scholarly journals Scaling, Complexity, and Design Aspects in Computational Fluid Dynamics

Fluids ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (10) ◽  
pp. 362
Author(s):  
Sheldon Wang

With the availability of more and more efficient and sophisticated Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tools, engineering designs are also becoming more and more software driven. Yet, the insights in temporal and spatial scaling issues are still with us and very often imbedded in complexity and many design aspects. In this paper, with a revisit to a so-called leakage issue in sucker rod pumps prevalent in petroleum industries, the author would like to demonstrate the need to use perturbation approaches to circumvent the multi-scale challenges in CFD with extreme spatial aspect ratios and temporal scales. In this study, the gap size between the outer surface of the plunger and the inner surface of the barrel is measured with a mill (one thousandth of an inch) whereas the plunger axial length is measured with inches or even feet. The temporal scales, namely relaxation times, are estimated with both expansions in Bessel functions for the annulus flow region and expansions in Fourier series when such a narrow circular flow region is approximated with a rectangular one. These engineering insights derived from the perturbation approaches have been confirmed with the use of full-fledged CFD analyses with sophisticated computational tools as well as experimental measurements. With these confirmations, new perturbation studies on the sucker rod leakage issue with eccentricities have been presented. The volume flow rate or rather leakage due to the pressure difference is calculated as a quadratic function with respect to the eccentricity, which matches with the early prediction and publication with comprehensive CFD studies. In short, a healthy combination of ever more powerful modeling tools along with the physics, mathematics, and engineering insights with dimensionless numbers and classical perturbation approaches may provide a balanced and more flexible and efficient strategy in complex engineering designs with the consideration of parametric and phase spaces.

Dynamics ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 9-17
Author(s):  
Andrea Natale Impiombato ◽  
Giorgio La Civita ◽  
Francesco Orlandi ◽  
Flavia Schwarz Franceschini Zinani ◽  
Luiz Alberto Oliveira Rocha ◽  
...  

As it is known, the Womersley function models velocity as a function of radius and time. It has been widely used to simulate the pulsatile blood flow through circular ducts. In this context, the present study is focused on the introduction of a simple function as an approximation of the Womersley function in order to evaluate its accuracy. This approximation consists of a simple quadratic function, suitable to be implemented in most commercial and non-commercial computational fluid dynamics codes, without the aid of external mathematical libraries. The Womersley function and the new function have been implemented here as boundary conditions in OpenFOAM ESI software (v.1906). The discrepancy between the obtained results proved to be within 0.7%, which fully validates the calculation approach implemented here. This approach is valid when a simplified analysis of the system is pointed out, in which flow reversals are not contemplated.


2018 ◽  
Vol 140 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Jayati Athavale ◽  
Yogendra Joshi ◽  
Minami Yoda

Abstract This paper presents an experimentally validated room-level computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model for raised-floor data center configurations employing active tiles. Active tiles are perforated floor tiles with integrated fans, which increase the local volume flow rate by redistributing the cold air supplied by the computer room air conditioning (CRAC) unit to the under-floor plenum. The numerical model of the data center room consists of one cold aisle with 12 racks arranged on both sides and three CRAC units sited around the periphery of the room. The commercial CFD software package futurefacilities6sigmadcx is used to develop the model for three configurations: (a) an aisle populated with ten (i.e., all) passive tiles; (b) a single active tile and nine passive tiles in the cold aisle; and (c) an aisle populated with all active tiles. The predictions from the CFD model are found to be in good agreement with the experimental data, with an average discrepancy between the measured and computed values for total flow rate and rack inlet temperature less than 4% and 1.7 °C, respectively. The validated models were then used to simulate steady-state and transient scenarios following cooling failure. This physics-based and experimentally validated room-level model can be used for temperature and flow distributions prediction and identifying optimal number and locations of active tiles for hot spot mitigation in data centers.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anwer Faraj ◽  
Itimad D J Azzawi ◽  
Samir Ghazi Yahya ◽  
Amer Al-damook

Abstract Experimental investigations of the flows inside helically coiled pipe are difficult and may also be expensive, particularly for small diameters. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) packages, which can easily construct the geometry and change the dimensions with 100% of accuracy, provide an alternative solution for the experimental difficulties and uncertainties. Therefore, a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) study was conducted to analyse the flow structure and the effect of varying the coil pitch on the coil friction factor, through utilising different models' configurations. Two coils were tested, all of them sharing the same pipe and coil diameter: 0.005m and 0.04m respectively. Pitch variations began with 0.01 and 0.05 m for the first, second model respectively. In this study, the velocity was analysed, and the effects of this reduction on coil friction factor were also examined using laminar flow. The results were validated by Ito's equation for the laminar flow.


Author(s):  
Chen Fu ◽  
C Patrick Bounds ◽  
Christian Selent ◽  
Mesbah Uddin

The characterization of a racecar’s aerodynamic behavior at various yaw and pitch configurations has always been an integral part of its on-track performance evaluation in terms of lap time predictions. Although computational fluid dynamics has emerged as the ubiquitous tool in motorsports industry, a clarity is still lacking about the prediction veracity dependence on the choice of turbulence models, which is central to the prediction variability and unreliability for the Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes simulations, which is by far the most widely used computational fluid dynamics methodology in this industry. Subsequently, this paper presents a comprehensive assessment of three commonly used eddy viscosity turbulence models, namely, the realizable [Formula: see text] (RKE), Abe–Kondoh–Nagano [Formula: see text], and shear stress transport [Formula: see text], in predicting the aerodynamic characteristics of a full-scale NASCAR Monster Energy Cup racecar under various yaw and pitch configurations, which was never been explored before. The simulations are conducted using the steady Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes approach with unstructured trimmer cells. The tested yaw and pitch configurations were chosen in consultation with the race teams such that they reflect true representations of the racecar orientations during cornering, braking, and accelerating scenarios. The study reiterated that the prediction discrepancies between the turbulence models are mainly due to the differences in the predictions of flow recirculation and separation, caused by the individual model’s effectiveness in capturing the evolution of adverse pressure gradient flows, and predicting the onset of separation and subsequent reattachment (if there be any). This paper showed that the prediction discrepancies are linked to the computation of the turbulent eddy viscosity in the separated flow region, and using flow-visualizations identified the areas on the car body which are critical to this analysis. In terms of racecar aerodynamic performance parameter predictions, it can be reasonably argued that, excluding the prediction of the %Front prediction, shear stress transport is the best choice between the three tested models for stock-car type racecar Reynolds Averaged Navier–Stokes computational fluid dynamics simulations as it is the only model that predicted directionally correct changes of all aerodynamic parameters as the racecar is either yawed from the 0° to 3° or pitched from a high splitter-ground clearance to a low one. Furthermore, the magnitude of the shear stress transport predicted delta force coefficients also agreed reasonably well with test results.


Author(s):  
Mohamed Saber ◽  
Khalid M Saqr ◽  
Amr A Hassan ◽  
Mohamed A Kotb

Hydrodynamic stress induced by marine currents subject subsea pipelines to failure vulnerability. Therefore, several methods have been established to protect such pipelines from hydrodynamic forces. The objective of this work is to investigate the performance of two different protection methods using computational fluid dynamics. A second-order accurate upwind finite volume computational fluid dynamics model was used to simulate isotropic turbulent flow around a subsea pipeline located on flat seabed. A comparison between four turbulence models revealed that both Menter’s shear stress transport k[Formula: see text] and the standard k[Formula: see text] models yield the best agreement with experimental measurements. Pipeline trenching and double-barrier protection methods were simulated with different geometrical characteristics. A comparison between those two methods was conducted and discussed. It is found that at small aspect ratios, the double-barrier method prevails over trenching in terms of its ability to isolate the pipe from the main current. While at large aspect ratio, trenching provides near-zero pressure coefficient along the pipe wall, which demonstrate its prevalence in protecting the pipeline.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-9
Author(s):  
Shreyas V. Jalikop ◽  
Bernhard Scheichl ◽  
Stefan J. Eder ◽  
Stefan Hönig

Summary Artificial lift systems are widely used in oil production, of which sucker rod pumps are conceptually among the simpler ones. The reciprocating movement of the plunger triggers the opening and closing of two ball valves, allowing fluid to be pumped to the surface. Their built-in ball valves are subject to long-time erosion and fail as a consequence of this damage mechanism. Understanding the principal damage mechanisms requires a thorough examination of the fluid dynamics during the opening and closing action of these valves. In this article, we present a fluid-structure interaction model that simultaneously computes the fluid flow in the traveling valve (TV), the standing valve (SV), and the chamber of sucker rod pumps during a full pump cycle. The simulations shed light on the causes of valve damage for standard and nonideal operating conditions of the pump. In particular, our simulations based on real pump operating envelopes reveal that the so-called “midcycle valve closure” is likely to occur. Such additional closing and opening events of the valves multiply situations in which the flow conditions are harmful to the individual pump components, leading to efficiency reduction and pump failure. This mechanism, hitherto unreported in the literature, is believed to constitute the primary cause of long-term valve damage. Our finite element method-based computational-fluid-dynamics model can accurately describe the opening and closing cycles of the two valves. For the first time, this approach allows an analysis of real TV speed versus position plots, usually called pump cards. The effects of stroke length, plunger speed, and fluid parameters on the velocity and pressure at any point and time inside the pump can thus be investigated. Identifying the damage-critical flow parameters can help suggest measures to avoid unfavorable operating envelopes in future pump designs. Our flow model may support field operations throughout the entire well life, ranging from improved downhole pump design to optimized pump operation or material selections. It can aid the creation of an ideal interaction between the valves, thus avoiding midcycle valve closure to drastically extend the mean time between failures of sucker rod pumps. Finally, our simulation approach will speed up new pump component development while greatly reducing the necessity for costly laboratory testing.


Author(s):  
Oscar Molina ◽  
Mayank Tyagi

Well completion plays a key role in reservoir production as it serves as a pathway that connects the hydrocarbon bearing rock with the wellbore, allowing formation fluids (e.g. oil, gas, water) to flow into the well and then up to production facilities on the surface. Frac-packing completion (F&P) is a well stimulation technique that vastly increases the fluid transport capability of the near wellbore region in comparison with the original formation capacity by filling fractures and perforation tunnels with high-permeability proppant, thus enabling higher production rates for the same pressure drop. Hence, it is of interest for the production engineer to have an accurate description of the actual and predicted production performance in terms of pressure drop and flowrate after the F&P completion process is done. However, in developing a mathematical model of this scenario two critical challenges should be faced: (a) as fluid flows at high flowrates it begins to deviate from linear behavior, i.e. Darcy’s law is no longer valid, (b) compressible fluid flow behavior in the near wellbore region cannot be intuitively predicted due to the geometrical complexity introduced by the well completion (e.g. perforation tunnels and fractures). Additionally, this kind of mathematical model must take into account the existence of three different domains: reservoir (porous, low permeability), completion region (porous, high permeability), and free flow region. In view of these complications, this study presents a computational approach to model and characterize the near wellbore region with F&P completion using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling, combining a non-linear (non-Darcy or Forchheimer) real gas flow in porous media with a turbulence model for the free flow region. This study is classified into three parts: 1) verification case, 2) Darcy vs. non-Darcy flow, and 3) erosion analysis. All simulation cases are assumed to be isothermal, steady state gas flow. Streamlines are implemented to identify the possible kinds of flow regimes, or patterns, in the near wellbore region and it is shown that gas flow pattern can be high unpredictable. Turbulence production and erosional velocity limit are also analyzed. Finally, mathematical correlations for well completion performance of this particular case study are derived using data curve fitting. In conclusion, the CFD approach has proven to be a powerful yet flexible computational tool that can help the production and/or reservoir engineer to predict flow behavior as well as production performance for a gas producing well with F&P completion, while providing an insightful graphical description of pressure and velocity distribution in the near wellbore region.


Author(s):  
Christopher Perkins ◽  
Alan W. Weimer

Computational fluid dynamics simulations were performed to model solar ZnO dissociation in a tubular aerosol reactor at ultra-high temperatures (1900 K–2300 K). Reactor aspect ratios ranged between 0.15 and 0.45, with the smallest ratio base case corresponding to a reactor diameter of .02286 m. Gas flowrates were set such that the Ar:ZnO ratio was greater than 3:1 and the system residence time was below 2 s. The system was found to exhibit highly laminar flow in all cases (Re ∼ 10), but gas velocity profiles did not seriously affect temperature profiles. Particle heating was nearly instantaneous, a result of the high radiation heat flux from the wall. There was essentially no difference between gas and particle temperatures due to the high surface area for conductive heat exchange between the phases. Calculation of ZnO conversion showed that significant conversions (>90%) could be attained for residence times typical of rapid aerosol processing. Particle sizes larger than 1 μm negatively affected conversion, but sizes of 10 μm still gave acceptable conversion levels. Simulation of reaction of product oxygen with the reactor wall showed that a reactor constructed of an oxidation-sensitive material would not be a viable choice for a high temperature solar reactor.


2017 ◽  
Vol 63 (2) ◽  
pp. 23-38
Author(s):  
X. R. Ding ◽  
Y. Y. Guo ◽  
Y. Y. Chen

AbstractThis study aims to design a novel air cleaning facility which conforms to the current situation in China, and moreover can satisfy our demand on air purification under the condition of poor air quality, as well as discuss the development means of a prototype product. Air conditions in the operating room of a hospital were measured as the research subject of this study. First, a suitable turbulence model and boundary conditions were selected and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software was used to simulate indoor air distribution. The analysis and comparison of the simulation results suggested that increasing the area of air supply outlets and the number of return air inlets would not only increase the area of unidirectional flow region in main flow region, but also avoid an indoor vortex and turbulivity of the operating area. Based on the summary of heat and humidity management methods, the system operation mode and relevant parameter technologies as well as the characteristics of the thermal-humidity load of the operating room were analyzed and compiled. According to the load value and parameters of indoor design obtained after our calculations, the airflow distribution of purifying the air-conditioning system in a clean operating room was designed and checked. The research results suggested that the application of a secondary return air system in the summer could reduce energy consumption and be consistent with the concept of primaiy humidity control. This study analyzed the feasibility and energy conservation properties of cleaning air-conditioning technology in operating rooms, proposed some solutions to the problem, and performed a feasible simulation, which provides a reference for practical engineering.


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