Analyze fluid flow in a valve

Estimated time to complete: 20–30 minutes

You will learn how to:

  • Define the flow boundary conditions.

  • Solve the model and display the flow results.
1: Open the Simulation File

  1. On your desktop or the appropriate network drive, create a folder named valve.

  2. Click the link below:

    Download the part

  3. Extract the part files to your valve folder.

  4. Start Simcenter 3D or NX.

Open and explore the valve_part_sim1.sim file located in the valve folder.

File

  • Open

  • Files of Type

    Simulation Files (*.sim)

    Look in

    valve

  • File name

    valve_part_sim1.sim

  • OK

     

Simulation Navigator

  • valve_part_fem1.fem →Polygon Geometry

  • Polygon Body (1) (hide)

  • Polygon Body (2) (show)

Note:

You are displaying the polygon body that represents the flow volume. This volume is exactly under the flow volume mesh.

2: Reset dialog box memory

The options you select in dialog boxes are preserved for the next time you open the same dialog box within a given session. Restore the default settings to ensure that the dialog boxes are in the expected initial state for each step of the activity.

File

Preferences→User Interface

  • Options

  •   Reset Dialog Memory

  • OK

     
3: Create the inlet boundary condition

Create a 3 m/s inlet boundary condition at the end of the volume where you defined the seed nodes group.

Flow Boundary Condition (Home tab→Loads and Conditions group→ Simulation Object Type list)

  • Type

    Inlet Flow

  •  

  • Name

    inlet

  • Type Filter (Top Border bar)

    Polygon Face

  • Rotate the part to view the inlet of the valve.

  • Mode

    Velocity

  • Velocity

    3000 mm/s

  • Apply

     
Note:

Leave the Flow Boundary Condition dialog box open for the next step.

4: Create the opening boundary condition

Create an opening boundary condition at the other end of the volume.

  • Type

    Opening

  •  

  • Name

    opening

  • Rotate the part to view the opposite end of the valve.

  • OK

     
5: Solve the model

Simulation Navigator

  • steady state

  • Solve

  • OK

     

    Use the Solution Monitor to view the progress of the solution.

    Graph→Convergence

    • Tip:

      The convergence picture file is always saved in the running directory under the name Flow – Steady State Convergence.png. Your convergence curve may be slightly different.

  • Dismiss

     

  • No

     Review Results dialog box

  • the Information window

  • Cancel

      Analysis Job Monitor dialog box

6: View a contour display of the flow results

Post Processing Navigator

  • Flow

  • Load

  • Flow

  • New Post View→Contour

  • Trimetric (Top Border bar→Orient View Drop-down list)

Note:

A contour plot of nodal velocities is displayed. The flow slows down around the blue areas and rises to approximately 4 m/s around the red areas.

7: Create an arrow plot

  • Arrows (Results tab→Display group→Color Display Style list)

  • Feature (Display group→Edge Style list)

8: Create a cutting plane

A cutting plane helps view the results inside the volume. Define a cutting plane and display the results.

  • Cutting Plane Options (Display group)

  • CSYS Type

    Absolute Cartesian

  • Axis

    ZC

  • Z =

    150

  • Cut Side

    Both

  • Show Edges

  • OK

  • Cutting Plane (Display group)

9: Create a streamlines plot

Now display a streamlines plot of this data to further examine velocities.

Edit Postview (Post View group)

  • Display

  • Color Display

    Streamlines

  • Create

     (Seeds)

  •  Select Nodal Location

  • Pick

    All on Face

  • select the inlet face

  •  

  • Extract

    Downstream

  • OK

     Seed Set dialog box

  • Style

    Tube

  • OK

     

  • Play (Animation group)

  • Stop (Animation group)

10: Save and close

Save and close your files when you are finished.

File

  • Save→Save All

File

  • Close→All Parts