Solution for the statistical moments of scalar turbulence

Abstract

We derive a system of equations for the statistical moments of a passive scalar dispersed in a turbulent flow from the transport equation of the probability density function. We solve the system through a Green's function and we obtain a formally exact solution for the statistical moments of the passive scalar concentration. We use this solution to achieve an analytical relationship for the second moment of a passive scalar released from a point source. Comparison with wind-tunnel experiments shows that the relationship is valid also in a neutral turbulent boundary layer if the reflection onto the ground and an appropriate model for the mixing timescale are considered. This approach, combined with a suitable model for the distribution of the concentration, allows the statistics of the passive scalar to be obtained in the whole domain in a closed and ready-to-use form.