Numerical Study of the Turbulent Flow Through Perforated Plates of Small Porosity

We carry out numerical simulations of the turbulent flow through perforated plates with small porosity (0.04≤σ≤0.1), different plate thicknesses (1≤t/D≤8), Reynolds numbers (2500≤Re≤20000) and perforation patterns (square/staggered). The analysis relies on the numerical solution of the incompressible Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) equations, using the open-source package OpenFOAM. The flow features a recirculation region of annular shape in the upstream part of the hole due to the vena contracta, a turbulent jet generated at the hole exit, and a wake region past the leeward side of the plate. The pressure loss produced by the air passing through the holes is found to decrease monotonically for increasing porosities and Reynolds numbers. On the contrary, a non-monotonic trend of the pressure loss is found as the plate thickness is changed. The pressure loss dataset is then leveraged to assess the accuracy of a classical semi-empirical model.