Investigating the entropy generation around an airfoil in turbulent flow

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to evaluate the amount of entropy generation around the NACA 0012 airfoil. This study takes place in four angles of attack of 0°, 5°, 10° and 16° and turbulent regime. Also, the variation in the amount of generated entropy by the changes in temperature and Mach number is investigated.

Design/methodology/approach

The governing equations are solved using computational fluid dynamics techniques. The continuity, momentum and energy equations and the equations of the SST k-ω turbulence model are solved. The entropy generation at different angles of attack is calculated and compared. The effect of various parameters in the generation of entropy is presented.

Findings

Results show that the major part of the entropy generation is at the tip of the airfoil. Also, increasing the angle of attack will increase the entropy generation. Also, results show that with increasing the temperature of air colliding with the airfoil, the production of entropy decreases.

Originality/value

Entropy generation is investigated in the NACA 0012 airfoil at various angles of attack and turbulent flow using the SST turbulence model. Also, the effects of temperature and Mach number on the entropy generation are investigated.

Citation

Saffarian, M.R., Jamaati, F., Mohammadi, A., Gholami Malekabad, F. and Ayoubi Ayoubloo, K. (2020), "Investigating the entropy generation around an airfoil in turbulent flow", Aircraft Engineering and Aerospace Technology, Vol. 92 No. 7, pp. 1001-1017. https://doi.org/10.1108/AEAT-01-2019-0006