Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.

com

Fluent Software Training Combustion Apr 2005

Combustion Modeling Strategies in FLUENT

1/7

Fluent Inc. 6/23/2005

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Fluent Software Training Combustion Apr 2005

Combustion Guidelines
Start in 2D
Determine applicability of model physics Mesh resolution requirements (resolve shear layers) Solution parameters and convergence settings

Boundary conditions
Combustion is often very sensitive to inlet boundary conditions
Correct velocity and scalar profiles can be critical

Wall heat transfer is challenging to predict; if known, specify wall temperature instead of external convection/radiation BC

Initial conditions
While steady-state solution is independent of the IC, poor IC may cause divergence due to the number and nonlinearity of the transport equations Cold flow solution, then gas combustion, then particles, then radiation For strongly swirling flows, increase the swirl gradually
2/7 Fluent Inc. 6/23/2005

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Fluent Software Training Combustion Apr 2005

Combustion Guidelines
Underrelaxation factors
The effect of underrelaxation is highly non-linear
Decrease the diverging residual URF in increments of 0.1 Underrelax density when using the mixture-fraction PDF model (0.5) Underrelax velocity for high buoyancy flows Underrelax pressure for high speed flows

Once solution is stable, attempt to increase all URFs to as close to defaults as possible (and at least 0.9 for T, P-1, swirl and species)

Discretization
Start with first order, then converge with second order to improve accuracy Second order discretization especially important for tri/tet meshes

Discrete Phase Model - to increase stability

Increase number of stochastic tracks (or use particle cloud model) Decrease DPM URF and increase number of gas phase iterations per DPM
3/7 Fluent Inc. 6/23/2005

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Fluent Software Training Combustion Apr 2005

Combustion Guidelines
Spray Model
If particles are generated from atomizer use one of appropriate atomizer model. This will greatly speed up the problem setup process.

Magnussen model
Defaults to finite-rate/eddy-dissipation (Arrhenius/Magnussen)
For nonpremixed (diffusion) flames turn off finite-rate Premixed flames require Arrhenius term so that reactants dont burn prematurely May require a high temperature initialization/patch

Use temperature dependent cps to reduce unrealistically high temperatures

Mixture fraction PDF model

Model of choice if underlying assumptions are valid Use adequate numbers of discrete points in look-up tables to ensure accurate interpolation (no effect on run-time expense) Use beta PDF shape

4/7

Fluent Inc. 6/23/2005

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Fluent Software Training Combustion Apr 2005

Combustion Guidelines
Detailed Chemistry Models (Laminar, EDC, PDF-transport)
should be used when you are interested in simulating finite-rate chemical kinetic effects in turbulent reacting flows With an appropriate chemical mechanism, kinetically-controlled species such as CO and NOx, as well as flame extinction and ignition, can be predicted. start your modeling with small grids, and preferably in 2D. Use ISAT to speed up the calculation

Radiation
Enable WSGGM (domain based) for hydrocarbon combustion If optical thickness aL > 1, consider P-1 for most cost-effective radiation modeling
Plot contours of absorption coefficient a to determine aL

5/7

Fluent Inc. 6/23/2005

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Fluent Software Training Combustion Apr 2005

Combustion Guidelines
Turbulence
Start with standard k- Switch to RNG k- , Realizable k- or RSM to obtain better agreement with data and/or to analyze sensitivity to the turbulence model

Judging Convergence
Residuals should be less than 10-3 except for T and P-1 and species, which should be less than 10-6 The mass and energy flux reports must balance Monitor variables of interest (e.g. mean temperature at the outlet) Ensure contour plots of field variables are smooth, realistic and steady

6/7

Fluent Inc. 6/23/2005

Fluent User Services Center www.fluentusers.com

Fluent Software Training Combustion Apr 2005

Summary
Combustion modeling is considered a priority at Fluent, Inc. We have tremendous in-house expertise in combustion modeling.
Industrial experience World-class developers and consultants

The range of physical models for combustion applications continues to grow. We are dedicated to providing better service to our customers; we appreciate and encourage your feedback!

7/7

Fluent Inc. 6/23/2005