Fluid Flow Through Mixing Tee Pipe

Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer in a Mixing Tee
1. Introduction
The purpose of this workshop is to simulate mixing of hot and cold water in a T-piece. You will be
performing this simulation to check how well the fluids mix in the T and what the pressure drops are.
This workshop aims to teach basic skills in the use of the Fluent interface. The entire simulation approach
is covered, including:
• Reading a mesh
• Selecting material properties
• Defining boundary conditions
• Setting up solution monitors
• Running the simulation
• Post-processing
2. Prerequisites
This tutorial assumes that you have little or no experience with ANSYS Fluent, and so each step will be
explicitly described.
3. Problem Description
The flow simulated is in a T-section of a pipeline. Fluid enters at two different temperatures, and the
computation simulates the mixing process.
4. Setup and Solution

4.1. Loading a Mesh and Starting Fluent
1. Copy the file mixing_tee.msh to your working folder.
2. Start ANSYS Workbench.
3. Save the project.
a. In ANSYS Workbench, under the File menu, select Save.
File → Save
This displays the Save As dialog box, where you can browse to your working folder and enter
a specific name for the ANSYS Workbench project.
Release 17.0 - © SAS IP, Inc. All rights reserved. - Contains proprietary and confidential information
of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates. 1
b. In your working directory, enter 01_Mixing_Tee as the project File name and click the Save button
to save the project. ANSYS Workbench saves the project with a .wbpj extension and also saves
supporting files for the project.
4. Drag a Fluent Component System to the Project Schematic.
5. Right-click on Setup, cell 2, and select Import Fluent Case → Browse.
6. In the window that opens, from the drop-down list next to File name, select FLUENT Mesh File.
2 of ANSYS, Inc. and its subsidiaries and affiliates.
Setup and Solution
7. Select the file mixing_tee.msh and click Open.
8. Double-click Setup, cell 2 of the Fluent system to open Fluent Launcher.
9. In the Fluent Launcher dialog box, click OK to open ANSYS Fluent.
Note
IF HPC licenses are available, you can select Parallel under Processing Options and
enter the number of processes.
4.2. The Fluent Interface

This section gives a brief introduction to the Fluent interface and mouse functions.
The Fluent graphical user interface (GUI) is made up of several components, as shown in Figure 1: The
Fluent GUI Components (p. 4).
Figure 1: The Fluent GUI Components
• The ribbon, located at the top of the Fluent GUI, is the primary method for setting up and running your
simulation.
• The tree, located on the left side of the Fluent GUI, is an interactive representation of your project.
Branches can be expanded and collapsed to suit your preferences. Right-clicking items in the tree
provides a list of common commands. When any of the items under the Setup, Solution, or Results
branches is highlighted, the Task Page is displayed to the right of the tree.
• The Fluent GUI includes toolbars located within the application window. These toolbars provide
shortcuts to performing common tasks in Fluent. The toolbars include a standard toolbar and a
graphics toolbar.
– The standard toolbar contains options for getting help, arranging the graph-
ical user interface, and visiting the ANSYS website.
– The graphics toolbar

consists of the pointer tools, the view tools, projection tools, and display options.
Setup and Solution
• Task pages appear on the right side of the tree when certain branches are selected. They provide access
to more advanced settings than are often available through right-clicking the same branch or sub-
branches.
• The expected workflow is that you travel down the tree. Use a right-click on the branches or sub-
branches to access the settings and controls required to solve your problem. Some of your setup will
occur in dialog boxes, while others in task pages. Each task page has a Help button. Clicking this button
opens the related help topic
• The console is located below the graphics window. It is used to display various kinds of information
(such as messages relating to meshing or solution procedures). Console text is colored based on
whether it is user-input, standard output, or a warning message. Fluent saves a certain amount of in-
formation that is written to the console into memory. You can review this information at any time by
using the scroll bar on the right side of the console. The size of the console can be adjusted by raising
or lowering the bottom frame of the graphics window.
Mouse button functions are specified in the Viewing tab.
For each mouse button (Left, Middle, and Right), select the desired function in the drop-down list.
The Fluent Defaults button functions are as follows:
Button 2D 3D
Left mouse-dolly mouse-rotate
Middle mouse-zoom mouse-zoom
Right mouse-probe mouse-probe
Probe short description short description
The Workbench Defaults button functions are as follows:
Button 2D 3D
Left mouse-dolly mouse-dolly
Middle mouse-zoom mouse-rotate
Right mouse-probe mouse-zoom
Probe short description short description
4.3. Typographical Conventions Used

Several typographical conventions are used in the text of these workshops to help you find commands
in the user interface.
• Different type styles are used to indicate graphical user interface items and text interface items. For example:
Iso-Surface dialog box
surface/iso-surface text command
• The text interface type style is also used when illustrating exactly what appears on the screen to distinguish
it from the narrative text. In this context, user inputs are typically shown in boldface. For example,
solve/initialize/set-fmg-initialization
Customize your FMG initialization:

set the number of multigrid levels [5]
set FMG parameters on levels ..
residual reduction on level 1 is: [0.001]

number of cycles on level 1 is: [10] 100
residual reduction on level 2 is: [0.001]

number of cycles on level 2 is: [50] 100
• Mini flow charts are used to guide you through the ribbon or the tree, leading you to a specific option, dialog
box, or task page. The following tables list the meaning of each symbol in the mini flow charts.
Table 1: Mini Flow Chart Symbol Descriptions
Symbol Indicated Action

Look at the ribbon
Look at the tree

Left-click to open task page
Select from task page
Right-click the preceding item
For example,
Setting Up Domain → Mesh → Reorder → Domain
Indicates selecting the Setting Up Domain ribbon tab, clicking Reorder (in the Mesh group box)
and selecting Domain, as indicated in the figure below:
Setup → Models → Viscous Model → Realizable k-epsilon
Setup and Solution
Indicates expanding the Setup and Models branches, right-clicking Viscous, and selecting Realizable
k-epsilon from the Model sub-menu, as shown in the following figure:
And
Setup → Boundary Conditions → wall-fluid
Indicates opening the task page as shown below:
In these workshops, mini flow charts usually accompany a description of a dialog box or command,
or a screen illustration showing how to use the dialog box or command. They show you how to
quickly access a command or dialog box without having to search the surrounding material.
• In-text references to File ribbon tab selections can be indicated using a “/”. For example, File/Write/Case...
indicates clicking the File ribbon tab and selecting Case... from the Write submenu (which opens the Select
File dialog box).
4.4. Setting Up Domain

In this step, you will perform the mesh-related activities using the Setting Up Domain ribbon tab (Mesh
group).
Setup and Solution
Note
These controls are also available in the General task page that can be accessed by clicking
the Setup/General tree item.
1. Check the mesh.
Note
The mesh check ensures that each cell is in a correct format and connected to other
cells as expected. It is recommended to check every mesh immediately after reading it.
Failure of any check indicates a badly formed or corrupted mesh that will need repair
prior to simulation.
Setting Up Domain → Mesh → Check
ANSYS Fluent will report the results of the mesh check in the console.
Note
The minimum and maximum values may vary slightly when running on different plat-
forms. The mesh check will list the minimum and maximum x and y values from the
mesh in the default SI unit of meters. It will also report a number of other mesh features
that are checked. Any errors in the mesh will be reported at this time. Ensure that the
minimum volume is not negative as ANSYS Fluent cannot begin a calculation when this
is the case.
2. Review the mesh quality.
Note
The quality of the mesh plays a significant role in the accuracy and stability of the nu-
merical computation. Checking the quality of your mesh is, therefore, an important step
in performing a robust simulation. Minimum cell orthogonality is an important indicator

of mesh quality. Values for orthogonality can vary between 0 and 1, with lower values
indicating poorer quality cells. In general, the minimum orthogonality should not be
below 0.01 with the average value significantly larger. The high aspect ratio cells in this
mesh are near the walls and are a result of the boundary layer inflation applied in the
meshing step. For more information about the importance of mesh quality, refer to the
Fluent User’s Guide.
Setting Up Domain → Mesh → Quality
ANSYS Fluent will report the results of the mesh quality below the results of the mesh check in the
console.
3. Adjust and display the mesh.
Setting Up Domain → Mesh → Display
a. In the Mesh Display dialog box, disable Faces and ensure that only Edges is selected in the Options
group.
b. Click Display and then Close.
c. Adjust the view as you like by rotating and zooming.
4. Change the units for temperature.
Setup and Solution
Setting Up Domain → Mesh → Units...
Note
ANSYS Fluent stores values in SI units. Most postprocessing can be converted to other
units.
a. In the Set Units dialog box select temperature in the Quantities list.
b. Select c in the Units list.
c. Close the dialog box.
4.5. Setting Up Physics

In the steps that follow, you will select a solver and specify physical models, material properties, and
zone conditions for your simulation using the Setting Up Physics ribbon tab.
1. In the Solver group of the Setting Up Physics ribbon tab, retain the default selection of the Steady,
Pressure-Based solver.
Setting Up Physics → Solver
2. Set up your models for the CFD simulation using the Models group of the Setting Up Physics ribbon
tab.
Note
You can also use the Models task page that can be accessed by clicking the
Setup/Models tree item.
a. Enable heat transfer by activating the energy equation.
In the Setting Up Physics ribbon tab, select Energy (Models group).
Setting Up Physics → Models → Energy
Note
Activating the Energy equation allows temperature dependent problems to be

solved.
b. Enable the realizable - turbulence model.
i. In the Setting Up Physics ribbon tab, click Viscous... (Models group).
Setting Up Physics → Models → Viscous...
ii. In the Viscous Model dialog box, select k-epsilon from the Model list.
Setup and Solution
Note
The Viscous Model dialog box will expand.
iii. Select Realizable from the k-epsilon Model group.
Note
Turbulence modeling is a complex area. The choice of model depends on the

application. Here, the Realizable k-epsilon model is used. This is an improvement
on the well-established Standard k-epsilon model.
iv. Retain the other default settings and click OK to accept the model and close the Viscous Model
dialog box.
Note
The Viscous... label in the ribbon is displayed in blue to indicate that the Vis-
cous model is enabled.
3. Set up the materials for your CFD simulation using the Materials group of the Setting Up Physics ribbon
tab.
Create a new material called water using the Create/Edit Materials dialog box.
Note
The default available fluid is air. This step makes water available for the simulation.
a. In the Setting Up Physics ribbon tab, click Create/Edit... (Materials group).
Setting Up Physics → Materials → Create/Edit...
b. In the Create/Edit Materials dialog box, click Fluent Database....
Setup and Solution
i. In the Fluent Database Materials dialog box select water-liquid(h2o<l>) from the Fluent
Fluid Materials list.
Note
Since the Fluent Fluid Materials list is very long, here is a tip to easily locate
a particular material. You can also use the slider bar at the right of the list.
1. Left-click on the slider bar to the list.
2. Type the first letter of the material you require.
3. Use the keyboard arrows or the mouse wheel to scroll to the required entry.
ii. Click Copy and then Close.
c. Ensure that there are now two materials (water-liquid(h2o<l>) and air) defined locally by examining
the Fluent Fluid Materials drop-down list.
Note
Both materials will also be listed under Fluid in the Materials task page and under
the Materials tree branch.
d. Close the Create/Edit Materials dialog box.
4. Set up the cell zone conditions for the CFD simulation using the Zones group of the Setting Up Physics
ribbon tab.
a. In the Setting Up Physics tab, click Cell Zones (Zones group) and select All.
Setting Up Physics → Zones → Cell Zones → All
This opens the Cell Zone Conditions task page.
Setup and Solution
b. Set the cell zone conditions for the fluid zone.
i. In the Cell Zone Conditions task page, in the Zone list, select fluid and click Edit... to open the
Fluid dialog box.
Note
You can also double-click fluid in the Cell Zones Conditions task page or
under the Setup/Cell Zone Conditions tree branch in order to open the cor-
responding dialog box.
ii. In the Fluid dialog box, select water-liquid from the Material Name drop-down list.
iii. Click OK to close the Fluid dialog box.
Note
In this problem setup, there are many options that are left to default settings
as they are not relevant to this particular type of analysis.
5. Set up the boundary conditions for the CFD analysis using the Zones group of the Setting Up Physics
ribbon tab.
• In the Setting Up Physics tab, click Boundaries (Zones group) and select All from the drop-down
list.
Setting Up Physics → Zones → Boundaries → All
Setup and Solution
This opens the Boundary Conditions task page.
i. In the Boundary Conditions task page, in the Zone list, select inlet-y and click Edit... to open
the Velocity Inlet dialog box.
Note
You can also double-click inlet-y in the Boundary Conditions task page or
under the Setup/Boundary Conditions tree branch in order to open the cor-
responding dialog box.
A. In the Velocity Inlet dialog box, ensure that Magnitude, Normal to Boundary are selected
for Velocity Specification Method.
B. Enter 0.3 for Velocity Magnitude.
C. In the Turbulence group, from the Specification Method drop-down list, select Intensity
and Hydraulic Diameter.
Note
Inlet flows bring turbulence with them. The quantities depend on the
upstream conditions so they are user inputs. For flow in pipes, turbulent
intensity is typically 5 to 10%. The length-scale of the turbulence can be
deduced from the pipe diameter.
D. Retain the default of 5 for Turbulent Intensity.
E. Enter 0.15 m for Hydraulic Diameter.
Note
The hydraulic diameter is defined as:
where is the cross-sectional area and is the wetted perimeter.
Setup and Solution
F. Click the Thermal tab.
G. Enter 15 C for Temperature.
H. Click OK to close the Velocity Inlet dialog box.
Note
In this problem setup, there are many options that are left to default set-
tings as they are not relevant to this particular type of analysis.
ii. Double-click inlet-z and set the boundary conditions, using the values in the following table:
Component Value
Velocity Specification Method Magnitude, Normal to Boundary
Velocity Magnitude 0.1[m/s]
Turbulence Specification Method Intensity and Hydraulic Diameter
Turbulent Intensity 5%
Hydraulic Diameter 0.1 [m]
Temperature 25[C]
iii. Double-click outlet and set the boundary conditions at the outlet in the Pressure Outlet dialog
box, using the values in the following table:
Note
It is possible that during the solution process, material may flow back into the
domain through an outlet boundary. This could either be a genuine feature
of the flow (and still present in the converged solution), or just a short-lived
state reached during the convergence process. Either way, ANSYS Fluent needs
to know realistic conditions at this boundary. ANSYS Fluent will use the backflow
conditions only if the fluid is flowing into the computational domain through
the outlet. Since backflow might occur at some point during the solution pro-
cedure, you should set reasonable backflow conditions to prevent convergence
from being adversely affected. If (as in this model), the converged model has
flow leaving only at the outlet boundary, then these values are not used and
do not affect the final answer. Ideally, the geometry should be selected such
that flow enters the model only at well-defined inlets, with no backflow occur-
ring.
Component Value
Backflow Specification Method Normal to Boundary
Gauge Pressure 0[pascal]
Turbulence Specification Method Intensity and Hydraulic Diameter
Backflow Turbulent Intensity 5%
Backflow Hydraulic Diameter 0.15 [m]
Temperature 20[C]
Setup and Solution
4.6. Solving
In the steps that follow, you will set up and run the calculation using the Solving ribbon tab.
Note
You can also use the task pages listed under the Solution branch in the tree to perform
solution-related activities.
1. Set up solution parameters for the CFD simulation.
a. Change the discretization scheme.
i. In the Solving ribbon tab, click Methods... (Solution group).
Solving → Solution
This will open the Solution Methods task page.
ii. In the Pressure-Velocity Coupling group of the Solution Methods task page, change the
Scheme to Coupled.
iii. Enable Pseudo Transient.
Note
Discretization schemes define how the solver calculates gradients and interpol-
ates variables to non-stored locations. The default settings are suitable for most
cases. Here you will change the Pressure-Velocity Coupling scheme and se-
lected Pseudo Transient. This particular change can sometimes improve the
convergence rate. You will compare Pseudo Transient with the default setting
(Pressure-Velocity Coupling = SIMPLE) in a later step.
b. Enable the plotting of residuals during the calculation.
Setup and Solution
i. In the Solving ribbon tab, click Residuals... (Reports group).
Solving → Reports → Residuals...
ii. In the Residual Monitors dialog box, ensure that Plot is enabled in the Options group.
iii. Keep the default values for the Absolute Criteria of the Residuals, as shown in the Residual
Monitors dialog box.
iv. Click OK to close the Residual Monitors dialog box.
Note
By default, all variables will be monitored and checked by ANSYS Fluent as a means to
determine the convergence of the solution. The values of the residuals are indications
of the errors in the current solution. These should decrease during the calculation.
2. Create a surface report definition at the inlet (inlet-y).
Solving → Reports → Definitions → New → Surface Report → Area-Weighted Average...
Note
It is recommended to observe important solution quantities. In the current case, you

will use pressure and temperature as monitors.
Setup and Solution
a. In the Surface Report Definition dialog box, enter pr-inlet-y for the Name.
b. Under the Create group, enable Report File and Report Plot.
During a solution run, ANSYS Fluent will write solution convergence data in a report file and
plot the solution convergence history in a graphics window.
It is good practice to monitor physical solution quantities in addition to equation residuals when
assessing convergence.
c. Retain 1 for Frequency.
This setting instructs ANSYS Fluent to update the plot of the surface report and write data to a file
after every iteration during the solution.
d. Retain the selection of Pressure... and Static Pressure from the Field Variable drop-down lists.
e. Select inlet-y from the Surfaces selection list.
f. Click OK to save the surface report definition and close the Surface Report Definition dialog box.
The new surface report definition pr-inlet-y appears under the Solution/Report Definitions
tree item. ANSYS Fluent also automatically creates the following items:
• pr-inlet-y-rfile (under the Solution/Report Files tree branch)
• pr-inlet-y-rplot (under the Solution/Report Plots tree branch)
3. Create another surface report definition at the inlet (inlet-z).
Solving → Reports → Definitions → New → Surface Report → Area-Weighted Average...
a. In the Surface Report Definition dialog box, enter pr-inlet-z for the Name.
b. Retain the selection of Pressure... and Static Pressure from the Field Variable drop-down lists.
c. Select inlet-z from the Surfaces selection list.
d. Select pr-inlet-y-rfile from Report Files.
e. Select pr-inlet-y-rplot from Report Plots.
Note
This will put the outputs from both the inlets in the same file.
Setup and Solution
f. Click OK.
4. Create a surface report definition at the outlet (outlet).
Solving → Reports → Definitions → New → Surface Report → Standard Deviation...
a. In the Surface Report Definition dialog box, enter temp-outlet for the Name.
b. Under the Create group, enable Report File and Report Plot.
c. Retain 1 for Frequency.
d. Select Temperature... and Static Temperature from the Field Variable drop-down lists.
e. Select outlet from the Surfaces selection list.
f. Click OK to save the surface report definition and close the Surface Report Definition dialog box.
Now if you check in the tree you can see that there are 3 Report Definitions and 2 Report files
and Report Plots.
5. Double click the Solution/Report Files/pr-inlet-y-rfile tree item and examine the report file settings in
the Edit Report File dialog box.
Setup and Solution
a. Change the Name to pr-inlets-rfile.
b. Change the Output File Base Name to pr-inlets-rfile.out
c. Click OK.
6. Double click the Solution/Report Plots/pr-inlet-y-rplot tree item and examine the report plot settings
in the Edit Report Plot dialog box.
a. Change the Name to pr-inlets-plot.
b. Change the Plot Title to Inlet Pressures.
c. Click OK.
7. Initialize the flow field using the Initialization group of the Solving ribbon tab.
Solving → Initialization
Note
Initialization creates the initial solution that the solver will iteratively improve. Generally,
for a steady state analysis, the same converged solution is reached whatever the initial-
ization, but convergence will be faster if the starting point is more realistic. Standard
initialization imposes the same values in all cells. You can improve on this in various
ways – for example, by patching different values into different zones. Several features,
including patching and post-processing, are not available until after initialization.
Setup and Solution
a. Retain the default selection of Hybrid for Method.
Note
The Hybrid Initialization Method is an efficient method of initializing the solution

based purely on the setup of the simulation, with no extra information required.
This method produces a velocity field that conforms to complex domain geometries
and a pressure field that smoothly connects high and low pressure values.
b. Click Initialize .
Note
A warning message stating that convergence was not reached during hybrid initial-
ization may appear. It is only a warning, not an error, so it is safe to continue.
File → Save Project
Note
It is good practice to save your work before beginning to iterate. ANSYS Workbench
saves the case and data files within its project directory structure. When running ANSYS
Fluent in standalone mode, you select the directory where the files will be saved.
9. Calculate a solution using the Run Calculation group of the Solving tab.
Solving → Run Calculation
a. Check to see if the case conforms to best practices.
Solving → Run Calculation → Check Case
i. In the Solver tab, a recommendation about discretization will appear.
This happens because of the default settings for the turbulence equations in Solution
Methods. However, these defaults are appropriate for most cases, so you will not change
the settings here. The topic of discretization will be discussed later in the training.
ii. Close the Case Check dialog box.
b. Start the calculation by requesting 350 iterations.
i. Enter 350 for No. of Iterations.
ii. Click Calculate.
Setup and Solution
Figure 2: Convergence History Standard Deviation of Temperature at Outlet
Figure 3: Residuals for the Solution
Note
The solution will be stopped by ANSYS Fluent when the residuals reach
their specified value, or after the specified number of iterations has been
reached. The exact number of iterations will vary depending on the plat-
form being used. An Information dialog box will open to alert you that
the calculation is complete. Click OK in the Information dialog box to
proceed.
Because the residual values vary slightly by platform, the plot that appears
on your screen may not be exactly the same as the one shown here.
Examine the plots for the area weighted average of pressure at both the inlets.
Note
When the iterations have been completed, it is recommended to save the results before
proceeding.
4.7. Displaying Results in ANSYS Fluent

In the steps that follow, you will visualize various aspects of the flow for the preliminary solution using
the Postprocessing ribbon tab.
Note
You can also use the task pages listed under the Results branch in the tree to perform
solution-related activities.
1. Display filled contours of pressure magnitude on the wall surface.
Postprocessing → Graphics → Contours → Edit...
Setup and Solution
Note
You can also double-click the Results/Graphics/Contours tree item.
a. To add a new graphics window to display the contours, right-click any existing tab at the top of the
graphics window and select New Window.
b. In the Contours dialog box, in the Options group, enable Filled.
c. Ensure that Node Values is enabled in the Options group.
d. From the Contours of drop-down lists, select Pressure... and Static Pressure.
e. From the Surfaces selection list, deselect all items by clicking and then select wall-fluid.
f. Click Display to display the contours in the active graphics window.
Figure 4: Pressure Contours on Wall
Note
3D images are best viewed with lighting enabled. Click the Viewing ribbon tab. In the
Display group box, you can enable Headlight and Lighting. Select Gouraud under
Lighting.
2. Compute the mass and heat balances.
Postprocessing → Reports → Fluxes...
a. In the Flux Reports dialog box retain the selection of Mass Flow Rate in the Options group.
b. In the Boundaries list, select inlet-y, inlet-z, and outlet.
c. Click Compute.
d. Now select Total Heat Transfer Rate in the Options group and click Compute.
Setup and Solution
e. Close the Flux Reports dialog box.
The net results of both the mass flow rate and the total heat transfer rate are small. This confirms
that the mass and energy are conserved.
3. Exit Fluent.
File → Close Fluent
4.8. Displaying Results in CFD-Post

1. In Workbench save the project.
File → Save
2. From Components Systems, drag Results and drop on Solution, cell 3 of the Fluent system.
3. Double-click Results, cell 2 to launch CFD-Post.
Note
The results are loaded. CFD-Post initially displays the outline (wireframe) of the model.
4. Draw a temperature contour plot.
a. Click the contour button in the toolbar.
b. Retain the default name of Contour 1 in the Insert Contour dialog box and click OK.
Setup and Solution
c. In Details of Contour, select wall fluid from the Locations drop-down list.
d. Select Temperature from the Variable drop-down list.
e. Click Apply.
5. Create a plane.
a. In the tree, clear the Contour 1 check box.
b. From the Insert menu, select Location → Plane.
c. Retain the default name, Plane 1, in the Insert Plane dialog box and click OK.
d. In Details of Plane 1, select YZ Plane from the Method drop-down list.
Setup and Solution
e. Retain 0.0 [m] for X.
f. Click Apply.
6. Draw velocity vectors on the plane.
a. Hide the plane by clearing the Plane 1 check box in the tree.
Note
The plane is used only as a location for the vector plot.
b. Click the vector button in the toolbar.
c. Retain the default name, Vector 1, in the Insert Vector dialog box and click OK.
d. In Details of Vector 1, select Plane 1 from the Locations drop-down list.
e. Click Apply.
Note
To change the camera view, right-click on the graphics window and select Pre-
defined Camera → View from +X (since the vector plot is on the YZ-plane). You
can also press X key.
7. Plot streamlines.
Setup and Solution
a. Hide the vector plot by clearing the Vector 1 check box in the tree.
b. Click the streamline button in the toolbar.
c. Retain the default name, Streamline 1, in the Insert Streamline dialog box and click OK.
d. In Details of Streamline, click the Location Editor button next to Start From.
i. In the Location Selector dialog box that opens select inlet y and inlet z under fluid.
Note
Hold Ctrl-key to select multiple items in the Location Selector dialog box.
ii. Click OK.
e. Click the Symbol tab in the Details of Streamline.
f. Select Ribbon from the Stream Type drop-down list.
Note
Ribbons give a 3-D representation of the flow direction. In the current plot, the
colour depends on the flow velocity.
g. Click Apply.
Setup and Solution
8. Create an isosurface.
a. Hide the streamline plot by clearing the Streamline 1 check box in the tree.
b. From the Insert menu, select Location → Isosurface.
c. Retain the default name, Isosurface 1, in the Insert Isosurface dialog box and click OK.
d. In Details of Isosurface 1, select Velocity from the Variable drop-down list.
e. Enter 0.4 [m s^-1] for Value.
Note
You can try other values.
f. Click Apply.
Note
The velocity magnitude is greater than 0.4 m/s inside the isosurface, and less than
that, outside it.
By default, the isosurface is colored by velocity magnitude.
g. Click on the Color tab.
i. Select Variable from the Mode drop-down list.
ii. From the Variable drop-down list, select Temperature.
iii. Select Local from the Range drop-down list.
iv. Click Apply.
Further Improvements
9. Close CFD-Post.
10. In Workbench save the project.
5. Summary
The workshop has shown the basic steps that are applied in all CFD simulations. You have learned how
to
• Define material properties
• Set boundary conditions and solver settings
• Run the solution and monitor the quantities of interest
• Post-process the results, both in Fluent and CFD-Post.
6. Further Improvements
The additional exercises listed below are optional and can be performed as time and interest dictate.
They do not need to be performed in any particular order.
Changing Solution Methods

In this exercise you will investigate the effect of solution methods on convergence.
1. Right-click on the Fluent cell in the Project Schematic and select Duplicate from the context
menu.
2. Double-click on the Setup cell of the duplicate system and launch Fluent.
3. In Fluent, go to Solution Methods and click the Default button.
In the Solving ribbon tab, click Methods... (Solution group).
Solving → Solution
Clicking the Default button changes the Pressure-Velocity Coupling from Coupled to
SIMPLE.
4. Initialize and run the solution.
Changing Outlet Location

The goal of this exercise is to investigate the effect of the outlet location on the predicted temperature
distribution. The outlet will be extended 16 inches further downstream from the original location.
menu.
3. In Fluent from the File menu select Import → Mesh.
Note
Click Yes when it asks, if you would like to continue.
4. In the Read Mesh Options dialog box select Replace Mesh from the list of Options and click
Continue....
Note
The Replace Mesh operation preserves all boundary conditions, solution mon-
itors, solver controls, and isosurfaces.
5. Select the file mixing_tee_longer.msh.
6. Since all the setup is preserved just initialize and run the solution.
Using Profiles for Inlets

In the workshop, uniform profiles were used at inlets for velocities and turbulence. As the inlets are
located relatively close to the region of mixing, the goal of this exercise is to explore whether the use
of more realistic, fully developed profiles at the inlets will affect the predicted temperature distribution
at the outlet.
menu.
3. In the Setting Up Physics ribbon tab, click Profiles... (Zones group).
Setting Up Physics → Zones → Profiles...
a. In the Profiles dialog box click Read... and select the file profile_inlet_y.prof.
b. Click Read... once again and select the file profile_inlet_z.prof.
c. Close the \Profiles dialog box.
4. Open the boundary conditions dialog box for inlet_y.
In the Boundary Conditions task page, in the Zone list, select inlet-y and click Edit... to
open the Velocity Inlet dialog box.
a. In the Velocity Inlet dialog box, select Components from the Velocity Specification
Method drop-down list.
b. Select inlet_y y-velocity from the Y-Velocity (m/s) drop-down list.
c. Select K and Epsilon from the Specification Method drop-down list.
d. Select inlet_y y-turb-kinetic-energy from the Turbulent Kinetic Energy (m2/s2) drop-
down list.
e. Select inlet_y y-turb-diss-rate from the Turbulent Dissipation rate (m2/s3) drop-down
list.
f. Click OK.
5. Follow similar steps for inlet_z.
Select inlet_z profile for this boundary and also apply the profile to Z-Velocity.
Fully developed profiles can be created by doing an auxiliary calculation of flow with the inlet
mass flow rate in a small periodic domain.
Changing the Inlet Boundary Condition

The hot stream enters through inlet z..
menu.
3. Open the boundary conditions dialog box for inlet_z.
In the Boundary Conditions task page, in the Zone list, select inlet-z and click Edit... to
open the Velocity Inlet dialog box. Double the inlet-z velocity.
Note
Check the effect on the pressure drop.

Fluid Flow Through Mixing Tee Pipe

Hochgeladen von

Dokumentinformationen

Originaltitel

Copyright

Verfügbare Formate

Dieses Dokument teilen

Dokument teilen oder einbetten

Freigabeoptionen

Stufen Sie dieses Dokument als nützlich ein?

Sind diese Inhalte unangemessen?

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Fluid Flow Through Mixing Tee Pipe

Hochgeladen von

Copyright:

Verfügbare Formate

Fluid Flow and Heat Transfer in a Mixing Tee

• Selecting material properties

• Defining boundary conditions

• Setting up solution monitors

• Running the simulation

4. Setup and Solution

2. Start ANSYS Workbench.

3. Save the project.

a. In ANSYS Workbench, under the File menu, select Save.

4. Drag a Fluent Component System to the Project Schematic.

5. Right-click on Setup, cell 2, and select Import Fluent Case → Browse.

7. Select the file mixing_tee.msh and click Open.

8. Double-click Setup, cell 2 of the Fluent system to open Fluent Launcher.

9. In the Fluent Launcher dialog box, click OK to open ANSYS Fluent.

4.2. The Fluent Interface

Figure 1: The Fluent GUI Components

– The graphics toolbar

Mouse button functions are specified in the Viewing tab.

The Fluent Defaults button functions are as follows:

The Workbench Defaults button functions are as follows:

4.3. Typographical Conventions Used

Iso-Surface dialog box

surface/iso-surface text command

Customize your FMG initialization:

set FMG parameters on levels ..

residual reduction on level 1 is: [0.001]

residual reduction on level 2 is: [0.001]

Table 1: Mini Flow Chart Symbol Descriptions

Symbol Indicated Action

Look at the tree

Select from task page

Right-click the preceding item

Setting Up Domain → Mesh → Reorder → Domain

Setup → Models → Viscous Model → Realizable k-epsilon

Setup → Boundary Conditions → wall-fluid

Indicates opening the task page as shown below:

4.4. Setting Up Domain

1. Check the mesh.

Setting Up Domain → Mesh → Check

2. Review the mesh quality.

in performing a robust simulation. Minimum cell orthogonality is an important indicator

Setting Up Domain → Mesh → Quality

3. Adjust and display the mesh.

Setting Up Domain → Mesh → Display

b. Click Display and then Close.

c. Adjust the view as you like by rotating and zooming.

4. Change the units for temperature.

Setting Up Domain → Mesh → Units...

b. Select c in the Units list.

c. Close the dialog box.

4.5. Setting Up Physics

Setting Up Physics → Solver

a. Enable heat transfer by activating the energy equation.

In the Setting Up Physics ribbon tab, select Energy (Models group).

Setting Up Physics → Models → Energy

Activating the Energy equation allows temperature dependent problems to be

b. Enable the realizable - turbulence model.

i. In the Setting Up Physics ribbon tab, click Viscous... (Models group).

Setting Up Physics → Models → Viscous...

The Viscous Model dialog box will expand.

iii. Select Realizable from the k-epsilon Model group.

Turbulence modeling is a complex area. The choice of model depends on the

a. In the Setting Up Physics ribbon tab, click Create/Edit... (Materials group).