Hydraulic Transport (ABP)

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This Application Best Practice (ABP) provides a step-by-step guide for simulating hydraulic transport using a coupled approach between Ansys Fluent® fluid simulation software and Ansys Rocky™ particle dynamics simulation software. It focuses on modeling the movement of solid particles suspended in a fluid through pipelines, addressing complex phenomena such as particle-laden flows. The methodology involves preparing geometry and mesh, configuring simulation parameters, and executing a 2-way CFD-DEM coupling to capture detailed particle dynamics and flow behavior. The workflow enables accurate prediction of pressure drops and flow regimes, supporting design optimization and enhancing the reliability of hydraulic transport systems.

Learning Outcomes:

Following completion of this Application Best Practice (ABP), you will be able to:

Master hydraulic transport fundamentals, including particle-fluid behavior and simulation challenges.
Use CFD-DEM coupling with Ansys Fluent software and Ansys Rocky software to model pipeline transport.
Configure simulations: geometry, meshing, solver settings, and material properties.
Analyze results pressure drop, particle distribution and run parametric studies on flow and material variations.
Calibrate systems by refining parameters to boost efficiency, minimize testing, and improve design reliability.

Prerequisites:

Introduction to Discrete Element Method (DEM)
Knowledge of the following is highly recommended:
- Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
- 2-way CFD-DEM coupling between Ansys Fluent software and Ansys Rocky software
Basic DEM: Chapter 1: Tutorial - Transfer Chute
Basic single-phase CFD: Chapter 1: Fluid Flow in an Exhaust Manifold
2-way CFD-DEM coupling overview: Ansys Rocky: DEM-CFD Coupling
2-way CFD-DEM coupling tutorial: Chapter 14: Tutorial - Fluidized Bed

Please note: These training materials were developed and tested in the 2025R2 release.

Application Best Practices (ABPs) outline engineering design goals for specific applications and provide guidance for how to achieve those goals using Ansys simulation software. It is important to note that a Geometry File or other Input Files are not always available. ABPs, as opposed to the official training-material workshops/tutorials, are not meant to be a step-by-step instruction document. ABPs are a link between product-based training courses and application specific tutorials, educating on the "how" and "why" of the best modeling approach, highlighting best practices and workflows for a particular application.