Learning Forum

[Rhandy Delefortrie]

Hi all, 

I'm calculating different phenomena in a system where a stream of cooling gas is directed at a rotating vial (see figure of the geometry) and I need to calculate the amount of cooling gas that ends up inside the vial. Does anyone have a idea what the best approach is to solve this? Simulations should have allready been run with appropriate settings in order to solve this. 

Thanks in advance! 

[Rob]

If you make it a separate cell zone you can use the various volume reports or surface reports on the interior that's between the vial & larger zone.  If it's not yet a separate zone have a look at registers and the Separate Mesh functions in Fluent. 

[Rhandy Delefortrie]

Thanks for the advise. However, I tried but i couldn't find what I'm looking for. Is it possible to elaborate further? I need the cooling gas mass flow going inside the vial, not just the total. 

Thanks in advance! 

[Rob]

So, you need to look at flow in (and out) of the vial at each time step? So some function of vertical velocity, facet area and species concentration? 

[Rhandy Delefortrie]

Yes this is what I need! How can I calculate this? 

[Rob]

Surface reports, and potentially surface creation tools. Look under the Results tab in Fluent.

[Rhandy Delefortrie]

Thank you! I managed to create the necessary surface by imprinting the top surface of the vial and decided to create a custom field function to calculate the mass flow rate by using the density, vertical velocity and surface area. However, as I'm only interested in the amount that goes inside I can't find how to define only the velocity that goes down inside the vial. 

[Rob]

Look at an iso-clip for +/- velocity component.