Comparative Numerical Simulation of Laminar Flow Using FVM and Commercial Software

Abstract

In this paper, the flow behaviour in a pipe with sudden contraction is studied numerically using the finite volume method. A general code with automatic mesh generation is created and validated compared to numerical and experimental results. The effects of the geometry dimensions and Reynolds number on the flow are evaluated for laminar flow modes. Numerical predictions of the flow employing a finite volume computer code were also undertaken. This code was carefully checked and optimized to yield reliable predictions for pipe flows with a sudden contraction in cross-sectional area. Computational results are presented and compared with the available experimental results. The stability of the solution is controlled by the use of the equal order element for the velocity and the pressure. The results are found to be very sensitive to the stabilization parameters. The current results are closer to the experimental results than other numerical results in the references. This investigation is carried out to gain insight into the flow structure near the sudden contraction and understand the increased pressure losses generated in this region.