Computational investigations and grid refinement study of 3D transient flow in a cylindrical tank using OpenFOAM

[摘要] The study of physic fluid for a liquid draining inside a tank is easily accessible using numerical simulation. However, numerical simulation is expensive when the liquid draining involves the multi-phase problem. Since an accurate numerical simulation can be obtained if a proper method for error estimation is accomplished, this paper provides systematic assessment of error estimation due to grid convergence error using OpenFOAM. OpenFOAM is an open source CFD-toolbox and it is well-known among the researchers and institutions because of its free applications and ready to use. In this study, three types of grid resolution are used: coarse, medium and fine grids. Grid Convergence Index (GCI) is applied to estimate the error due to the grid sensitivity. A monotonic convergence condition is obtained in this study that shows the grid convergence error has been progressively reduced. The fine grid has the GCI value below 1%. The extrapolated value from Richardson Extrapolation is in the range of the GCI obtained.

[发布机构] Wind Engineering, Malaysia-Japan International Institute of Technology, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia^1

[学科分类] 航空航天科学

[关键词] Computational investigation;Cylindrical tanks;Grid convergence;Grid convergence indices (GCI);Grid sensitivity;Monotonic convergence;Richardson extrapolation;Systematic assessment