The turbulent flow through a 3D diffuser featuring a double expansion is investigated using computational fluid dynamics. Time dependent simulations are reported using the stress omega Reynolds stress model available in ANSYS FLUENT 13.0. The flow topography and characteristics over a range of Reynolds numbers from 42,000 to 170,000 is reported, and its features are consistent with those investigated for other similar geometries. A transition from a chaotic separated flow to one featuring one large recirculation in one corner of the diffuser is predicted at a Reynolds number of 80,000. For a Reynolds number of 170,000 a precessing/flapping motion of the main flow field was identified, the frequency of which is consistent with other numerical and experimental studies.

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