Numerical solution of incompressible three dimensional flows through a preconditioned finite volume method

In the paper the application of a preconditioned finite volume time marching explicit method to turbomachinery problems is presented. By adding an artificial compressibility term into the continuity equation the time marching schemes already applied to solve compressible flows can be used to solve incompressible flow fields too. The parameters included in the expression of the pseudo speed of sound must be carefully chosen because they heavily affect the rate of convergence as it is shown via several 2D applications. An optimum value for those parameters is then determined and used in the code for 3D analysis. The flow field analysis within a rectangular section curved duct is then performed on account of the detailed low speed experimental data available. The obtained results enabled the authors to test a model to be used in the prediction of the flow in turbomachinery passages.