Getting started with Flow Simulation in SolidWorks. (Pipe flow simulation with an inlet Reynolds number of 100,1000 and 10,000)

Aim :- Run a pipe flow simulation in solidworks with an inlet Reynolds number of 100,1000 and 10,000. Study the various cases and make observations and results

And do the following for all cases

1. Place line probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length.
2. Compare the normalized velocity profile at each of these locations
3. Normalize the velocity profile by the inlet velocity.

Introduction :-

An introduction about flow simulation using solidworks. Flow simulation deals with the computational fluid dynamics (cfd). When we are to design or analyze a product or device that has fluid flow in relation with it we must use flow simulation for analysis.

By using flow simulation we can solve the easy and complex analysis and problems related to fluid flow. We can set and change various parameters and conditions to get different results. We can change parameters like length, diameter, velocity, pressure, wall type, type of fluid etc.

Also we can carry out different type of flow analysis like internal external flow analysis.

The theory we need in this study is :-

• Reynolds number :- The Reynolds number is dimensionless quantity used to help to know type of flow in different fluid flow situations. At low Reynolds numbers, flows is laminar and at high Reynolds numbers flows is turbulent

The Reynolds number is given by:-

`Re= (ρ*u*D)/μ`

Where,

ρ = density of the fluid in: kg/m3

u = velocity of fluid

D = diameter of pipe

μ = dynamic viscosity of the fluid in Pa·s or kg/(m·s))

• Entrance length :-

The entrance length is the length of pipe where the flow velocity profile is fully developed

It is given by

`l/D=4.4 〖Re〗^(1/6)`………….for turbulent flow

Where,

L = pipe length

D = diameter of pipe

Re = Reynolds number

`l/D=0.06 Re`……………for laminar flow.

Where,

L = pipe length

D = diameter of pipe

Re = Reynolds number

Case Setup And Procedure

• Dimensions and parameters taken :

Outer Diameter of pipe = 0.06 m

Shell = 0.001m

Inlet Diameter of pipe = 0.058m

Fluid = water

Density of fluid = 1000kg/m³

Dynamic viscosity of water = 8.90×10^-4 pa.s

Case 1: Re =100

1. Calculation of inlet velocity for Re = 100

`Re= (ρ*u*D)/μ`

100 =`(1000×u×0.058 )/(8.90×〖10〗^(-4) )`

u= 0.00153 m/s.

2. Calculation of entrance length for pipe

`l/D=0.06 Re`

`l/0.058=0.06 ×100`

l = 0.348 m

but taking slightly bigger size

taking length of pipe,

l = 0.560m

3. Making of the geometry and lids formation

• Make a circle of 0.06m and extrude it to the length of 0.560m
• Use shell feature and make a shell of 0.001m
• Place the probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length, that is at 0.532m, 0.504m and 0.476m respectively.
• And save the file with the name

Making geometry, shelling and Inserting probes

Using lids option from flow simulation to provide lids at the end of the pipe for our simulation purpose

4. Creating project and applying boundry conditions

Created project with name 100RE_pipe

Selecting input data general settings as internal flow type and fluid to be used as water

Initial conditions to be pressure = 101325pa and tempreature = 293.2 K

Applying boundry conditions

• At outlet side lid 2 placing boundry condition as static pressure = 101325 pa.
• At inlet side lid 1 placing boundry condition as inlet velocity = 0.00153 m/s.
• And selecting the shell body as real wall.

5. Editing the global mesh and creating the cutplots and XY plots

Edit the global mesh set basic mesh at NX=20 NY=20 AND NZ=100

Inserting a cut plot on yz plane to get the cut plot side view

Inserting a cut plot on xy plane to get the cut plot view on line probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length

Inserting a XY plots to get the velocity profile graph on line probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length

Run the simulation and view the results

side cut plot view

Here in this plot we can view the velocity contour and how the velocity profile has changed over the length of pipe for Reynolds number 100.

We can observe the velocity at different points how it becomes very less at the edges of pipe towards the outlet side

We can see the parabolic profile and the fully developed flow

Cut plot at 95% of length that is at 0.532m

Cut plot at 90% of length that is at 0.504m

Cut plot at 85% of length that is at 0.476m

In the above cutplots we can see the contours of velocity and mesh. We can see the maximum velocity to be at centre of pipe and minimum to the edges.

The maximum velocity being 0.003 m/s

And the minimum velocity 0.00026 m/s

Results of XY PLOTS

XY plot at 95% of length that is at 0.532m

XY plot at 90% of length that is at 0.504m

XY plot at 85% of length that is at 0.476m

Now comparing the velocity profile at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length, that is at 0.532m, 0.504m and 0.476m respectively.

As we can see there is a paraolic profile and fully developed flow. we can oserve the results that at the probes the velocity is almost same and there is negligble change there.

conclusion of case 1 :

we did the simulation and compared the cutplots adn xy plots to see the velocity profile at various location and studied that the flow is fully developed and has parabolic profile.

Case 2 : Re =1000

• Calculation of inlet velocity for Re = 1000

`Re= (ρ*u*D)/μ`

1000 = `(1000×u×0.058 )/(8.90×〖10〗^(-4) )`

u= 0.0153 m/s.

• Calculation of entrance length for pipe

`l/D=4.4 〖Re〗^(1/6)`

`l/0.058=4.4 ×〖1000〗^(1/6)`

l = 0.807 m

but taking slightly bigger size

taking length of pipe,

le = 0.850m

now following the same procedure as done for case 1

• Making of the geometry and lids formation

Make a circle of 0.06m and extrude it to the length of 0.850m

Use shell feature and make a shell of 0.001m

Place the probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length, that is at 0.807m, 0.765m and 0.722m respectively.

And save the file with the name

Making geometry diameter= 0.06m, shell = 0.001m, and Inserting probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length, that is at 0.807m, 0.765m and 0.722m respectively.

Using lids option from flow simulation to provide lids at the end of the pipe for our simulation purpose

• Creating project and applying boundry conditions

Created project with name 1000RE_pipe

Selecting input data general settings as internal flow type and fluid to be used as water

Initial conditions to be pressure= 101325pa and tempreature293.2 K

Applying boundry conditions

• At outlet side lid 2 placing boundry condition as static pressure = 101325 pa.
• At inlet side lid 1 placing boundry condition as inlet velocity = 0.0153 m/s.
• And selecting the shell body as real wall.

• Editing the global mesh and creating the cutplots and XY plots

Edit the global mesh set basic mesh at NX=20 NY=20 AND NZ=100

Inserting a cut plot on yz plane to get the cut plot side view

Inserting a cut plot on xy plane to get the cut plot view on line probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length

Inserting a XY plots to get the velocity profile graph on line probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length

Run the simulation and view the results

side cut plot view

Here in this cut plot we can view the velocity contour and how the velocity profile has changed over the length of pipe for Reynolds number 1000.

We can observe the velocity at different points how it becomes very less at the edges of pipe towards the outlet side

We can see the parabolic profile and the fully developed flow

Cut plot at 95% of length that is at 0.807m

Cut plot at 90% of length that is at 0.765m

Cut plot at 85% of length that is at 0.722m

In the above cutplots we can see the contours of velocity and mesh. We can see the maximum velocity to be at centre of pipe and minimum to the edges.

The maximum velocity being 0.028 m/s

And the minimum velocity 0.003 m/s

Results of XY PLOTS

XY plot at 95% of length that is at 0.807m

XY plot at 90% of length that is at 0.765m

XY plot at 85% of length that is at 0.722m

Now comparing the velocity profile at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length, that is at 0.807m, 0.765m and 0.722m respectively.

As we can see there is a fully developed flow and paraolic profile. we can oserve the results that at the probes the velocity is almost same and there is negligble change there at the outlet.

conclusion of case 2 :

we did the simulation and compared the cutplots adn xy plots to see the velocity profile at various location for flow with reynolds number 1000 and studied that the flow is fully developed and has parabolic profile.

Case 3 : Re =10000

• Calculation of inlet velocity for Re = 10000

`Re= (ρ*u*D)/μ`

10000 = `(1000×u×0.058 )/(8.90×〖10〗^(-4) )`

u= 0.153 m/s.

• Calculation of entrance length for pipe

`l/D=4.4 〖Re〗^(1/6)`

`l/0.058=4.4 ×〖10000〗^(1/6)`

l = 1.18 m

but taking slightly bigger size

taking length of pipe,

le = 1.20 m

• Making of the geometry and lids formation

• Make a circle of 0.06m and extrude it to the length of 1.20m
• Use shell feature and make a shell of 0.001m
• Place the probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length, that is at 1.14m, 1.08 m and 1.02 m respectively.
• And save the file with the name
• Making geometry diameter= 0.06m, shell = 0.001m, and Inserting probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length, that is at t 1.14m, 1.08 m and 1.02 m respectively.
• Using lids option from flow simulation to provide lids at the end of the pipe for our simulation purpose

• Creating project and applying boundry conditions

Created project with name 10000RE_pipe

Selecting input data general settings as internal flow type and fluid to be used as water

Initial conditions to be pressure= 101325pa and tempreature293.2 K

Applying boundry conditions

• At outlet side lid 2 placing boundry condition as static pressure = 101325 pa.
• At inlet side lid 1 placing boundry condition as inlet velocity = 0.153 m/s.
• And selecting the shell body as real wall.

• Editing the global mesh and creating the cutplots and XY plots

Edit the global mesh set basic mesh at NX=20 NY=20 AND NZ=100

Inserting a cut plot on yz plane to get the cut plot side view

Inserting a cut plot on xy plane to get the cut plot view on line probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length

Inserting a XY plots to get the velocity profile graph on line probes at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length

Run the simulation and view the results

side cut plot view

.

Here in this plot we can view the velocity contour and how the velocity profile has changed over the length of pipe for Reynolds number 10000

We can observe the velocity at different points how it becomes very less at the edges of pipe towards the outlet side

We can see the parabolic profile and the fully developed flow

The maximum velocity being 0.187 m/s

And the minimum velocity 0.084 m/s

Cut plot at 95% of length that is at 1.14m

Cut plot at 90% of length that is at 1.08m

Cut plot at 85% of length that is at 1.02m

In the above cutplots we can see the contours of velocity and mesh. We can see the maximum velocity to be at centre of pipe and minimum to the edges.

The maximum velocity being 0.185 m/s

And the minimum velocity 0.120 m/s

XY plot at 95% of length that is at 1.14m

XY plot at 90% of length that is at 1.08m

XY plot at 85% of length that is at 1.02m

Now comparing the velocity profile at 95%, 90% and 85% of the pipe length, that is at 1.14m, 1.08 m and 1.02 m respectively.

As we can see there is a fully developed flow and parabolic profile. we can oserve the results that at the probes the velocity is almost same and there is negligble change there at the outlet.

conclusion of case 3 :

we did the simulation and compared the cutplots adn xy plots to see the velocity profile at various location for flow with reynolds number 10000 and studied that the flow is fully developed and has parabolic profile.