. The results show that pollutant concentrations in urban street canyon-type flows are substantially altered by diurnal heating and cooling, which may influence pedestrian management strategies in urban environments.