Modelling and simulation of flow through a flowbench
1. AIM : TO CREATE A MODEL AND RUN A FLOW SIMULATION OF FLOW THROUGH A FLOWBENCH USING SOLIDWORKS CFD.
2. OBJECTIVE :
To create a 3D model a flow bench.
To perform Flow simulation study.
To obtain a plot for lift vs mass flow rate.
To obtain a plot for velocity variation.
To obtain a plot of flow trajectory.
To perform grid dependency test.
To run parametric sweep to show the effect of valve lift on mass flow rate.
To compare the mass flow rate for following conditions-
| Study No. |
Valve lift |
| 1. | 1 mm |
| 2. | 2 mm |
| 3. | 3 mm |
| 4. | 4 mm |
| 5. | 5 mm |
3. THEORY :
An air flow bench is a device used for testing the internal aerodynamic qualities of an engine component and is related to the more familiar wind tunnel.It is used primarily for testing the intake and exhaust ports of cylinder heads of internal combustion engines. It is also used to test the flow capabilities of any component such as air filters, carburetors, manifolds or any other part that is required to flow gas. A flow bench is one of the primary tools of high-performance engine builders, and porting cylinder heads would be strictly hit or miss without it.
A flow bench consists of an air pump of some sort, a metering element, pressure and temperature measuring instruments such as manometers, and various controls. The test piece is attached in series with the pump and measuring element and air is pumped through the whole system. Therefore, all the air passing through the metering element also passes through the test piece. Because the volume flow rate through the metering element is known and the flow through the test piece is the same, it is also known. The mass flow rate can be calculated using the known pressure and temperature data to calculate air densities, and multiplying by the volume flow rate.
4. PROCEDURE :
At first, we will create a 3D model of the flow bench,
after that we will crete lids at openings,
To start the flow simulation, we will provide some initial conditions like Unit System, Fluid type, Analysis type, Thermodynamic parameters etc.
And going for flow simulation, by adding global mesh -
now going for flow trajectory,
5. RESULTS :
Grid Dependency test :
evaluating model at various grid size as 3, 5, and 7 for valve lift of 1 mm.
Study-1Grid size= 3
velocity cut plot,
flow trajectory,
Study-2 Grid size= 5
Study-3 Grid size= 7
From above plots, it is clear that as grid size increases the result aremore refined. Mesh grid at 7 is more accurate than other twos.
so, we will move furthher with mesh grid size 7.
1mm valve lift :
2 mm valve lift :
3 mm valve lift:
4 mm valve lift:
5 mm valve lift :
6. CONCLUSION :
We can conclude from above plots that, mass flow rate increases with decreasing slope as valve lift increasess.
fig.- mass flow rate plot