Computational fluid mixing software

One of the most common mixing devices is a single- or multi-impeller agitated vessel with baffles. ANSYS CFD offers a new solution to modelling this type of vessel: a fully automated solution template where engineers input the mixing tank geometric parameters and operating conditions - the complete design analysis is then setup and solved automatically and a summary report is created which gives engineers immediate access to all the key parameters related to their mixing process.

Figure 2 shows an example of the type of graphical outputs produced including the velocity vectors and representative streamlines within the fluid. Additionally, quantitative data such as Power numbers, Flow numbers and turbulence quantities are produced automatically by this template.

Figure 2. ANSYS automated tools allow engineers to accurately determine the flowfield within a mixing vessel. More experienced users can then readily extend this setup to multiphase applications. In the process industry, a typical process requirement is for a secondary phase to be suspended into a primary fluid phase for the purpose of dissolution, reaction, or to provide feed uniformity.

If these vessels are not functioning properly, by inadequately maintaining suspension, the quality of the subsequent material processing can suffer. Associated with the operation of these units is a need to maintain the lowest possible cost. The challenge is in understanding the fluid dynamics in the vessel and relating this knowledge to improve the design. In these cases, CFD modelling provides comprehensive insight to both the multiphase transport and the vessel design parameters.

For example, in wastewater treatment, the coagulation-flocculation stage is used to agglomerate suspended particles to produce flocs that are easier to separate by gravity larger particle size equates to higher settling velocities.

It is vital therefore to know the distribution of the particles in the volume of fluid and their respective velocities. These variables are notoriously difficult to calculate in a physical experiment, but by simulating several different configurations using CFD, engineers can easily determine the optimal configuration for their system to achieve efficient coagulation and flocculation.

Figure 3 below shows the predicted solids distribution in a tall vessel with a single and dual impeller system with a qualitative comparison of the solids cloud between an experiment and a CFD simulation. Figure 3: Suspension study - top images are from experiments and bottom set are from CFD. The impact of adding a second impeller is evident. The results of CFD mixing simulations also provide invaluable insights into the distribution of suspended particles for various impeller configurations.

Using any computer I could upload the model and start the analysis. Ben Lewis President at Custom Machines. SimScale uses cookies to improve your user experience. By using this website you consent to our cookie policy. This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

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Mass and Thermal Transport Commonly seen in applications like water purification, contamination control or analyzing gas or smoke propagation, passive scalar transport allows performing CFD analysis software analysis of matter transport in an incompressible flow.

Try CFD. The dispersed models thus are approximations of the more-detailed interface tracking models. Dispersed flow models have to be adapted to the nature of the fluids and the conditions of the flow to a higher degree than do interface tracking models; these can be done ab initio, i. Another initiative is Application Builder.

It boasts an intuitive and user-specific interface, and allows process engineers access to a ready-to-use simulation app that is tailored for their needs. The company also hopes eventually to offer access to large eddy simulation LES technology which givesextremely detailed descriptionsof turbulence.

This approach works particularly well to better understand and optimize processes where experimental measurements are hard to obtain, i. The same approach also has helped suppliers of mixer-related equipment to more accurately develop and tailor their products to customer demands.

The CFD technology itself continues to evolve. In terms of numerical algorithms, for example, discrete element modeling now can be readily applied for a variety of problems where interactions of spherical particles are important for properly modeling heat transfer, while an LES turbulence model is ideal for accurately simulating turbulent flow patterns.

Despite its cost and demand on computational resources, Karampelas believes that it is important to be able to offer a full suite of turbulence models, not least as LES already is the method of choice for the majority of academics and some industries, for example power engineering.

On the other hand, the advent of even more powerful hardware and updated numerical algorithms will make using CFD software the optimum approach for solving a plethora of design and optimization problems, he believes. The main advantage of using numerical methods is that designers are now only limited by their imagination, opening avenues for optimizing a variety of chemical plant processes from small-scale mixers to large-scale reactors and distillation columns.

You can email him at sottewell putman. Chemical Processing. Menu Newsletters Subscribe. Faster Decision-Making CFD technology itself continues to advance, driven by improved computing resources and robust, accurate and scalable numerical methods.