Nondimensional Analysis

Dimensional analysis relates ε to K,V, π and baffle width, as follows:

    ε = KV^3 /(2*π-cell*b)

Thus, ε*b/V^3 represents a dimensionless quantity where K is the minor loss coefficient (the drop in the pressure coefficient per baffle), b is the baffle spacing, and V is the average velocity flowing through the channel when the baffle spacing is b. Throughout this research paper, dimensionless epsilon was used to compare flow with different geometric and flow properties to ensure accurate comparison.

Figure 1. Nondimensionalized energy dissipation rate (fh = 0.4 bs = 0.1, v = 0.1)

Figure 1 shows an example of nondimensionalized contour of energy dissipation rate. Note that the nondimensionalized epsilon is off by a factor of 100 compared to the epsilon.