Vasudevan Raghavan

Bio: Vasudevan Raghavan is an academic researcher from Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The author has contributed to research in topics: Combustion & Laminar flow. The author has an hindex of 17, co-authored 130 publications receiving 1051 citations. Previous affiliations of Vasudevan Raghavan include University of Nebraska–Lincoln & Indian Institutes of Technology.

Characteristics of Turbulent Round Jets in its Potential-Core Region

Abstract: In this work, stationary hot-wire measurements are carried out to investigate the characteristics of a round free jet in its potential core region (0 ≤ x/d ≤ 10). Measurements are carried out on an incompressible round jet for a range of Reynolds numbers from 4000 to 8000, calculated based on the jet exit mean v locity and the nozzle diameter. The effect of flow velocity on the d velopment characteristics of the jet in the core region is an alyzed. Timeaveraged statistics, spectra of velocity and its hi gher order moments are presented and explained . Keywords—Contoured nozzle, hot-wire anemometer, Reynolds number, velocity fluctuations, velocity spectra.

Microscale Flow Through Channels With a Right-Angled Bend: Effect of Fillet Radius

Abstract: Microscale gas flow through channels with a right-angled bend has been numerically analyzed to study the effect of the fillet radius on flow characteristics. The flow is assumed to be incompressible, laminar, and hydrodynamically developing. The fillet radius has been varied from zero, representing a sharp corner, to 0.6 times the height of the channel. The Knudsen number has been varied from zero, representing no-slip at the boundary, to 0.1, which is the limiting case for the slip-flow regime. A low Reynolds number of value 1 has been considered in the present study, which makes the flow to be within the incompressible slip-flow regime. The flow characteristics in terms of velocity profiles, velocity vectors, and the pressure ratio between the inlet and outlet of the channel have been presented for several cases. Results show that for the case of the fillet radius equal to zero, the flow separation occurs after the bend and due to this, the exit velocity profile changes significantly. The highest pressure ratio between the inlet and the outlet is required to maintain a specific mass flow rate for this case. The cases with a nonzero fillet radius exhibit exit velocity profiles identical to that of a straight channel. The pressure ratio decreases when the fillet radius and the Knudsen number are increased.

A User’s Guide

Abstract: OUTPU T 29 OUTPU T 30 OUTPU T 31 OUTPU T 32 OUTPU T 25 OUTPU T 26 OUTPU T 27 OUTPU T 28 OUTPU T 21 OUTPU T 22 OUTPU T 23 OUTPU T 24 OUTPU T 17 OUTPU T 18 OUTPU T 19 OUTPU T 20 OUTPU T 13 OUTPU T 14 OUTPU T 15 OUTPU T 16 OUTPU T 9 OUTPU T 10 OUTPU T 11 OUTPU T 12 OUTPU T 5 OUTPU T 6 OUTPU T 7 OUTPU T 8 OUTPU T 1 OUTPU T 2 OUTPU T 3 OUTPU T 4 29 30 31 32 25 26 27 28 21 22 23 24 17 18 19 20 13 14 15 16 9

A review of biodiesel production from Jatropha curcas L. oil

Abstract: The demand for petroleum has risen rapidly due to increasing industrialization and modernization of the world. This economic development has led to a huge demand for energy, where the major part of that energy is derived from fossil sources such as petroleum, coal and natural gas. However, the limited reserve of fossil fuel has drawn the attention of many researchers to look for alternative fuels which can be produced from renewable feedstock. Biodiesel has become more attractive because of its environmental benefits and it is obtained from renewable resources. There are four primary methods to make biodiesel: blending, microemulsion, pyrolysis and transesterification. The most commonly used method is the transesterification of triglycerides (vegetable oil and animal fats) with alcohol in the presence of a catalyst. There is a growing interest in using Jatropha curcas L. oil as the feedstock for biodiesel production because it is non-edible and thus does not compromise the edible oils, which are mainly used for food consumption. Non-edible oils are not suitable for human consumption because of the presence of toxic components. Further, J. curcas L. seed has a high content of oil and the biodiesel produced has similar properties to that of petroleum-based diesel. In this paper, an attempt has been made to review the different approaches and techniques used to generate biodiesel from Jatropha curcas oil. The main factors affecting the biodiesel yield, for example the molar ratio of alcohol to oil, catalyst concentration, reaction temperature and reaction time are discussed. Lastly, the environmental considerations and economic aspects of biodiesel are also addressed.

Wide range modeling study of dimethyl ether oxidation

Abstract: A detailed chemical kinetic model has been used to study dimethyl ether (DME) oxidation over a wide range of conditions. Experimental results obtained in a jet-stirred reactor (JSR) at I and 10 atm, 0.2 < 0 < 2.5, and 800 < T < 1300 K were modeled, in addition to those generated in a shock tube at 13 and 40 bar, 0 = 1.0 and 650 :5 T :5 1300 K. The JSR results are particularly valuable as they include concentration profiles of reactants, intermediates and products pertinent to the oxidation of DME. These data test the Idnetic model severely, as it must be able to predict the correct distribution and concentrations of intermediate and final products formed in the oxidation process. Additionally, the shock tube results are very useful, as they were taken at low temperatures and at high pressures, and thus undergo negative temperature dependence (NTC) behavior. This behavior is characteristic of the oxidation of saturated hydrocarbon fuels, (e.g. the primary reference fuels, n-heptane and iso- octane) under similar conditions. The numerical model consists of 78 chemical species and 336 chemical reactions. The thermodynamic properties of unknown species pertaining to DME oxidation were calculated using THERM.