A Comparative Study of Omega RSM and RNG k-ε Model for the Numerical Simulation of a Hydrocyclone

The design and optimization of hydrocyclones using CFD techniques are gaining popularity and the key to a successful simulation lies with the accurate description of the high turbulent swirling behavior of the flow. This paper presents a detailed comparison between the Omega RSM and the RNG k-epsilon turbulence model, which are both derived specially for modeling swirling or rotational flow, in the simulation of a hydrocyclone. The predictions of velocity field, volume of vortexes, mass split and turbulent viscosity were obtained and compared. It is showed that in general both models gave similar predictions of the flow field under different inlet velocities, while the predictions of turbulent viscosity and in the core region of hydrocyclone were found more closely aligned with the reality using Omega RSM.