Experience of using semiempirical differential models of turbulence for calculation of liquid-metal convection in a bottom heated cylinder

The paper deals with assessments of ability of the three RANS turbulence models (k-ω SST, k-ε RNG and one of the differential RSM formulations) to predict local and integral characteristics of the statistically 3D Rayleigh – Bénard liquid-metal convection with a key role of large-scale circulation (LSC). URANS-based calculations at the Rayleigh number of 106 and the Prandtl number of 0.025 have been performed for a bottom heated cylindrical container with equal diameter to height, using computational grids of varied cell sizes. The case of the slightly tilted container was considered where the LSC azimuth position being fixed. The suitability of the used turbulence models was evaluated by comparing the obtained results with the direct numerical simulation data obtained earlier for the same conditions.