CFD FINAL PROJECT

ME 536
Department of Mechanical Engineering, IZTECH

H. Utku HELVACI

May, 2013
1) Introduction
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) provides approximate solution to coupled governing fluid
flow equations for mass, momentum and energy transport which is a powerful technique. The
responsive feature of the technique makes it possible to solve these equations for fluid flow even
in very complex fields (Sinai et al., 2000).
Flows in conduits and channels are of interest in science, engineering and everyday life such as a
flow in heat exchangers or in a rectangular dryer. Flows in closed conduits or channels which in
engineering applications are either circular or rectangular are totally in contact with rigid
boundaries (Figure 1).

Figure 1. Flows in closed conduit and channel

2. Theory

2.1. Governing Equations of Fluid Flow

2.1.1. Continuity Equation

+ =0 (1)

+ =0 (2)

2.1.2. Momentum Equation

x- direction

) (3)

y- direction

) (4)

2.1.3. Energy Equation

)+S (5)

2.2. Reynolds Number

Reynolds number is the ratio of inertial forces to viscous forces which is used to identify
different flow regimes, such as laminar or turbulence. For our problem Reynolds number is;
2.3. Finite Volume Method

Finite Volume Method is used most often in commercial software and research codes in which
the governing equations are solved on discrete control volumes.

2.4. Assumptions

During the analysis following assumptions were made;

 The fluid is Newtonian

 Flow is steady-state
 Flow is incompressible
 Negligible work effect
 All properties are constant
 No viscous dissipation
 No phase change

 =29463.76 ≤ 5×105

thus the flow is LAMINAR .

3) Description of the Project

Consider the problem of the steady state flow of air at T= 40°C, v=0.5 m/s in a rectangular
channel where the air flows into the channel and then recovered in recirculation unit (Figure 3.1).
 There is a heat source plate in rectangular channel (T heat source 10°C).

Figure 3.1. Rectangular channel

Technical data for rectangular channel and air are listed in Table 3.1 and Table 3.2, respectively.

Table 3.1. Technical data for rectangular channel

Height of channel m 0.6

Length of channel m 1
Thickness of plates m 0.03
Length of partition m 0.6
Length of heat source m 0.2
 Table 3.2. Technical data for air.

Kinematic
Temperature Velocity Density
Fluid viscosity
(°C) (m/s) (kg/m3)
(m2/s)
Air 40 0.5 1.127 16.97×10-6

3. Pre-Processing

3.1. Geometry

This stage involves the definition of geometry of the region. Computational domain was defined
by using (ANSYS FLUENT) Design Modeler and the surfaces were created (Figure 3.2).

Figure 3.2. Computational domain

3.2. Grid Generation

In grid generation section, computational domain was subdivided into smaller control volumes
by using mesh section of ANSYS FLUENT (Figure3.3).
 Figure 3.3. Mesh display
3.3. Named Selections

This step involves speciation of boundary conditions which touch or coincide with the boundary.

Table 3.3 Boundary conditions

u v P T
Inflow 0.5 0 1 atm 40 °C

Outflow ? ? 1 atm

Wall
0 0 ?
(de)
Wall
0 0 ?
(ef)
Wall
0 0 ?
(fa)

Partition Plate 0 0 ?

Heat Source Plate 0 0 ? 10°C

 Figure 3.4. Specification of boundary conditions

4. Solver

In solution section, the mesh is read into ANSYS FLUENT and checked for inconsistence. After
that the mesh is scaled and units are set for system inputs including inlet temperature, velocity
and the pressure (Figure 3.5).

Figure 3.5. Setting of the units

Then, energy equation model is turned on. As a solution method, upwind differencing
discretization was used.

Figure 3.6. Solution Method

Finally, the problem is initialized and iterated until reaching convergence (1e-05).

5. Result and Discussion

5.1. Post processing

a)

Figure 5.1 Iteration of various residuals and convergence

 Figure 5.1 shows the convergence iteration graph. The iteration has converge of various
scaled residualsincluding continuity, x-velocity, y-velocity, and energy. The solution has
been converged in 10000 iteration.

b)

Figure 5.2 Contours of pressure coefficient

 Figure 5.3 Contours of total temperature

Figure 5.2 shows the contours of pressure variation along the channel. The variations were
represented by change in color. It can be seen that, the pressure variation was minimum except
for the little pressure drop around the heat source. In the recirculation unit pressure variation was
maximum and it decreases above the partition plate.

Figure 5.3 represents the contours of temperature variation along the channel. The air
temperature was almost constant before it encounters the heat source. The temperature variation
shows that temperature is lower around the heat source due to the heat transfer from the air to the
heat source. Moreover, this decrease is not equally distributed.
c)

Figure 5.4 Vectors of velocity magnitude

Figure 5.4 represents the velocity vectors. The velocity was constant at the inlet of the channel.
As it passes the heat source, the velocity of air which hits the right side of the wall decreases.
After recirculation, the velocity changes in the upside of the partition plate. In the top of the duct
the velocity was higher than just above the partition plate. This can be explained by as the area of
the duct decreases, the velocity of air increases.

6. Conclusion

This study investigated CFD model approach on the air flow in a rectangular duct. The results
can only be compared qualitatively since no measurements were available. Analysis can be
performed considering smaller cells in high gradient regions, another solution scheme apart from
the upwind differencing and transient flow instead of steady-state.
REFERENCES

Sinai, Y.L. (2001) ‘Validation of CFX5 for a compartment fire’. CFX Update, Vol. 21, Winter

Versteeg H.K. and Malalasekera W. (1995) ‘An introduction to computational fluid dynamics;
the finite volume method.’ Harlow-Longman Scientific & Technical, London (1996).