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Turbulent Pipe Flow
Problem Specification
the inlet velocity is 1 m/s, the fluid exhausts into the ambient atmosphere
and density is 1 kg/m3. For = 2 x 10-5 kg/(ms), the Reynolds no. based
on the pipe diameter and average velocity at the inlet is
Select Solver
We can assume that the flow is axisymmetric. The problem domain is:
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Strategy for creating geometry
Create Vertices
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This fits the four vertices of the rectangle we
have created to the size of the Graphics
Window.
Create Edges
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Repeat create edge steps for line 4
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Create Face
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Step 2: Mesh Geometry in GAMBIT
Mesh Edges
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Mesh Edges
To resolve the much higher gradient near the wall for a turbulent flow,
we will use smaller grid spacing near the wall by employing grid
stretching.
For Type in the Mesh Edges menu, select First Length from the drop
down box. Next to Length, type in 0.001.
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If you zoom in on the right edge, you
should see the following:
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Recreate Face Mesh
The next step is to recreate the face mesh on top of these edge meshes.
This is the same procedure as in the previous tutorial:
Shift left-click on the face and click Apply. The meshed area should look
like this after zooming in:
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Step 3: Specify Boundary Types in GAMBIT
As in the previous tutorial, we will now Select Export 2d Mesh since this
save and export the mesh. is a two-dimensional mesh
Main Menu > File > Save
Main Menu > File > Export > Mesh...
Exit GAMBIT: Main Menu > File > Exit and save the session.
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Step 4: Set Up Problem in FLUENT
Launch FLUENT
Start > Programs > Fluent Inc > FLUENT 6.2
Select 2ddp (2D, double-precision version) from the list of options and click Run.
Import File
Main Menu > File > Read > Case...
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Grid
First, we check the grid to make sure that there are no errors.
Main Menu > Grid > Check
Any errors in the grid would be reported at this time. Check the output
and make sure that there are no errors reported. Then select:
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Main Menu > Display > Grid...
Make sure all 5 items under Surfaces are selected. Then click Display.
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Define Solver Properties
Main Menu > Define > Models > Solver
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Main Menu > Define > Models > Energy...
Click Change/Create.
The four types of boundaries we defined are specified as zones on the left
side of the Boundary Conditions Window. Recall that we don't need to set
any parameters for the centerline and wall zones. Verify this by selecting
each of these two zones and clicking on Set....
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Iterate Until Convergence
Solve for 100 iterations first.
Main Menu > Solve > Iterate...
In the Iterate menu that comes
up,change the Number of Iterations to
100. Click Iterate.
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Step 6: Analyze Results
Centerline Velocity
Under Y Axis Function, pick Velocity... and then in the box under that, pick
Axial Velocity. Finally, select centerline under Surfaces since we are
plotting the axial velocity along the centerline.
Click on Curves... in the Solution XY Plot window. Select the solid line
option under Pattern as shown below. Change Weight to 2. Select the
blank option under Symbol. Click Apply and Close.
Turn on grid lines: In the Solution XY
Plot window, click on Axes.... Turn on
the grid by checking the boxes Major
Rules and Minor Rules under Options.
Click Apply. Select Y under Axis and
repeat. Click Apply and Close.
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We can see that the fully developed
region starts around x=5m with the
centerline velocity becoming constant
at a value of 1.195 m/s. This is quite a
bit lower than the value of 2 m/s for the
laminar case. Can you explain the
difference based on the physical
characteristics of laminar and turbulent
flows?
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Uncheck Write to File. Click Plot.
We can see that the fully-developed
value is 0.0085. Compare this with
what you'd expect from the Moody
chart.
Velocity Profile
We'll plot the axial velocity at the outlet as a function of the distance
from the center of the pipe.
Change the plot settings so that the radial distance from the axis is
plotted as the ordinate: In the Solution XY Plot window, uncheck
Position on X Axis under Options and choose Position on Y Axis
instead. Under Plot Direction, change X to 0 and Y to 1. For the X Axis
Function i.e. the abscissa, pick Velocity... and Axial Velocity under that.
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Since we want to plot this at the outlet boundary, pick only outlet under
Surfaces.
Uncheck Write to File. Click Plot.
The axial velocity is maximum at the
centerline and zero at the wall to satisfy
the no-slip boundary condition for
viscous flow. Compare qualitatively the
near-wall velocity gradient normal to the
wall with the laminar case. Which is
larger? From this, what can you say
about the relative stregths of near-wall
mixing in the laminar and turbulent
cases?
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Velocity Vector display
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Modeling Tutorial: Mixing Elbow
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Mixing elbow modeling
Problem Specification
The problem to be considered is shown schematically in Figure below. A cold
fluid at 26oC enters through the large pipe and mixes with a warmer fluid at 40oC
in the elbow. The pipe dimensions are in inches, and the fluid properties and
boundary conditions are given in SI units. The Reynolds number at the main inlet
is 2.03x105 , so that a turbulent model will be necessary.
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Set Up Problem in FLUENT
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Step 1: Grid
Read the grid file mixing elbow 2d.msh.
File Read Case...
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Check the grid.
Grid Check
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Scale the grid.
Grid Scale...
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Display the grid
Display Grid...
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Step 2: Models
1.Keep the default solver settings. 2.Turn on the standard - turbulence model.
Define Models Solver... Define Models Viscous...
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3. Enable heat transfer by activating the energy equation.
Define Models Energy...
Step 3: Materials
1. Create a new material
called water.
Define Materials...
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Step 4: Boundary Conditions
Define Boundary Conditions...
1. Set the conditions for the fluid.
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2. Set the boundary conditions at the main inlet.
Select inlet-1 under Zone and click Set....
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3. Repeat previous operation for inlet-2, using the values in the following table:
4. Set the boundary conditions for outlet, as shown in the panel below
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5. For wall-4, keep the default settings for a Heat Flux of 0.
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Step 5: Solution
1. Initialize the flow field using the boundary conditions set at inlet-1.
Solve Initialize Initialize...
Add a Y Velocity value of 0.2 m/sec throughout the domain
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2. Enable the plotting of residuals during the calculation.
Solve Monitors Residual...
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3. Define a surface monitor.
Solve Monitors Surface...
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4. Save the case file
File Write Case...
Solve Iterate...
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6. Save the data file
File Write Data...
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Step 6: Displaying the Preliminary Solution
1. Display filled contours of velocity magnitude
Display Contours...
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2. Display filled contours of temperature
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3. Display velocity vectors
Display Vectors...
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Use the middle mouse button to zoom the view
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4. Create an XY plot of temperature across the exit
Plot XY Plot...
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5. Define a custom field function for the dynamic head formula ( ).
Define Custom Field Functions...
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6. Display filled contours of the custom field function
Display Contours...
7. Write the case and data files to save the settings for the custom field function.