Non-spherical, inert particle tracking in FLUENT
 

Hi!

I'm currently working on injection of inert particles into a combustion chamber. If the particle involved is non-spherical, how can I define the shape? I can only see 'diameter' when I set the injection in FLUENT. Please help!! Thanks!

Re: Non-spherical, inert particle tracking in FLUE
 

Hi, FLuent has an option for nospherical particles under the drag law, but you will have to specify the 'shape factor.

Re: Non-spherical, inert particle tracking in FLUE
 

Hi,

something that I'm curious about --> let's say I'm considering a long cylidrical shape (length is relatively long compare with its diameter), when I specify the 'shape factor' under the drag law, will the rotational motion of that cylinder being considered properly?

Thanks!!

Re: Non-spherical, inert particle tracking in FLUE
 

Hi!

The shape factor is the ratio of the surface area of a sphere having the same volume as your particle to the actual surface area of your particle. It is used by Fluent when determining CD for use with the drag force. As it does not include any information on exactly how your particle differs in shape from a sphere, it will not be possible for Fluent to correctly considered any rotational motion of your particle. If this is important for your simulations, maybe it will be easier to use a custom drag law that you may implement via a UDF.

Hope this helps!

/Henrik