University of British Columbia
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
While the fundamental concepts of finite volume computational fluid dynamics are well known, the application of CFD to model industrial processes involves continuing challenges. Most practical processes involve geometric complexity in three dimensions. The authors have developed a finite volume method in conjunction with non-orthogonal grids which can be used in many complex geometries. This code, which includes domain segmentation and mutigrid acceleration, will be described briefly.
For some geometries, such as a hydrocylone for example, a cylindrical curvilinear grid is preferred to a general nonorthogonal grid. In this case, a semi-transformation allows a non-orthogonal grid to represent an arbitrary geometry in the axial-radial plane while maintaining the simplicity and efficiency of a cylindrical coordinate system with a coarse grid in the circumferential direction. Examples of the use of this method will be shown.
In the case of a headbox manifold which directs flow from one large pipe into many smaller ducts, several hundred segments may be required to create an acceptable model of the flow. The complications of such a geometry will be illustrated and some flow results will be presented and discussed. Other illustrations of complex industrial CFD models involving combustion, and species/particle tracking will be presented.