Pipe flow simulation using Solidworks
Aim:- To run a pipe flow simulation with an inlet Reynolds number of 100,1000 and 10,000.
Theory:-
Flow simulation is a form of computational fluid dynamics(cfd) which digitally replicates flows in surface water or collection systems. Performing flow simulation allows for the prediction and analysis of how a flow might be impacted by complex geometry in an operational environment. Flow simulation is not limited to liquids and may be applied to gases as well.
CFD is applied to a wide range of research and engineering problems in many fields of study and industries, including aerodynamics and aerospace analysis, weather simulation, industrial system design and analysis, fluid flows and heat transfer, and engine & combustion analysis.
Governing equations:-
`Re=(rho*V* D)/mu`
`Re=(V*D)/nu` `implies V=(Re*nu)/D`
Where,
`Re=`Reynolds number, `rho =`Density of fluid
`V=`Velocity of fluid, `D=`Hydraulic diameter
`mu=`Dynamic viscosity, `nu=`Kinematic viscosity
Calculations:-
`D= 0.02 (m)`
At temperature of 293.2K, the Kinematic viscosity `nu=1.0011**10^-6 (m^2/s)`
Matlab code to calculate the velocity
% Velocity calculation from Reynolds number
Re = [100 1000 10000];
nu= 1.0011*10^-6;
D= 0.02;
V=(Re*nu)/DOutput
V =
0.0050 0.0501 0.5006`therefore` For `Re=`100, 1000, 10000 Velocity V= 0.0050, 0.0501, 0.5006 m/s respectively.
Procedure of simulation:-
1. The pipe is modelled in Solidworks with following parameters: Inner diameter = 0.02 m, Length= 1 m, Thickness = 0.001 m. And ends are covered with lids.
2. The line probes at 85%, 90% and 95% of the pipe length are draw using sktech option.
3. In Flow simulation General settings, Boundary conditions are set and mesh is generated.
Inlet velocity = 10m/s (red), Static pressure = 101325Pa (blue) & Real wall
4. New parametric study is created with input as velocity and output as cutplots & XY plots and in scenario three design points are created with Re = 100, 1000, 10000 respectively.
Results:-
Cut plots:-
Case 1:- Re = 100 (velocity = 0.0050 m/s )
At 85% length of pipe
At 90% length of pipe
At 95% length of pipe
Case 2:- Re = 1000 (velocity = 0.0501 m/s)
At 85% length of pipe
At 90% length of pipe
At 95% length of pipe
Case 3:- Re = 10000 (velocity = 0.5006 m/s )
At 85% length of pipe
At 90% length of pipe
At 95% length of pipe
Velocity Comparision:- In the below figures design point 1, 2, 3 represent flow with Re = 100, 1000, 10000 respectively.
Conclusion:-
We can see from the cut plots that the velocity of water is same at all 3 line probes of respective design point (Reynolds no. 100, 1000, 10000). Similar thing can be observed in the XY plots of velocity.
Thus we conclude that the velocity remains constant after flow for some length of pipe as its same at 85%, 90%, 95% of pipe length.
References:-