INTRODUCTION TO COMPUTATIONAL FLUID DYNAMICS

Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj Department of Mechanical Engineering MIT (E), Aurangabad

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Fluid Flow
Fluid flows encountered in everyday life include meteorological phenomena (rain, wind, hurricanes, floods, fires) environmental hazards (air pollution, transport of contaminants) heating, ventilation and air conditioning of buildings, cars etc. combustion in automobile engines and other propulsion systems interaction of various objects with the surrounding air/water complex flows in furnaces, heat exchangers, chemical reactors etc. processes in human body (blood flow, breathing, drinking . . . ) and so on and so forth

Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

History of CFD
Computational Fluid Dynamics was first introduced in its two dimensional form in 1970 but its use was limited due to limited speed and storage facility of computers, its use was limited CFD made possible by the advent of digital computer and advancing with improvements of computer resources. Daimler Chrysler was the first company to use CFD in Automotive sector. Previously, CFD was performed using academic, research and in-house codes. When one wanted to perform a CFD calculation, one had to write a program. 1980s to 1990s is the period during which most commercial CFD codes originated that are available today: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Fluent (UK and US). CFX (UK and Canada). Fidap (US). Polyflow (Belgium). Phoenix (UK). 6. 7. 8. 9. Star CD (UK). Flow 3d (US). ESI/CFDRC (US). SCRYU (Japan).
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Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

Contd..

CFD made possible by the advent of digital computer and advancing with improvements of computer resources
Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad 4

What is Computational Fluid Dynamics?

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is the tool for predicting fluid flow, heat transfer, mass transfer, chemical reactions, and related phenomena in specified domain by approximate solution of mathematical equations which govern these processes using a numerical techniques. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is one of the branches of fluid mechanics that uses numerical methods and algorithms to solve and analyze problems that involve fluid flows. Computers are used to perform the millions of calculations required to simulate the interaction of fluids and gases with the complex surfaces used in engineering. It is easy, fast and cost effective tool to predict the performance of any flow system.

Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

Contd..
It has come up with the advent of Computational facilities in the field of science and technology. It is complementary to theoretical and experimental dynamics i.e. Reduces the total effort required in the laboratory.

Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

Contd..
Fluid Mechanics Fluid Problem Comparison & Analysis Simulation Results Computer

Physics of Fluid Mathematics Navier-Stokes Equations Numerical Methods Discretized Form

C F D
Geometry

Computer Program Programming Language Grids

What is CFD?
Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad 7

GOVERNING EQUATIONS
GOVERNING EQUATIONS OF CFD Conservation of mass i.e. Continuity equation Conservation of momentum i.e. Newtons 2nd Law Conservation of energy i.e. Energy equation

Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

Basic Input
1. Flow equations i.e. Laminar, Eulers, Reynolds Equation etc.. 2. Geometry of domain. 3. Boundary condition. To solve above 3 basic input, we need Numerical Technique/ Method and they are1. Finite Difference Method (FDM) 2. Finite Element Method (FEM) 3. Finite Volume Method (FVM) 4. Boundary Element Method (BEM) 5. Mesh Free Method

Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

Road Map of Equations of Fluid Flow

Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

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Applications
Applications of CFD are numerous:
flow and heat transfer in industrial processes (boilers, heat exchangers, combustion equipment, pumps, blowers, piping, etc.). aerodynamics of ground vehicles, aircraft, missiles. film coating, thermoforming in material processing applications. flow and heat transfer in propulsion and power generation systems. ventilation, heating, and cooling flows in buildings chemical vapor deposition (CVD) for integrated circuit manufacturing. heat transfer for electronics packaging applications. and many, many more...

CFD is used in---------------

Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

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CFD is used in--------------Hydropower Power Generation

Bio-Medical Engineering

Chemical Processing
Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

Marine
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CFD also used in Simulation of Transport Processes

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Why CFD?
1. Advancement in mathematical modeling of real life physical 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
phenomenon. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) provides qualitative and prediction of fluid flows. It is helpful in Design and Analysis. Cycle time of design optimization using CFD is extremely less as compared to the experimental methods. Hence it is more cost effective CFD provides high range of database for detailed analysis of flow field. It is helpful in full scale simulations which are not possible experimentally (e.g., ships and airplanes). Physical simulation of environmental effects (wind and weather etc) is possible. Simulation of radiaton pollution and explosion etc can be done. Only the best variant is experimentally tested for the validation of results.
Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad 15

Advantages of CFD
Low Cost
Using physical experiments and tests to get essential engineering data for design can be expensive. Computational simulations are relatively inexpensive, and costs are likely to decrease as computers become more powerful.

Speed
CFD simulations can be executed in a short period of time. Quick turnaround means engineering data can be introduced early in the design process

Ability to Simulate Real Conditions

Many flow and heat transfer processes can not be (easily) tested e.g. hypersonic flow at Mach 20 CFD provides the ability to theoretically simulate any physical condition

Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

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Contd..
CFD allows great control over the physical process, and provides the ability to isolate specific phenomena for study. Example: a heat transfer process can be idealized with adiabatic, constant heat flux, or constant temperature boundaries. Comprehensive Information Experiments only permit data to be extracted at a limited number of locations in the system (e.g. pressure and temperature probes, heat flux gauges, LDV, etc.) CFD allows the analyst to examine a large number of locations in the region of interest, and yields a comprehensive set of flow parameters for examination.
Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad 17

Limitations of CFD
1. Physical Models CFD solutions rely upon physical models of real world processes (e.g. turbulence, compressibility, chemistry, multiphase flow, etc.). The solutions that are obtained through CFD can only be as accurate as the physical models on which they are based. 2. Numerical Errors Solving equations on a computer invariably introduces numerical errors Round-off error - errors due to finite word size available on the computer Truncation error - error due to approximations in the numerical models Round-off errors will always exist (though they should be small in most cases) Truncation errors will go to zero as the grid is refined - so mesh refinement is one way to deal with truncation error.
Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad 18

Contd..
3. Continuity is broken Discretisation of domain 4. Needs High Computational Power and Memory 5. Needs Validation with Experimental Results 6. Boundary Conditions As with physical models, the accuracy of the CFD solution is only as good as the initial/boundary conditions provided to the numerical model. Example: Flow in a duct with sudden expansion If flow is supplied to domain by a pipe, you should use a fullydeveloped profile for velocity rather than assume uniform Computational Computational Domain conditions.
poor better
Uniform Inlet Profile Fully Developed Inlet Profile Domain

Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

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Comparison between Experiment and CFD

Experiment CFD

Gives mostly quantitative description of flow phenomena Global parameters At limited no. of points Laboratory scale model For limited range of operating conditions It is expensive, slow, sequential, single purpose More reliable Sources of error: Measurements, flow obstraction by probes

Gives both quantitative and qualitative flow phenomena Global as well as local parameters At any point in space For actual flow system For any operating conditions flow domain It is cheap, fast, parallel and multipurpose Less Reliable unless proper validation is done Error in Geometric Modeling, discretisation, numerical solution
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Simulation(CFD)
Cost Time Scale Information Repeatable Security Cheap Short Any All All Safe

Experiment
Expensive Long Small/Middle Measured Points Some Some Dangerous

Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad

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Summary
Computational Fluid Dynamics is a powerful way of modeling fluid flow, heat transfer, and related processes for a wide range of important scientific and engineering problems. The cost of doing CFD has decreased dramatically in recent years, and will continue to do so as computers become more and more powerful. They provide a relatively cheap and effective method of testing equipment without having to actually go ahead and build it first It has drastically reduced experimental work But validation of simulation is must.
Prof. Rahul D. Bajaj, MIT-E, Aurangabad 22