Pipe flow simulation considering different Reynolds numbers ( using SOLIDWORKS)

Aim: To run a pipe flow simulation with an inlet Reynolds number of 100, 1000 and 10,000. Also while considering the following 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.

Software used: Solidworks

Introduction:

Pipe Flow is a branch of fluid mechanics and hydraulics. It is a type of fluid flow within a closed conduit (containment). The other type of fluid flow within a conduit is open channel flow. These two types of flow are similar in many ways, yet contrast in one significant criteria. Pipe flow does not have a free surface which is found in open channel flow. The pipe flow, which is confined within the closed duct, does not exert any direct atmospheric pressure but exerts hydraulic pressure on the duct.

Carrying out, flow simulations in a simulated environment is a more suitable solution as this helps the engineer to model the actions of fluids at any point of the process and accurately predict how they will behave in the actual casting environment. By doing so; it significantly reduces the time it takes to create a working design that can be produced in the real world.

Solidworks provides a premium platform for flow simulation within a pipe; with that, we can construct a velocity profile at different locations of the pipe using line probes.

Geometry of the pipe with probes:

Parameters:

i) Of Pipe:

External diameter = 50 mm

Internal Diameter = 48 mm

Thickness = 2 mm

Length = 1000 mm

ii) Of Fluid:

Type of Flowing Fluid = Water

Density = 1000 kg/m³

Dynamic Viscosity = 8.90 × 10⁻⁴ Pa·s

Boundary Conditions:

1) Using the Reynolds number formula;

Inlet velocities at different Reynolds Number are,

i) When R= 100 ; V = 0.00185 m/s

ii) When R= 1000 ; V = 0.0185 m/s

iii) When R = 10,000 ; V = 0.185 m/s

2) Static Pressure = 101325 Pa

Temperature = 293.2 K

3) Wall Type = Real wall.

Procedure :

1) Create a new part model, and make a new circle of diameter 50mm and extrude it to 1m.

2) Select shell options from the feature tab and select both the faces of the pipe to make it hollow.

3) Now set up the probes on the sketch at different locations at a length of 85mm, 90mm and 95mm. These probes will help us to understand the effect of the fluid in the pipe at different Reynolds Number.

4) As we have to perform a flow simulation; so we need to consider a fluid which will flow through this pipe. Here, considering water as our major fluid; we set up the velocities.

5) Now, go to flow simulation in SolidWorks, select the create lid command and draw the lids on the two faces of the pipe to make it watertight. These lids will help us create boundary conditions.

6) Create a new project under flow simulation, and specify the input data by defining the general settings by selecting the type of fluid and the flow type.

7) Now define the boundary conditions by clicking on insert boundary conditions and specify the inlet boundary condition as inlet velocity; outlet boundary condition as static pressure and temperature, and then specify the real wall boundary condition; this can be done by specifying the face lid on other options by right clicking on each face.

8) Now, create a manual basic mesh; and define the X-Y plots for the velocity at each location and compare the velocity between the locations; also, create the cut plots at each of these locations.

9) Run the simulation and look for the velocity plot results.

10)Now, start a new parameter study, select the inlet face velocity as an input variable and select all X-Y plots and cut plots.

11) Now; in the scenario tab, copy the first set and paste it two more times changing the face velocity variable. Finally, the parametric study is computed.

Results:

Plots-

1) Result at 85% pipe length

i) Re = 100

ii) Re = 1000

iii) Re = 10,000

2) Results at 90% pipe length

i) Re = 100

ii) Re = 1000

iii) Re = 10,000

3) Results at 95% of pipe length

i) Re = 100

ii) Re = 1000

iii) Re = 10,000

4) Normalized Velocity:

Here;

Sketch 4 = 95% pipe length, sketch 5 = 90% pipe length and sketch 6 = 85% pipe length.

Also, the design points 1, 2 and 3 refer to different Reynolds Number i.e.; 100, 1000 and 10,000.