Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble column
 

Dear friends, I am trying to simulate 2-D axisymmetric bubble column, operating liquid in Batch mode.I am using k-e (dispersed)model to treat the turbulence.I don't have any idea about the turbulent boundary conditions(liquid phase) .Can anyone help me on this issue? Looking forward to ur reply..... Thanks anji

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

There is no basis for my answer. However, please try using low values. Not 1 (the default) for k and e. Use say for instance, 0.1 for k and 0.25 for e. I repeat, there is no basis for my answer. Only thing I remember is that I saw this in some of the bubble column tutorials.

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

I really appreciate your suggestion ..I will try simulations with low values of k and e. Actually I am using U(liquid)=0 boundary condition at inlet(batch liquid) and if i use this velocity to calculate k that will become zero..can i use gas velocity to calculate k at inlet? Do u have any idea about tubulent outflow conditions( by nature of problem i will get reverse flow of liquid ) Thanks, anji

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

The inlet velocity of water is zero. You are correct. When you go the Solve -> Initialize -> Initialize panel and try to initialize values from inlet, usually Fluent estimates a value of 1 for k and 1 for e to avoid startup trouble. Unfortunately however, even these values do not often work out. Also it will be incorrect to use the gas velocity to estimate inlet values of k and e as the gas moves significantly faster than the liquid when the column is in operation and remember that the k and e that you specify are for the liquid. So try out 0.1 and 0.25 and see what you get. A more practical approach would be to look into experimental data (for example, the liquid velocity profiles) and try to get an estimate for the average liquid velocity and use those to roughly estimate k and e. Well, for the outlet, if you are using a pressure outlet, choose intensity and hydraulic diameter as the turbulence specification method and use a backflow volume fraction of 1 and the hydraulic diameter of corresponding outlet (which for a bubble column is simply the whole diameter of the column (Imp. Note: Just because you are using an axi-symmetry boundary condition, you should not assume that the hydraulic diameter is half the column diameter; always input the actual diameter of the column for the hydraulic diameter as this is just a cylinder).

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

Dear friend, I got the trend of results with <8% differ from literature data.The values mentioned for k and e are working properly for my case.. Thank you very much for ur help..can i get the information regarding tutorials(bubble column) u'he mentioned in the first mail.. thanks

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

It is nice to know that you are able to predict reasonably good agreement with experimental data. I wish to know however, what parameters have you compared? For instance is it the:
a. Gas velocity profiles
b. Liquid velocity profiles
c. Gas holdup profiles
d. Average gas velocity
e. Average liquid velocity
f. Average gas holdup
Here are some of the tutorials. Note that some of them were prepared for Fluent 4; nevertheless you should be able to understand most of the input easily.
1. (Partially Aerated Bubble Column) http://www.fluentusers.com/fluent45/...tml/node97.htm
2. (Fully Aerated Bubble Column) http://www.fluentusers.com/fluent45/doc/doc_f.htm
3. (Hydrodynamics of Bubble Column Reactors) http://learningcfd.com/login/fluent/...ble-column.pdf

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

Sorry, the second link is:

http://www.fluentusers.com/fluent45/...ml/node108.htm

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

I have compared the time averaged profiles of axial liquid velocity and gas holdup...Thanks for sending the links..Actually i am accessing fluent through the institue license so i don't have user name and password to view those tutorials..anyway i will try to get those from our representative...thank u very much anji

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

In addition to axial liquid velocity and gas holdup I also have to compare the timeaveraged kinetic energy/unit volume(dyne/cm2)..do u have any suggestions to do this? I have written a UDF using ( c_k(c,t)/c_VOLUME(c,t) )..but i have doubt about the units and the volume to be used in the denominator .I am thankful to your continuous help... anji

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

How can i calculate the turbulent intesity at the outlet?.. Thanks

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

Use a custom field function:

Define turbulence_intensity as sqrt(2*k/3)/velocity_magnitude_water

where 'k' is the turbulent kinetic energy of water.

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

Hi, From my knoweldge custom field functions can be used only for intialization(patch) or for plotting the results.I don't know the procedure of using custom feild function as boundary condition.Can u please help with this problem.. Thanks

Re: Turbulent boundary conditions for bubble colum
 

Hi, Turbulent Intensity is availble in the standard feild functions defined by fluent..so we no need to define it again i think... anji