External Natural Convetion
 

I am trying to simulate external natural convection (Infinite domain). I do not know what are the suitable boundary conditions. I have tried the pressure inlet and outlet boundary conditions, but the velocity boudary layer seems to be larger than expected. Please, can anybody help me in this?

Re: External Natural Convetion
 

Pressure inlet and outlet is the way to go. The unexpected boundary layer thickness probably has more to do with your turbulence modeling or something like that.

Re: External Natural Convetion
 

Hi

Yes pressure conditions are very well. But at the inlet, you probably be knowing the pressure, and at the other ends you have to take atmospheric pressure condition and that's too far away from you domain, p reaches atmospheric far away from wall. So, you have to create your domain bigger than original domain, in the direction where you are giving this boundary condition, eg., you can specify it far downstream.

Vinod Dhiman

Re: External Natural Convetion
 

Thanks alot for your response. If I am simulating an infinite domain, can I put the inlet and outlet pressure conditions to be zero? If not what is a logical value for inlet pressure that doesnot affect the solution?

Thanks very much for your help

Re: External Natural Convetion
 

Inlet and outlet pressure conditions can both be zero. FLUENT will account for elevation automatically.