Fluid Flow through Pipe

with 3 Branches
Peter LaVallee
ME 522
March 27th, 2019
Problem Definition - #11
Incompressible fluid flows through a pipe with 3 equal Properties of Air:
diameter branches. 𝝆 = 1.225 kg/m³
Find: Given: 𝝁 = 1.78*10⁻⁵ kg/(m-s)
1. the velocity vectors D = 300mm U₀ = 50m/s
2. velocity contours d = 50mm w = 100mm Assumptions:
along the vertical axis ● Pressure at branch
inlets are equal to
atmosphere (0 gauge)
● Pressure at large pipe
outlet is equal to
atmosphere (0 gauge)
Initial Calculations & Geometry Decisions
Initial Calculations
Geometry Decisions
Reynolds Number:
Half body with symmetry plane
Re = 𝝆U₀D/𝝁 = 1.032*10⁶
Suggests turbulent flow

Boundary Layer: (Prandtl)

𝛅 = 0.16/(Reₓ)⁰⋅¹⁴²⁹ = 22.13mm

Static Pressure: Different entrance & exit lengths

p = -½ 𝝆U₀= -1531Pa

Entry Length:
l = 4.4D(Re)¹/⁶ = 13m
l = 10D = ~9D = 2.7m L = ~2D = 0.6m L = ~9D = 2.7m
Mesh Strategy
Initial Strategy Updated Strategy
Start - tetrahedral Mesh, linear Evolution 3 - improve boundary layer
elements representation
● quick results, provide insight to next ● interaction at orifices
refinements ● utilize inflation to represent boundary layer
Evolution 1 - bias edges ○ tetrahedral elements
● boundary layer better represented
● less-distorted element form
Evolution 2 - quadratic, hex-dominated
mesh
● Use fewer elements
● Hex elements less artificially rigid
Setup
Models
K-Omega Turbulence Model
● Reynolds number exceeds Re = 4000
Boundary Conditions
● Velocity inlet - 50 m/s, 0 initial gauge pressure
● Pressure inlet - 0 gauge pressure
● Pressure outlet - 0 gauge pressure
● Symmetry Plane
● Pipe walls - no slip
Calculation
Hybrid initialization run up to 500 iterations
Initial Results Velocity Magnitude

Tetrahedral Linear Element Mesh Hexagonal Quad Element Mesh

● Pressure drop causes pressure fluctuation above pipe ● Mesh adjustments allow greater control over boundary
● Boundary layer limited by element thickness layer
Lessons Learned from Initial Models
Improvements Sought
Mesh Control
● greater mesh resolution at pipe boundary
● refined mesh near branches
Convergence
● Allow greater number of iterations to be run to allow for more-accurate
results
Mesh
Tetrahedral Quad Element Mesh
Meshing Strategy
Better boundary layer representation
● Inflation method
○ Sized boundary layer thickness with 5
elements to be approximately 25mm (FD,
Prandtl 𝛅 = 22.13mm)
● Divided pipe up into 4 separate bodies
○ Main pipe (D = 0.3m) and branch pipes (d =
0.05m)
○ Mapped surfaces (similar to impression),
limited to tetrahedral elements
Results
Tetrahedral Quad Element Mesh
Observations
● Airflow fairly similar between branch pipes
● New mesh seems to have a significantly smoother
representation in the boundary layer

Velocity Magnitude
Results
Tetrahedral Quad Element Mesh
Observations
● Air sucked up toward larger pipe, then
forced down at high velocity
● Flow rotation just blow boundary layer
of main pipe
Velocity Vectors Z-Velocity
Results
10 300
Hexagonal Quad Element Mesh
Convergence
● Lower iteration (default 10) -
gave very different impression!

Z-Velocity

10 iterations 300 iterations

Lessons Learned from Initial Models
Further opportunities for improvement
Mesh
● Determine method to re-introduce hexagonal elements
● Further refine mesh, particularly within the branches
Geometry
● Study effects of different lengths of branches
Calculation
● Explore different solvers (Laminar, K-omega, K-epsilon, etc.)
Thank You!
Contact Info:
Peter LaVallee
plavalle@umich.edu
Backup Slides
Results Velocity Magnitude

Tetrahedral Linear Element Mesh Hexagonal Quad Element Mesh

● Pressure drop causes pressure fluctuation above pipe ● Mesh adjustments allow greater control over boundary
● Boundary layer limited by element thickness layer
Results
Hexagonal Quad Element Mesh

Velocity Vectors

● Air sucked up toward

larger pipe, then forced
down at high velocity
Velocity Magnitude ● Fairly even airflow
distribution between
pipes

Z-Velocity
● Mesh adjustments allow greater control
over boundary layer
 Results
Hexagonal Quad Element Mesh - Extended Pipe

Velocity Vectors

● Air sucked up toward

larger pipe, then forced
down at high velocity
Velocity Magnitude ● Very little z-direction
airflow outside of first
pipe branch

Z-Velocity
● First pipe carries majority of energy of the 3 branches
● Loss in boundary layer refinement