At our company, we leveraged the powerful capabilities of Ansys Fluent to enhance our engineering simulations, particularly for understanding the behavior of water as it interacted with various components in our systems. By simulating fluid dynamics, we closely analyzed how water flowed into pipes and tanks, how it behaved as tanks descended, how it discharged from the tanks, and the timing of these processes. Additionally, we obtained dynamic properties such as velocity, mass flow rate, and pressure, which were critical for optimizing system design. Ansys Fluent provided the tools to visualize these interactions in detail, allowing us to refine our models and ensure optimal performance under real-world conditions.
Accurate results depended heavily on the quality of the mesh, and we utilized Ansys Fluent Meshing to achieve the necessary precision. We customized the meshing process, particularly by employing a poly-hexcore mesh structure. This specific mesh type was ideal for our models, as it struck a good balance between accuracy and computational efficiency, especially in complex geometries involving both solid and fluid regions. We carefully tailored the mesh sizes for both surface and volume mesh to match the dimensions of the simulated objects. By assigning non-conformal meshing to all objects, we ensured that all areas, even those in motion, were accurately represented without causing interference with adjacent meshes.
In addition to meshing, we utilized Ansys Fluent’s multiphase feature to simulate interactions between different phases, particularly air and water. This was essential because our systems contained components initially filled with either air or water. By utilizing the volume fraction method, we accurately modeled how these phases interacted within our system. Furthermore, we implemented dynamic meshing and user-defined functions (UDFs) to simulate moving objects within our setup. This approach allowed us to maintain realistic interactions between components, ensuring that the mesh dynamically adapted to changes in the system.
To further refine our simulations, we carefully configured various parameters within Ansys Fluent. We set up solution methods and relaxation factors to achieve convergence efficiently while maintaining accuracy. The k-epsilon turbulence model was applied to account for turbulent flows, which were common in our systems. We also utilized mesh interfaces to manage connections between different objects, ensuring seamless interactions across boundaries. Different boundary conditions were meticulously defined, including inlets, outlets, and mesh interfaces, to accurately simulate the flow and behavior of fluids within the system.
Our use of Ansys Fluent in optimizing computational fluid dynamics has significantly advanced our ability to design and refine our intricate systems. By leveraging its powerful simulation tools, including advanced meshing techniques, multiphase analysis, and dynamic meshing, we achieved a deep understanding of fluid interactions within our systems. This comprehensive approach allowed us to accurately predict and enhance the performance of our designs, ensuring both efficiency and reliability. As a result, we have successfully optimized our systems to meet real-world challenges and improve overall operational effectiveness.