Modelling and simulation of flow through a flowbench
Aim
Aim of this challenge is to create a 3D model of a flow bench and run flow analysis and to obtain a plot of lift vs mass flow rate, and also to obtain the results of the given challenge.
Introduction
For this challenge the flow bench model is designed according to the way that is done in the video then the boundary conditions are applied which is shown below, after which the grid dependency test is run for 3 different levels of refinements, then after the best grid is selected and after the grid is usedto proceed with the further study that is the lift and the mass flow rate calculation and to do a parametric sweep.
Basic theory on the simulation
SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation is an intuitive Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) solution embedded within SOLIDWORKS 3D CAD that enables you to quickly and easily simulate liquid and gas flow through and around your designs to calculate product performance and capabilities, this is the definition provided by Solidworks and to put it into simple words flow simulation is a tool that helps one to know the real-life flow values and also the path where and how one's fluid flows with given boundary condition so by which he can edit up to his wish and necessity.
Initial and boundary conditions applied
Plots and the contours
Grid dependence test
Keeping in mind my pc's performance I have chosen the grid test to be done on 2,3,4 level.
2nd level of refinement
3rd level of refinement
4th level of refinement
Explanation of the results
From the above contour plots its clearly known that the 4th level of grid test is giving us the results at a good rate and this will also be suitable for the level of performing simulation at a medium speed.
This difference between these levels of refinement are because of the meshing provided by Solidworks ie, the size of the mesh is smaller in 4th eleven than that of 2nd and 3rd one so the results that are not being captured in 2nd level is easily visible in the 4th level of refinement, so we are proceeding with this grid.
Effect of valve lift on the mass flow rate
To make it in simple words the mass flow rate increases when the valve lift is increased since the valve is lifted there is a space created for the air to flow through the cylinder, and it is clearly shown in the below contour plots.
Parametric sweep
To make the study compact and also to get the results the parametric study is made for 4 design points from 2mm lift to 8mm of lift and these lift and their flow contour plots are given below.
2mm sweep
4mm sweep
6mm sweep
8mm sweep
Observation and the conclusion
The observations of the above-mentioned plot contours are listed below,
firstly the velocity variations or the velocity cut plots that are mentioned above are clearly stating that when the lift is high the velocity or the motion of the air into the cylinder is also at a higher rate.
Whereat the starting sweep we can see that the points of the or at the orders of the valves the velocity or flow was higher and as the lift increases there's contour gets shifted above the surface of the valve.
And coming to the mass flow rate, it is high when the lift is at its lowest position and vise versa at its higher position.
And so it clearly competes that the effect of valve lift is inverse on the mass flow rate.
NOTE*
since I am facing some vernurablities during the addition of result files on to the drive, I am unable to provide you the links for those, so please accept this submission without the files listed all the cut plot contour images are being provided.