Multi-Scale Analysis of Energy Transfer in Scalar Turbulence

The energy transfer of homogeneous scalar turbulence is studied numerically by triad interaction in spectral space. The different transfer properties between turbulent kinetic energy and turbulent scalar energy reveal that non-local energy transfer exists as important as the local energy transfer in scalar turbulence. The non-local energy transfer of scalar turbulence results from non-local triad interaction. As a result there will be longer inertia-convective range in scalar turbulence than the inertial subrange in turbulent kinetic transfer at Re_λ= Pe_λ. The non-local transfer of turbulent scalar energy generates more energy transfer into dissipation range. The discovery of non-local transfer of turbulent scalar energy indicates that this phenomenon should be concerned carefully in numerical scheme and subgrid modelling of direct numerical simulation or large eddy simulation scalar turbulence.