Modelling and simulation of flow through a flowbench
Aim : To model a flowbench in solidworks and run a flow simulation to study the variation of mass flow rate, pressure and velocity with the valve lift
The Flowbench is modelled in approximated dimensions on solidworks.
The valve is constrained in such a way that the lift is varied between 7 design points specified.
Lids are created for water tight model
Inlet Total Pressure and outlet static pressure are set up as boundary conditions
For Grid Dependence Test, parametric study was conducted on different meshes with different degree of refinement.
Level of intial mesh was set up as 4,5 and 6 and level of refining fluid cells as 3 and 4.
The results of Grid Dependence test were quite convincing as the values of the output parameter did not vary much for
So the intial level of mesh was set up as 6 and level of refining fluid cells was set up as 5 at the local mesh (near the valve) for further study about variation of
mass flow rate with valve lift.
Global goals are setup for mass flow rate, velocity and pressure around the valve geometry.
The flow simulation is run
In Post Processing , mass flow rate is obtained and the cut plots for velocity are obtained.
Given below are the various velocity cut plots for the grid dependecy test :
Initial Mesh Size = 4 Level of refining fluid cells = 3
Initial Mesh Size = 4 Level of refining fluid cells = 4
Initial Mesh Size = 5 Level of refining fluid cells = 3
Initial Mesh Size = 4 Level of refining fluid cells = 4
Initial Mesh Size = 6 Level of refining fluid cells = 3
Initial Mesh Size = 6 Level of refining fluid cells = 4
Given below are the various velocity cut plots for the grid dependecy test for the various design point of valve lift parameters.
The level of initial mesh was chosen as 6 and level of refining fluid cells was chosen to be 4 , as the results didn't vary much when at refinement of fluid cells set upto 5
Valve lift = 1mm
Valve lift = 2mm
Valve lift = 3mm
Valve Lift = 4mm
Valve Lift = 5mm
Valve lift = 6mm
Valve Lift = 7mm
Mass Fow Rate vs Valve lift
Design Point 1 = Valve Lift 1 = 1mm
Design Point 2 = Valve Lift 2 = 2mm
Design Point 3 = Valve Lift 3 = 3mm
Design Point 4 = Valve Lift 4 = 4mm
Design Point 5 = Valve Lift 5 = 5mm
Design Point 6 = Valve Lift 6 = 6mm
Design Point 7= Valve Lift 7 = 7mm
Conclusions :
1. As we increase the valve lift , the mass flow rate also increases , but only to a certain extent of valve lift , after that the mass flowrate is invariant of the valve lift.
2. Velocity of flow increases as the valve lift increases
3. Static Pressure reduces with increase in valve lift