Two Branches Channel Manifold

Isometric view of the two branches channel manifold cut in half.

This is an assignment for my ME-441 Computer Simulation and Analysis class. In the Computer Simulation and Analysis class ANSYS Workbench and Discovery AIM were used extensively to simulate. Instructions were provided, and sometimes the models, either from Creo Parametric or SolidWorks, were provided as well. Some assignments however need the objects to be modelled from scratch or modified before hand.

The assignment

In this assignment, a two branches channel manifold undergoes a flow simulation using ANSYS Workbench Fluid Flow (Fluent). Only half of the model is needed in this analysis, so the object was symmetrically cut in half. The fluid used in this analysis is water. The inside diameter of the main pipe is 0.1143 m, while the diameter of both pipe channels are 0.05865 m.

The theoretical calculations goes:

Fluid properties of water

Density, p = 1,000 kg/m^3

Viscosity, u = 8 x 10^-4 kg/m-s

Hydraulic diameter

D_h = (4*A)/P_w = (4*(pi*d^2 / 4)) / pi*d = d = 0.1143 m

Reynolds number

Velocity, v = 1 m/s

R_e = (p * v * D_h) / u = (1,000 kg/m^3 * 1 m/s * 0.1143 m) / 8 x 10^-4 kg/m-s = 142,875

Because the Reynolds number is greater than 2,000, the flow is turbulent.

Results

Velocity vector of the fluid flow.

Velocity contour of the fluid flow.