Challenge

Week 11 - Simulation of Flow through a pipe in OpenFoam

Objective:

1. To simulate a 2D incompressible laminar flow through a cylinder pipe in OpenFOAM.

2. Compare the velocity profile and maximum shear stress for the fully developed flow along with pressure drop with the Hagen Poiseuille's Equation.

3. To make arrangements to save computational resources and time by reducing the model geometrically.

Problem definition:

Here we are considering a circular pipe of 20 mm diameter and 2.7 m length through which the flowing fluid is water with density of 1000 `kgm^-3` and dynamic viscosity of 0.00089 Pa.s

As per the calculations, the keep the flow laminar the average velocity of the flow is taken to be 0.0935 m/s and thus the Reynold's Number, Re = 2100. For a circular pipe the flow becomes turbulent after when Reynold's number becomes greater than 4000 and in between 2300-4000 the flow remains in the transition state.

At the entrance, the flow is said to be in hydrodynamic entrance region where the velocity profile gradually takes the shape of a parabola from a straight line. As soon as the parabolic velocity profile becomes steady the flow is said to be in its fully developed state. Normally Hagen Poiseuille's Equation is applicable for fully developed flow which helps us to calculate the pressure loss.

For a circular pipe, we can calculate the average and maximum velocity, maximum shear stress and pressure loss analytically which are as follows.

`v_(avg) = (muRe)/(rhoD_h)`

`v_(max) = 2v_(avg)`

`tau_(max) = (2muv)/r_h`

Hagen Poiseuille's Equation

`P_(loss) = (32mu(L-L_e)v_(avg))/D_h^2`

Here

`v_(avg)' = Average velocity

`v_(max` = maximum velocity

`tau_(max)` = maximum shear stress

`mu` = dynamic viscosity

`D_h` = hydraulic diameter of the pipe

`r_h` = hydraulic radius of the pipe

`P_(loss)` = pressure loss

`L_e` = Entrance Length = `0.06ReD_h` (For laminar flow through a circular pipe)

Governing Equations

Here we are trying to solve the Navier stokes Equations and the Continuity equation only which are as follows.

Continuity Equation:

`(delrho)/(delt) + (delrhou)/(delx) + (delrhov)/(dely) +(delrhow)/(delz) = 0`

Momentum Equations:

`(delrhou)/(delt) + (delrhou^2)/(delx) + (delrhouv)/(dely) +(delrhouw)/(delz) = -(delp)/(delx) + 1/(Re_r) [(del tau_(x x))/(delx)+(del tau_(x y))/(dely)+(del tau_(x z))/(delz)]`

`(delrhov)/(delt) + (delrhouv)/(delx) + (delrhov^2)/(dely) +(delrhovw)/(delz) = -(delp)/(dely) + 1/(Re_r) [(del tau_(x x))/(delx)+(del tau_(x y))/(dely)+(del tau_(x z))/(delz)]`

`(delrhow)/(delt) + (delrhouw)/(delx) + (delrhovw)/(dely) +(delrhow^2)/(delz) = -(delp)/(delz) + 1/(Re_r) [(del tau_(x x))/(delx)+(del tau_(x y))/(dely)+(del tau_(x z))/(delz)]`

Solver:

To solve the incompressible problem and the above mentioned equation we have selected the icoFOAM solver of openFOAM.

Code:

1. Main Code

% ********************************************** %
%% OpenFOAM Pipe flow Challenge 
%%Author: Arghya Kamol Roy
%%Date: 31 May 2020
%************************************************%
clear all
close all
clc
%% Problem Initialization
%Material: Water @25 deg C inside
%Outside: Ambient conndition
Re = 2100; %Reynolds Number 
rho = 1000; % Density@ 25 deg C : Unit: kg/m3
mu = 0.89e-3; %0.00089; %nu*rho; %Dynamic Viscosity@25 deg C: Unit: Pa.s
nu = mu/rho; %kinematic viscosity@25 deg C: Unit: m2/s

D = 0.02; % Dia of the pipe in meters
A_c = (pi/4)*D^2; % Cross sectional area 
p = pi*D; % wetted perimeter
D_h = 4*A_c/p; %-> Hydraulic Dia of pipe 
r_h = D_h/2; %Hydralic radius of pipe

v_avg = (Re*mu)/(rho*D_h);% Avg velocity 
v_max = 2*v_avg; %Fully developed V max
tau_max = 2*mu*v_max/r_h;

if Re < 2300
   L_e = 0.06*Re*D_h; %Ref: Cengel Fluid Dynamics
elseif Re == 2300 %Ref: Cengel Fluid Dynamics
    L_e = 115*D_h;
elseif Re > 4000
    L_e = 1.359*D_h*Re^(1/4); %Ref Bhatti & Shah and Zhi-Qing
    %L_e = 10*D_h -->Approximately it can also be considered
end

L =L_e+0.18; %Meters --> length of Pipe


%% Pressure Loss 
%Daracy Friction factory --> for Laminar Circular pipe flow
f = 65/Re;

%Haigen Poiseuille Eqn 

P = (32*mu*(L-L_e)*v_avg)/(D^2)
g = 9.81; 
h_loss = P/(rho*g); %head loss
P_kinematicPress = P/rho;
theta = 3; %3 degree wedge angle
r=r_h;


%% Print out
system(r,L,theta)

2. system()

function system(r,L,theta)

%% creating blockmesh dict file
%% Opening Part
h1='/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\';
h2='  =========                 |';
h3='  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox';
h4='   \\    /   O peration     | Website:  https://openfoam.org';
h5='    \\  /    A nd           | Version:  7';
h6='     \\/     M anipulation  | Date:25 Oct 2020';
h7='                            | Author: Arghya Kamol Roy';
h8='\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/';
h9='FoamFile';
h10='{';
h11='    version     2.0;';
h12='    format      ascii;';
h13='    class       dictionary;';
h14='    object      blockMeshDict;';
h15='}';
h16='// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //';
f1=fopen('blockMeshDict.txt','wt');

fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h1);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h2);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h3);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h4);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h5);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h6);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h7);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h8);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h9);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h10);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h11);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h12);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h13);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h14);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h15);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h16);

%%vertices

v0 = [0 0 0];
v1 = [0 r*cosd(theta/2) r*sind(theta/2)];
v2 =[0 r*cosd(theta/2) -r*sind(theta/2)];
v3 = [L 0 0];
v4 = [L r*cosd(theta/2) r*sind(theta/2)];
v5 = [L r*cosd(theta/2) -r*sind(theta/2)];
mid1 = [0 r 0];
mid2 = [L r 0];

%%Write vertices
h17='convertToMeters 1;';
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h17);

h18='vertices';
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h18);
h19='(';
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h19);
fprintf(f1,'\t(%d %d %d)\n',v0);
fprintf(f1,'\t(%d %d %d)\n',v1);
fprintf(f1,'\t(%d %d %d)\n',v2);
fprintf(f1,'\t(%d %d %d)\n',v3);
fprintf(f1,'\t(%d %d %d)\n',v4);
fprintf(f1,'\t(%d %d %d)\n',v5);
h20=');';
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h20);

%% write Blocks
h21='blocks';
h22='(';
h23='    hex (0 3 4 1 0 3 5 2) (200 50 1) simpleGrading (1 0.2 1)';
h24=');';
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h21);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h22);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h23);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h24);

%% write edges
h25='edges';
h26='(';
h27='   arc 2 1';
h28='   arc 5 4';
h29=');';

fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h25);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h26);
fprintf(f1,'%s (%d %d %d)\n',h27,0, r, 0);
fprintf(f1,'%s (%d %d %d)\n',h28,L, r, 0);
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',h29);

%% write boundary 
inlet = [0 1 2 0];
outlet=[3 5 4 3];
surface=[2 1 4 5];
axis=[0 3 3 0];
front=[1 0 3 4];
back=[0 2 5 3];

fprintf(f1,'%s\n','boundary');
fprintf(f1,'%s\n','(');
%inlet patch
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','inlet');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','{');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','type patch');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','faces');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','(');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t\t(%d %d %d %d)\n',inlet);
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n',');');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','}');

%outlet patch
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','oulet');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','{');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','type patch');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','faces');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','(');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t\t(%d %d %d %d)\n',outlet);
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n',');');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','}');

%surface
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','surface');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','{');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','type wall');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','faces');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','(');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t\t(%d %d %d %d)\n',surface);
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n',');');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','}');

%axis
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','axis');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','{');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','type empty');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','faces');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','(');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t\t(%d %d %d %d)\n',axis);
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n',');');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','}');

%front
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','front');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','{');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','type wedge');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','faces');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','(');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t\t(%d %d %d %d)\n',front);
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n',');');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','}');

%back
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','back');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','{');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','type wedge');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','faces');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n','(');
fprintf(f1,'\t\t\t(%d %d %d %d)\n',back);
fprintf(f1,'\t\t%s\n',');');
fprintf(f1,'\t%s\n','}');
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',');');

fprintf(f1,'%s\n','mergePatchPairs');
fprintf(f1,'%s\n','(');
fprintf(f1,'%s\n',');');
fprintf(f1,'%s\n','// ************************************************************************* //');

end

OpenFOAM Files:

1. System Folder:

a. blockMeshdict:

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
  =========                 |
  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
   \\    /   O peration     | Website:  https://openfoam.org
    \\  /    A nd           | Version:  7
     \\/     M anipulation  |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
    version     2.0;
    format      ascii;
    class       dictionary;
    object      blockMeshDict;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *//
convertToMeters 1;

vertices
(
     (0 0 0)
     (0 9.996573e-03 2.617695e-04)
     (0 9.996573e-03 -2.617695e-04)
     (2.7 0 0)
     (2.7 9.996573e-03 2.617695e-04)
     (2.7 9.996573e-03 -2.617695e-04)
);

blocks
(

    hex (0 3 5 2 0 3 4 1) (200 50 1) simpleGrading (1 0.2 1)
);

edges
(
   arc 1 2 (0 1e-02 0)
   arc 4 5 (2.7 1e-02 0)
);

boundary
(
    inlet
    {
        type patch;
        faces
        (
            (0 1 2 0)
        );
    }

    outlet
    {
        type patch;
        faces
        (
	    (3 5 4 3)
        );
    }

    surface
    {
        type wall;
        faces
        (
            (2 1 4 5)
        );
    }
   
    axis
    {
        type empty;
        faces
        (
            (0 3 3 0)
        );
    
    }
    
    front
    {
	type wedge; //symmetry;
	faces
	(	
           (0 3 4 1)
	);
    }
    
    back
    {
   	type wedge; //symmetry;
	faces
	(
           (0 2 5 3)
	);
    }
);

mergePatchPairs
(
);

// ************************************************************************* //

b. controlDict

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
  =========                 |
  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
   \\    /   O peration     | Website:  https://openfoam.org
    \\  /    A nd           | Version:  7
     \\/     M anipulation  |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
    version     2.0;
    format      ascii;
    class       dictionary;
    location    "system";
    object      controlDict;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //

application     icoFoam;

startFrom       startTime;

startTime       0;

stopAt          endTime;

endTime         50;

deltaT          0.01;

writeControl    timeStep;

writeInterval   200;

purgeWrite      0;

writeFormat     ascii;

writePrecision  4;

writeCompression off;

timeFormat      general;

timePrecision   6;

runTimeModifiable true;


// ************************************************************************* //

c. fvSchemes

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
  =========                 |
  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
   \\    /   O peration     | Website:  https://openfoam.org
    \\  /    A nd           | Version:  7
     \\/     M anipulation  |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
    version     2.0;
    format      ascii;
    class       dictionary;
    location    "system";
    object      fvSchemes;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //

ddtSchemes
{
    default         Euler;
}

gradSchemes
{
    default         Gauss linear;
    grad(p)         Gauss linear;
}

divSchemes
{
    default         none;
    div(phi,U)      Gauss linear;
}

laplacianSchemes
{
    default         Gauss linear orthogonal;
}

interpolationSchemes
{
    default         linear;
}

snGradSchemes
{
    default         orthogonal;
}


// ************************************************************************* //

d. fvSolution

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
  =========                 |
  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
   \\    /   O peration     | Website:  https://openfoam.org
    \\  /    A nd           | Version:  7
     \\/     M anipulation  |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
    version     2.0;
    format      ascii;
    class       dictionary;
    location    "system";
    object      fvSolution;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //

solvers
{
    p
    {
        solver          PCG;
        preconditioner  DIC;
        tolerance       1e-06;
        relTol          0.05;
    }

    pFinal
    {
        $p;
        relTol          0;
    }

    U
    {
        solver          smoothSolver;
        smoother        symGaussSeidel;
        tolerance       1e-05;
        relTol          0;
    }
}

PISO
{
    nCorrectors     2;
    nNonOrthogonalCorrectors 0;
    pRefCell        0;
    pRefValue       0;
}


// ************************************************************************* //

2. constant Folder:

a. transportProperties

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
  =========                 |
  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
   \\    /   O peration     | Website:  https://openfoam.org
    \\  /    A nd           | Version:  7
     \\/     M anipulation  |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
    version     2.0;
    format      ascii;
    class       dictionary;
    location    "constant";
    object      transportProperties;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //

nu              [0 2 -1 0 0 0 0] 8.9e-07;


// ************************************************************************* //

3. 0 Folder

a. U

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
  =========                 |
  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
   \\    /   O peration     | Website:  https://openfoam.org
    \\  /    A nd           | Version:  6
     \\/     M anipulation  |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
    version     2.0;
    format      ascii;
    class       volVectorField;
    object      U;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //

dimensions      [0 1 -1 0 0 0 0];

internalField   uniform (0 0 0);
boundaryField
{
    inlet
    {
        type		fixedValue;
        value           uniform (0.0935 0 0); 
    }

    outlet
    {
        type            zeroGradient;
    }

    surface
    {
        type		noSlip;
	//type            fixedValue;
	//value		uniform (0 0 0);
    }

    axis
    {
        type            empty;
    }

    front
    {
        type            wedge;
    }

    back
    {
        type            wedge;
    }
}

// ************************************************************************* //

b. p

/*--------------------------------*- C++ -*----------------------------------*\
  =========                 |
  \\      /  F ield         | OpenFOAM: The Open Source CFD Toolbox
   \\    /   O peration     | Website:  https://openfoam.org
    \\  /    A nd           | Version:  7
     \\/     M anipulation  |
\*---------------------------------------------------------------------------*/
FoamFile
{
    version     2.0;
    format      ascii;
    class       volScalarField;
    object      p;
}
// * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * //

dimensions      [0 2 -2 0 0 0 0];

internalField   uniform 0;

boundaryField
{
    inlet
    {
        type		zeroGradient;        
    }

    outlet
    {
        type            fixedValue;
        value           uniform 0; 
    }

    surface
    {
        type            zeroGradient;
    }

    axis
    {
        type            empty;
    }

    front
    {
        type            wedge;
    }

    back
    {
        type            wedge;
    }
}

// ************************************************************************* //

Algorithm:

1. In the first step we have defined the geometry parameters and then passed the radius, length of pipe and wedge angle to the system() function which basically printed the blockMeshDict file.

2. We have set the file structure of the openFOAM for the icoFoam solver.

3. Afterwards we have typed the following keys on the ubuntu terminal to simulate the setup

blockMesh -> checkMesh -> icoFoam

4. Post-processing was accomplished using paraView.

Results and Graphs:

For wedge angle 3 degree

1. Velocity line Plot

2. Maximum Shear Stress Plot

Results:

Maximum Velocity
(m/s)
Pressure Loss
(Pa)
Max Shear Stress
(Pa)
Numerical Results 0.1854 0.00121065 0.03279
Theoretical Results 0.1869 0.0012 0.0333

Discussion of Results:

So we can observe that the results are well fitted with the theoretical results. The velocity profile we have obtained is also parabolic in shape which signifies the flow is fully developed.

An example of developing velocity flow is shown below.

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