Unsteady Simulations of the Flow in a Swirl Generator, using OpenFOAM
Journal article, 2011

This work presents numerical results, using OpenFOAM, of the flow in the swirl flow generator test rig developed at Politehnica University of Timisoara, Romania. The work shows results computed by solving the unsteady Reynolds Averaged Navier Stokes equations. The unsteady method couples the rotating and stationary parts using a sliding grid interface based on a GGI formulation. Turbulence is modeled using the standard k-ε model, and block structured wall function ICEM-Hexa meshes are used. The numerical results are validated against experimental LDV results, and against design velocity profiles. The investigation shows that OpenFOAM gives results that are comparable to the experimental and design profiles. The unsteady pressure fluctuations at four different positions in the draft tube is recorded. A Fourier analysis of the numerical results is compared whit that of the experimental values. The amplitude and frequency predicted by the numerical simulation are comparable to those given by the experimental results, though slightly over estimated.

OpenFOAM

CFD

Swirl generator

Rotor-Stator Interaction

Runner

Validation

Draft tube

Author

Olivier Petit

Chalmers, Applied Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics

Håkan Nilsson

Chalmers, Applied Mechanics, Fluid Dynamics

Sebastian Muntean

Romeo Susan-Resiga

International Journal of Fluid Machinery and Systems

1882-9554 (ISSN)

Vol. 4 1 pp.199-208

Areas of Advance

Energy

Subject Categories

Fluid Mechanics and Acoustics

DOI

10.5293/IJFMS.2011.4.1.199

More information

Created

10/7/2017