Pipe Flow Simulation Using Solidworks
Introduction
Pipe flow, a branch of hydraulics and fluid mechanics, is a type of liquid flow within a closed conduit (conduit in the sense of a means of containment). The other type of flow within a conduit is open channel flow. These two types of flow are similar in many ways, but differ in one important aspect. Pipe flow does not have a free surface which is found in open-channel flow. Pipe flow, being confined within closed conduit, does not exert direct atmospheric pressure, but does exert hydraulic pressure on the conduit.
Not all flow within a closed conduit is considered pipe flow. Storm sewers are closed conduits but usually maintain a free surface and therefore are considered open-channel flow. The exception to this is when a storm sewer operates at full capacity, and then can become pipe flow.
Energy in pipe flow is expressed as head and is defined by the Bernoulli equation. In order to conceptualize head along the course of flow within a pipe, diagrams often contain a hydraulic grade line. Pipe flow is subject to frictional losses as defined by the Darcy-Weisbach formula.
This Project Focuses on The Flow Simulation Inside a Pipe with velocity profile.
Dimensions Of The Pipe
Diameter = 40mm
Length Of the pipe = 500mm
Shell = 1mm
Probes are Placed at a distance of 25mm(95%),50mm(90%) and 75mm(85%) respectively
Below steps are used to perform simulation
1.Create part design in solidworks with the appropriate dimensions and create shell for thickness.
2.Save the file and get into Flow Simulation and apply lids for closed conduit.
3.Apply Boundary Conditions
Inlet - Inlet Velocity (10m/s)
Outlet - Static Pressure (the pressure of a fluid on a body when the latter is at rest relative to it)
Wall - Real Wall
4.Apply basic mesh and edit manually the number of mesh in X and Y axes.
5.Go to results and select the XY planes and assign the velocity parameter to the probes for comparison
6.Parametric Comparison is taken and results are shown below
Comparison Between the velocities at all three probes
7.Cut Planes are made and Velocity profiles are observed