Validation-2

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Flow distribution for

reactor feed ducting

1
 Outline

• Problem definition

• Simulation details

• Results

• Observations

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 Problem definition

• Flow through reactor

ducting system with
multiple bends and three
outlet feeds
– Diameter of duct = 0.593 m
– Diameter of outlet pipes =
0.4 m

Reactor 1 entry

Reactor 2 entry
• Material properties
Reactor 3 entry – Density = 1.225 kg/m3
Duct entry
– Viscosity = 1.78e-5 kg/ms

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 Solution details

• Mesh file with hexahedral, tetrahedral and pyramids

is used to compare flow patterns in the ducting
system

• Turbulence model
– Realizable k- model from the two equation family

• Convergence
– Similar level of convergence is achieved with both the
codes
– Mass flow rates at all entries to the reactors are
monitored

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 Results

y-plane

impeller plane

radial line

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 Results…

• Velocity contour (m/s) on y-plane

OpenFOAM Fluent

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 Results…

• Velocity contour (m/s) on impeller plane

OpenFOAM Fluent

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 Results…

• Velocity vectors (m/s) on y-plane

OpenFOAM Fluent

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 Results…

• Velocity vector (m/s) on impeller plane

OpenFOAM Fluent

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 Results…

• Z Velocity (m/s) – Plot on a radial line

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 Results…Mass flow rates at various reactor inlets

Solver
Mass flow OpenFOAM Fluent
rate (kg/s) @
inlet 0.673533 0.673533
Reactor 1 inlet 0.16086542 0.16978538
Reactor 2 inlet 0.23492948 0.23345432
Reactor 3 inlet 0.27759229 0.27029422

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 Results..

OpenFOAM Fluent

Overall Pressure 5.1366 5.5655

drop (Pa)

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 Observations

• The results obtained using OpenFOAM are very

much comparable with those with FLUENT
– Contour plots, vectors and calculation of flow and power
numbers strongly support this fact
– Rotational boundary conditions for the shaft were
developed in house

• Much higher effort is required with OpenFOAM to

get the correct trends
– Making correct choice of discretization schemes
– Develop strategies for convergence

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© 2008 Tridiagonal Solutions Pvt.
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