CFD-based investigation of turbulent flow behavior in 90-deg pipe bends

Rilwan Kayode Apalowo; Cletus John Akisin

doi:10.4995/jarte.2024.20665

Authors

Rilwan Kayode Apalowo Universiti Sains Malaysia https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4816-4931
Cletus John Akisin University of Nottingham https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5884-3375

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.4995/jarte.2024.20665

Keywords:

CFD analysis, Pipe bend, Flow velocity, Turbulent viscosity, Static pressure

Abstract

This work investigated the influence of bend curvature on the parameters of turbulent flow through a 90° pipe bend using the numerical CFD method, implemented in ANSYS Fluent. The numerical predictions were validated to be in good agreement with existing experimental measurements. The turbulence of the secondary motion was found to be generally stronger at the outer end of the pipe bend, with the most adverse effect recorded at about 45° along the bend. It was also observed that the RMS velocity is larger near the wall, especially at the outer wall region, and it is highest at 45° due to an increase in the circulation of dean vortices, indicating a turbulence generation. In addition, the RMS velocity increases downstream due to an additional mean strain resulting from the creation of secondary flow as the flow travels through the bend. Furthermore, larger static pressure and turbulent viscosity were observed at the outer wall due to the flow deceleration and swirling. Therefore, it can be established that the bend curvature affects the stability of the flow field inside a pipe bend.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Rilwan Kayode Apalowo, Universiti Sains Malaysia

School of Mechanical Engineering, Universiti Sains Malaysia

Department of Mechanical Engineering, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Nigeria

Cletus John Akisin, University of Nottingham

Department of Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering

References

Apalowo, R.K. (2022). Numerical study of different models for turbulent flow in 90° pipe bend, University of Porto Journal of Engineering, 8(2), 121-134. https://doi.org/10.24840/2183-6493_008.002_0010

Al-Rafai, W.N., Tridimas, Y.D., Woolley, N.H. (1990). A Study of Turbulent Flows in Pipe Bends, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part C, 204(6), 399-408. https://doi.org/10.1243/PIME_PROC_1990_204_120_02

Anwer, M., So, R.M.C., Lai, Y.G. (1989). Perturbation by and Recovery from Bend Curvature of a Fully Developed Turbulent Pipe Flow, Physics of Fluids, 1(8), 1387, 1989. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.857315

Anwer, M., So, R.M.C. (1990). Frequency of Sublayer Bursting in a Curved Bend. Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 210, 415- 435. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112090001343

Ayala, M., Cimbala, J.M. (2021). Numerical approach for prediction of turbulent flow resistance coefficient of 90 pipe bends, Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering, 235(2), 351-360. https://doi.org/10.1177/0954408920964008

Azzola, J., Humprey, J.A.C., Iacovides, H., Launder, B.E. (1986). Developing Turbulent Flow in a U-Bend of Circular Cross-Section: Measurement and Computation, ASME Journal of Fluids Engineering, 108(2), 214-221. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.3242565

Boersma, B.J., Nieuwstadt, F.T.M. (1996). Large-Eddy simulation of turbulent flow in a curved pipe, Journal of Fluids Engineering, 118(2), 248-254. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2817370

Chowdhury, R.R., Biswas, S., Alam, M.M., Islam, A.S. (2016). Turbulent flow analysis on bend and downstream of the bend for different curvature ratio, In AIP Conference Proceedings, 1754(1), 040020. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4958380

Crawford, N.M., Cunningham, G., Spence, S.W.T. (2007). An experimental investigation into the pressure drop for turbulent flow in 90 elbow bends. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering, 221(2), 77-88. https://doi.org/10.1243/0954408JPME84

Di Piazza, I., Ciofalo, M. (2010). Numerical Prediction of Turbulent Flow and Heat Transfer in Helically Coiled Pipes, International. Journal of Thermal Science, 49(4), 653-663. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijthermalsci.2009.10.001

Durbin, P A., Pettersson-Reif, B.A. (2011). Statistical Theory and Modelling for Turbulent Flows, 2nd ed. Wiley, Chichester, UK. https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470972076

Dutta, P., Saha, S.K., Nandi, N., Pal, N. (2016). Numerical study on flow separation in 90 degree pipe bend under high Reynolds number by modelling, Engineering Science and Technology, 19, 904-910. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jestch.2015.12.005

Dutta, P., Chattopadhyay, H., Nandi, N. (2022). Numerical studies on turbulent flow field in a 90 deg pipe bend, Journal of Fluids Engineering, 144(6), 061104. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4053547

Enayet, M.M., Gibson, M.M., Taylor, A., Yianneskis, M. (1982). Laser-Doppler Measurements of Laminar and Turbulent Flow in a Pipe Bend, International Journal of Heat Fluid Flow, 3(4), 213-219. https://doi.org/10.1016/0142-727X(82)90024-8

Hellstrom, F., Fuchs, L. (2007). Numerical Computations of Steady and Unsteady Flow in Bended Pipes, AIAA Paper, No. 2007-4350. https://doi.org/10.2514/6.2007-4350

Hilgenstock, A., Ernst, R. (1996). Analysis of Installation Effects by Means of Computational Fluid Dynamics-CFD versus Experiments, Flow Measurement and Instrumentation, 7(3-4), 161-171. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0955-5986(97)88066-1

Homicz, G.F. (2004). Computational Fluid Dynamic Simulations of Pipe Elbow Flow. United States, Department of Energy. https://doi.org/10.2172/919140

Jurga, A.P., Janocha, M.J., Yin, G., Ong, M.C. (2022). Numerical simulations of turbulent flow through a 90-deg pipe bend, Journal of Offshore Mechanics and Arctic Engineering, 144(6), 061801. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4054960

Kim, J., Yadav, M., Kim, S. (2014). Characteristics of secondary flow induced by 90-degree elbow in turbulent pipe flow, Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, 8(2), 229-239. https://doi.org/10.1080/19942060.2014.11015509

Lee, G.H., Choi, Y.D., Han, S.H. (2007). Measurement of Developing Turbulent Flow in a U-Bend of Circular Cross-Section, Journal of Mechanical Science and Technology, 21(2), 348-359. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02916295

Noorani, A. (2015). Particle-Laden Turbulent Wall-Bounded Flows in Moderately Complex Geometries, Ph.D. thesis, KTH Mechanics, Stockholm, Sweden.

Rahimzadeh, H., Maghsoodi, R., Sarkardeh, H., Tavakkol, S. (2012). Simulating flow over circular spillways by using different turbulence models, Engineering Applications of Computational Fluid Mechanics, 6(1), 100-109. https://doi.org/10.1080/19942060.2012.11015406

Rohrig, R., Jakirlic, S., Tropea, C. (2015). Comparative Computational Study of Turbulent Flow in a 90 Degree Pipe Elbow, International Journal of Heat Fluid Flow, 55(ETMM10), 102-111. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijheatfluidflow.2015.07.011

Rowe, M. (1970). Measurements and Computations of Flow in Pipe Bends, Journal of Fluid Mechanics, 43(4), 771-783. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0022112070002732

Schiestel, R. (2010). Modelling and simulation of turbulent flows, John Wiley & Sons.

Spedding, P.L., Benard, E., McNally, G.M. (2004). Fluid flow through 90 degree bends, Developments in Chemical Engineering and Mineral Processing, 12(1-2), 107-128. https://doi.org/10.1002/apj.5500120109

Sudo, K., Sumida, M., Hibara, H. (1998). Experimental Investigation on Turbulent Flow in a Circular-Sectioned 90-Degree Bend, Experiment in Fluids, 25(1), 42-49. https://doi.org/10.1007/s003480050206

Sudo, K., Sumida, M., Hibara, H. (2000). Experimental Investigation on Turbulent Flow through a Circular-Sectioned 180-Degree Bend, Experiment in Fluids, 28(1), 51-57. https://doi.org/10.1007/s003480050007

Wallin, S., Johansson, A.V. (2002). Modelling Streamline Curvature Effects in Explicit Algebraic Reynolds Stress Turbulence Models, International Journal of Heat Fluid Flow, 23(5), 721-730. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0142-727X(02)00168-6

Wilcox, D. C. (1994). Turbulence Modelling for CFD, DCW Industries, La Canada Flintridge, CA.