Computational investigations and grid refinement study of 3D transient flow in a cylindrical tank using OpenFOAM

• Published in: IOP conference series. Materials Science and Engineering 2016-10, Vol.152 (1), p.12058
• Main Authors: Sakri, F Mohd, Ali, M S Mat, Salim, S A Z Sheikh
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Convergence; Cylindrical tanks; Drainage; Error analysis; Grid refinement (mathematics); Simulation; Three dimensional flow; Unsteady flow
• ISSN: 1757-8981; 1757-899X
• DOI: 10.1088/1757-899X/152/1/012058

The study of physic fluid for a liquid draining inside a tank is easily accessible using numerical simulation. However, numerical simulation is expensive when the liquid draining involves the multi-phase problem. Since an accurate numerical simulation can be obtained if a proper method for error estimation is accomplished, this paper provides systematic assessment of error estimation due to grid convergence error using OpenFOAM. OpenFOAM is an open source CFD-toolbox and it is well-known among the researchers and institutions because of its free applications and ready to use. In this study, three types of grid resolution are used: coarse, medium and fine grids. Grid Convergence Index (GCI) is applied to estimate the error due to the grid sensitivity. A monotonic convergence condition is obtained in this study that shows the grid convergence error has been progressively reduced. The fine grid has the GCI value below 1%. The extrapolated value from Richardson Extrapolation is in the range of the GCI obtained.