Study of vertical plane turbulent jets and plumes

Asymptotic, plane, vertical, turbulent plumes and nonbuoyant jets were studied. Simultaneous velocity and temperature were measured using frequency shifted, two component Laser Doppler anemometry (LDA), resistance thermometry and a high speed data acquisition system. Results obtained for two plumes with vastly different initial Richardson numbers indicate that both the plumes exhibit a nearly universal asymptotic behavior. The Richardson number of the asymptotic plume is a universal constant and is about 0.3. The mean velocity and temperature profiles in both jets and plumes are nearly Gaussian. It is found that turbulence levels in plumes are significantly higher than in jets.