Improving photoreactor design with ANSYS fluent flow simulation

Abstract

Ansys Fluent can be used in chemical engineering to draw velocity profiles, temperature profiles inside pipes and columns and determine pressure losses, making 2D and 3D simulations of mass separation processes using user defined functions. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software can be applied for the analysis of photoreactors, which initiate and sustain chemical reactions through the application of light energy. Photoreactors can be used in a variety of industries and their performance can significantly impact the efficiency of the chemical processes they support. In this study, Ansys Fluent flow simulation was applied in order to improve the design of proposed photoreactor. Firstly, base photoreactor models were simulated via Ansys Fluent CFD software. Accordingly, these base models were further developed in order to obtain high fluid velocity and homogenous flow by adding baffles and nozzles. The effects of baffle height and spacing on the total velocity and flow homogeneity were also investigated. All models were analysed with the total fluid velocity on selected points and standard deviation between the velocity data. Optimal photoreactor design with the highest fluid velocity and homogenous flow distribution was developed.

Keywords

• Ansys fluent
• Flow simulation
• Photoreactor design

Fotoreaktör tasarımının ANSYS fluent akiş simülasyonuyla iyileştirilmesi

Öz

Ansys Fluent, kimya mühendisliğinde boru ve kolonların içindeki hız profillerini, sıcaklık profillerini çizmek ve basınç kayıplarını belirlemek, kullanıcı tanımlı fonksiyonları kullanarak kütle ayırma işlemlerinin 2 ve 3 boyutlu simülasyonlarını yapmak için kullanılabilir. Işık enerjisinin uygulanması yoluyla kimyasal reaksiyonları başlatan ve sürdüren fotoreaktörlerin analizinde de hesaplamalı akışkanlar dinamiği (CFD) yazılımı kullanılabilir. Çeşitli endüstrilerde kullanılan fotoreaktörlerin performansı, destekledikleri kimyasal süreçlerin verimliliğini önemli ölçüde etkileyebilir. Bu çalışmada, önerilen fotoreaktörün tasarımını iyileştirmek için Ansys Fluent akış simülasyonu uygulanmıştır. İlk olarak, üç temek fotoreaktör modeli Ansys Fluent CFD yazılımı ile simüle edilmiştir. Buna göre, yüksek akışkan hızı ve homojen akış elde etmek için, kanatçık ve nozullar eklenerek bu temel modeller geliştirilmiştir. Kanatçık yüksekliği ve aralığının toplam hız ve akış homojenliği üzerindeki etkileri de incelenmiştir. Tüm modeller, seçilen noktalardaki toplam akışkan hızı ve hız verileri arasındaki standart sapma ile analiz edilmiştir. Sonuç olarak, maksimum akışkan hızına ve homojen akış dağılımına sahip optimum fotoreaktör tasarımı geliştirilmiştir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• Ansys fluent
• Akış simülasyonu
• Fotoreaktör tasarımı

Kaynakça

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