Learning Forum

[hasan.mustafa.moayad]

hello, everybody,
I'm working on Ansys Fluent CFD to simulate a solar (water- air) collector.
In the simulation, I divided the collector into two equal parts to simulate one-half of the collector because the second half will behave like the first one. So, I define "Symmetry wall" as a named selection in the mesh.
My question is, will I do the right simulation and the results be the same for the second half? Or do I have to simulate the whole collector?

I really appreciate any help you can provide.

[Rob]

What is the incident angle of the solar load?

[hasan.mustafa.moayad]

Dear Rob, I didn't activate the radiation mode rather, I have a heat flux on one surface.

I'm asking if I do the correct thing in creating the symmetric B.C. or I need to simulate the whole collector?

Thank you.

[Rob]

Do you add heat to just the "bottom"? Symmetry is only suitable if the geometry and flow are both symmetrical: are they?

[hasan.mustafa.moayad]

Dear Rob, the heat flux is applied to the upper face of the "absorber".

Both geometry and flow are symmetrical.

[Rob]

So you should be OK. But.... Remember the buoyant effects may be fairly unstable so end effects may be interesting. 

[hasan.mustafa.moayad]

Dear Rob, I want to ask you, how does Ansys fluent deal with the surroundings (I mean the space outside my geometry)? because I have convection B.C. on the top of the air volume (green colored), I put both the convection coefficient and free stream temperature. So, will the convection be between the green-colored surface and the surroundings? or between the green surface and the air volume?