Flow Analysis of Fluid through Nozzle Having Variance in Inside Diameter

1. Introduction
Flow analysis of fluid through nozzle with Having Variance in inside Diameter is carried out
using CFD. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a branch of fluid mechanics that use
numerical methods and algorithms to solve and analyze problems that involve fluid flows.
2. Objective
The objective of this analysis is to investigate and study, the possibility of turbulence
development when product flows through a nozzle with slightly varying inside diameter of
pipe and flange for 10 inch and 12 inch nozzles.
3. Software Used
ANSYS WorkbenchTM 2.0 Framework, Version 15.0.7: - ANSYS WORKBENCH manages the
solvers with the project management tools necessary for the project workflow. In ANSYS
WORKBENCH, analyses are built as systems, which can be combined into a project. The
project is driven by a schematic workflow that controls the connectivity between the
systems. Applications that can be accessed from Workbench include: ANSYS DESIGN
MODELER (for geometry creation); ANSYS Meshing (for mesh generation); ANSYS
FLUENT (for setting up and solving fluid dynamics analyses) and ANSYS CFD-POST (for post
processing the results
ANSYS DESIGN MODELER: - The DESIGN MODELER application is designed to be used as a
geometry editor of existing CAD models. The DESIGN MODELER application is a parametric
feature-based solid modeler designed for drawing 2D sketches, modeling 3D parts, or
uploading 3D CAD models for engineering analysis preprocessing. DESIGN MODELER can
also be used to import 3D geometry modeled using other solid modeling software.
ICM CFD: - ANSYS ICEM CFD provides advanced geometry acquisition, mesh generation,
and mesh optimization tools to meet the requirement for integrated mesh generation for
sophisticated analyses. Maintaining a close relationship with the geometry during mesh
generation, ICEM CFD is used especially in engineering applications such as computational
fluid dynamics and structural analysis. ANSYS ICEM CFDs mesh generation tools offer the
capability to parametrically create meshes from geometry in numerous formats namely
Multi block structured, Unstructured hexahedral, Unstructured tetrahedral, Cartesian with
H-grid refinement, Hybrid meshes comprising hexahedral, tetrahedral, pyramidal and/or
prismatic elements and Quadrilateral and triangular surface meshes. ANSYS ICEM CFD
provides a direct link between geometry and analysis. Beginning with a robust geometry
module which supports the creation and modification of surfaces, curves and points, ANSYS
ICEM CFDs open geometry database offers the flexibility to combine geometric
information in various formats for mesh generation. The resulting structured or
unstructured meshes, topology, inter-domain connectivity and boundary conditions are
then stored in a database where they can easily be translated to input files formatted for a
particular solver.

ANSYS FLUENT: - ANSYS FLUENT is a state-of-the-art computer program for modeling fluid
flow, heat transfer, and chemical reactions in complex geometries. ANSYS FLUENT provides
complete mesh flexibility, including the ability to solve flow problems using unstructured
meshes that can be generated about complex geometries with relative ease. Supported
mesh types include 2D triangular/ quadrilateral, 3D tetrahedral/ hexahedral/pyramid/
wedge/polyhedral, and mixed (hybrid) meshes. ANSYS FLUENT also enables you to refine or
coarsen your mesh based on the flow solution. After a mesh has been read into ANSYS
FLUENT, all remaining operations are performed within ANSYS FLUENT. These include
setting boundary conditions, defining fluid properties, executing the solution, refining the
mesh, and post processing and viewing the results.
ANSYS CFD-POST: - CFD-POST is a graphical user interface that includes a viewer pane in
which all graphical output from CFD-POST is plotted. It provides support for a variety of
graphical and geometric objects used to create post-processing plots, to visualize the mesh,
and to define locations for quantitative calculation.
4. Tank Details
Tank No:
Tank Service:
Tank Type:
Tank Inside Diameter:
Height of Tank:
Density:
Viscosity:

F-8401
Demin Water Tank
Stainless Steel Cone Roof
15700 mm.
17100 mm (up to top of curb angle)
992 kg/m3
8.9 e-4 kg./m/s

5. Nozzle Details
Nozzle Mark N2
Nozzle size:
10 inch NPS
Pipe used:
10 inch schedule 80S (12.7 mm thick)
Flange used: 10 inch B 16.5 WNRF Flange weld end thickness Schedule 80 (15.08 mm
thick)
Taper provided at flange to pipe weld: 1:3
Nozzle Mark N9B
Nozzle size:
10 inch NPS
Pipe used:
10 inch schedule 80S (12.7 mm thick)
Flange used: 10 inch B 16.5 WNRF Flange weld end thickness Schedule 80 (15.08 mm
thick)
Taper provided at flange to pipe weld: 1:3
Nozzle Mark N8
Nozzle size:
12 inch NPS
Pipe used:
12 inch schedule 80S (12.7 mm thick)
Flange used: 12 inch B 16.5 WNRF Flange weld end thickness Schedule 80 (17.48 mm
thick)
Taper provided at flange to pipe weld: 1:3

6. Boundary Condition
Maximum and Minimum Flow rate provided by process team is 186 and 30 m^3/hr which
cause 4.3 m/s and 0.7 m/s average velocity inside the pipe. From design point of view
maximum inlet velocity considered is 5 m/s and minimum 0.5 m/s and analysis is done fo0r
both conditions to evaluate the turbulence.
Evaluation is done for following conditions
a.
b.
c.
d.

10 inch nozzle (Nozzle N2 and N9B) with velocity 0.5 m/s

10 inch nozzle (Nozzle N2 and N9B) with velocity 5.0 m/s
12 inch nozzle (Nozzle N8) with velocity 0.5 m/s
12 inch nozzle (Nozzle N8) with velocity 5.0 m/s

7. Modeling
The 3D modeling of the section of liquid is done using ANSYS WORKBENCH DESIGN
MODELER. Model created is in scale 1:1 for accurate results.

3D Model of Fluid Flow through 10 inch nozzle with transition area

3D Model of Fluid Flow through 12 inch nozzle with transition area

8.

Meshing
Separate Meshing of the model is done using ANSYS mesh tool ICM CFD
Details of Mesh is as follows
Initial size seed: Active Assembly
Smoothing: High
Transition: Slow
Span Angle Center: Fine
Inflation option: Smooth Transition
Transition Ratio: 0.272
Maximum Layers: 5
Growth rate: 1.2
Inflation Algorithm: Pre

3D Model of Fluid Flow through 10 inch nozzle with transition area:- After Meshing

3D Model of Fluid Flow through 12 inch nozzle with transition area:- After Meshing

9.

Solution.
Flow analysis of the loading system is carried out using ANSYS FLUENT.

10.

Results
Result Generation is done using CFD Post. Detailed results are depicted in below figures

Velocity Streamline Distribution through 10 inch Nozzle (N2 and N9B) when average
velocity is 5 m/s at high, medium and low streamline density

Velocity Streamline Distribution through 10 inch Nozzle (N2 and N9B) when average
velocity is 0.5 m/s at high, medium and low streamline density

Velocity Streamline Distribution through 12 inch Nozzle (N8) when average velocity is 5 m/s
at high, medium and low streamline density

Velocity Streamline Distribution through 12 inch Nozzle (N8) when average velocity is 0.5
m/s at high, medium and low streamline density
11.

Inference
From the results it is clear that no considerable modification of flow pattern occurs due to
diameter transition area. It can be seen that the velocity pattern is same at both ends of
transition area. Also it is clear that no turbulence induced due to transition in diameter.
Hence chance of turbulence and erosion due to inside diameter difference is negligible.