Series Fans CFD Simulation Using MRF Method in ANSYS FluentIntroductionThis project investigates the steady-state airflow behavior between two 3-bladed series fans rotating at an angular velocity of 300 rpm using ANSYS Fluent, employing the Multiple Reference Frame (MRF) method to capture the rotational effects of the fan blades on the surrounding flow field.Geometry and MeshThe three-dimensional geometry of the dual fan assembly was designed in SpaceClaim, and the domain was meshed using ANSYS Meshing, resulting in a total element count of 1,914,000.MethodologyThe rotation of the fans generates air suction at the inlet boundary, with a volumetric flow rate of 2.95755 m³/s. Along the domain centerline, air velocity reaches values up to 25 m/s, while the maximum velocity in the entire domain, 47.05 m/s, occurs downstream of the first fan. Turbulent flow behavior throughout the domain was resolved using the RNG k-epsilon turbulence model.Results and ConclusionTwo- and three-dimensional contours of pressure, velocity, velocity vectors, and streamlines were generated to characterize the flow field. Based on the calculated Fluent data, the air mass flow rate at the inlet equals 3.62019 kg/s. A comparison of the pressure drop across each fan reveals that the first fan produces a pressure drop roughly twice that of the second fan, at 500 Pa and 230 Pa, respectively. Negative gauge pressure is observed downstream of both fans, with the region downstream of the first fan reaching a value five times lower than that of the second fan, at -500 Pa compared to -100 Pa. Consistent with the higher pressure drop, the velocity magnitude downstream of the first fan is also higher, at 28 m/s, compared to 12 m/s downstream of the second fan, confirming that the first fan experiences a more significant aerodynamic loading within the series configuration.

DescriptionThis project focuses on the acoustic analysis of a six-bladed fan using ANSYS Fluent. The main objective is to study the airflow behavior and noise generation around the fan under specific operating conditions. The simulation aims to predict the broadband noise levels and to examine the distribution of the pressure and velocity fields, in order to understand the fan's combined aerodynamic and acoustic performance. This analysis helps identify the regions chiefly responsible for high noise generation and can be used to improve fan design for greater efficiency and reduced noise.Geometry & MeshThe fan geometry was created in ANSYS Design Modeler and consists of three zones representing the flow domain and the fan structure. The model features six blades attached to a central hub within a cylindrical enclosure. The geometry was imported into ANSYS Meshing, where a non-conformal, unstructured mesh was generated. A fine tetrahedral mesh was used to capture the complex flow features around the blades, resulting in approximately 3 million elements. The mesh quality was carefully checked to ensure accurate flow and acoustic predictions while maintaining computational efficiency.MethodologyThe simulation was performed in ANSYS Fluent using a pressure-based, steady-state solver. Turbulence was modeled with the standard k–ε model together with standard wall functions to account for near-wall behavior. The fan rotation was represented using the Multiple Reference Frame (MRF) approach at a rotational speed of 3000 RPM, and pressure inlet and pressure outlet boundary conditions were applied at the corresponding surfaces. The coupled algorithm handled the pressure-velocity coupling, and hybrid initialization was used to aid convergence. For the acoustic analysis, the Broadband Noise Sources model was employed to estimate the noise generated from the turbulent fluctuations in the flow.ConclusionThe results include contours of pressure, velocity, and acoustic power level across the fan domain. The pressure contours show higher-pressure regions near the leading edges of the blades and lower-pressure zones at the trailing edges, reflecting the lift effect produced by the rotation. The velocity contours reveal the maximum airspeed near the blade tips, demonstrating the strong tangential flow driven by the rotation. The acoustic power level plots indicate that the highest noise is concentrated around the blade tips and the outer casing, where the turbulent interactions and velocity gradients are most intense.Overall, the simulation successfully captures both the aerodynamic and acoustic behavior of the fan under steady operating conditions, showing how a broadband-noise acoustic model combined with the MRF approach can locate the dominant noise sources on a rotating fan and inform quieter, more efficient designs.

Rampressor, ANSYS Fluent CFD Simulation TrainingDescriptionThis project simulates air compression inside a Rampressor using ANSYS Fluent — a distinctive type of supersonic compressor rotor capable of achieving high pressure ratios through ramjet-style supersonic shock wave compression.The operating principle relies on gas flow passing between a fixed outer housing and an angled inner surface, or "ramp." As this inner ramp surface rotates relative to the fixed outer body, it progressively narrows or widens the gas passage. This changing cross-section triggers shock wave formation and alters the local Mach number, ultimately compressing the gas.In this simulation, the Rampressor's inner wall rotates about its central (z) axis at 40,000 rpm, modeled using the frame motion technique: the shroud wall itself is assigned zero rotational velocity, while the surrounding computational region containing the rotating ramp is assigned the full 40,000 rpm rotational speed within the frame motion setup. Given the compressive nature of the device, pressure boundary conditions were applied at the inlet and outlet, set to relative pressures of 104,600 Pa and 350,000 Pa respectively. Since the internal airflow is fully compressible, a density-based solver was used throughout.Geometry & MeshThe 3D geometry was designed in Design Modeler as a three-dimensional ring structure, with the sides defined as inlet and outlet sections. The outer wall was defined as static, while the inner wall — featuring several angled ramp surfaces — was defined as rotating.The domain was meshed in ANSYS Meshing using an unstructured grid totaling 1,785,931 elements.MethodologySeveral assumptions were applied to the simulation: a density-based solver was used, the flow was treated as steady-state, and gravitational effects were excluded.Key simulation settings included:Viscous model: Standard k-epsilon with standard wall functions; energy equation enabledBoundary conditions: Pressure inlet at 104,600 Pa gauge total pressure and 300 K total temperature; pressure outlet at 350,000 Pa gauge pressure; shroud and inner wall defined as rotating walls with 0 rpm assigned directly to the wall motion (rotation handled via the frame motion region) and zero heat fluxSolution methods: Implicit formulation, with first-order upwind schemes applied to flow, turbulent kinetic energy, and turbulent dissipation rateInitialization: Hybrid methodConclusionResults include 2D and 3D contours of pressure, velocity, density, temperature, and Mach number. The results show a clear pressure increase at the Rampressor outlet, along with elevated Mach numbers in the gap between the ramp surfaces and the surrounding equipment body — consistent with the shock-compression mechanism driving this device's operation.

DescriptionThis project investigates the airflow over a Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine (HAWT) using ANSYS Fluent, with the aim of studying the velocity and pressure distribution across the blade surfaces and body. As the dominant technology in modern wind power, the HAWT is a cornerstone of renewable energy engineering, where analyzing blade aerodynamics is essential to maximizing the energy captured from the wind.The 3D model was created in SOLIDWORKS and imported into Design Modeler. The turbine consists of three blades, a rotary axis, and a surrounding flow domain. Meshing was performed in ANSYS Meshing using a structured grid of 4,270,222 elements.MethodologyThe simulation aims to examine the effect of the wind on the turbine blades and to calculate the drag and lift forces acting on the blade surfaces. The blades rotate about the horizontal axis at a rotational speed of 72 rad/s, while the air surrounding them is treated as stationary.Using the Multiple Reference Frame (MRF) method, the blades are held fixed and the air region around them is assigned a rotating frame turning at the same 72 rad/s about the y-axis. Because this is an external-flow problem, the k-omega SST model is used; this hybrid formulation blends the k-omega model in the near-wall regions with the k-epsilon model in the free stream beyond the boundary layer. Air enters the domain at a velocity of 15 m/s and exits through a pressure-outlet boundary at atmospheric pressure.ConclusionOn completion of the solution, contours of velocity, streamlines, and velocity vectors were obtained. The velocity contour clearly reveals the radial distribution of the airflow produced by the rotating blades, while the velocity vectors near the blade surfaces show, in detail, the interaction between the wind and the turbine blade. Together, these results illustrate how the blade extracts energy from the incoming wind — the fundamental aerodynamic behavior that governs the performance of a wind turbine in renewable energy applications.

DescriptionThis study investigates water flow over the blades of a Horizontal Axis Water Turbine (HAWT) using ANSYS Fluent, with the goal of examining the velocity and pressure distribution across the blade surfaces. Turbines of this kind are central to marine and hydrokinetic energy engineering, where they harness the kinetic energy of moving water to generate power.Two regions are defined around the blades: a cylindrical zone immediately surrounding them, and a larger domain enclosing that cylinder. In the outer domain, the water behaves as an ordinary free stream, while in the inner cylindrical region the rotational motion of the blades induces a swirling, rotational flow.Several assumptions underpin the simulation. The analysis is steady-state, since the turbine is of the horizontal-axis type and time therefore has no bearing on the drag and lift forces. A pressure-based solver is used, and gravitational force is neglected.MethodologyThe model was built in 3D, with the blade cross-section based on an S814 airfoil whose coordinates were taken from the Airfoil Tools website and exported as a text file. Because the airfoil section scales up or down along the blade span, Excel was used to define the coordinates at each spanwise station. Each section was then drawn in SOLIDWORKS at the appropriate angle and position and imported into Design Modeler to construct the blades and turbine shaft. Within Design Modeler, the rotational water region around the blades and the larger free-stream domain were both created.Meshing was performed in ANSYS Meshing using an unstructured grid. To improve accuracy, a boundary-layer mesh was applied to the blade surfaces, and the final cell count reached 4,270,222.The rotation of the blades is modeled using the Frame Motion (MRF) method. The turbine blades rotate at 191 rpm while the surrounding water is treated as stationary; under this approach, the blades are held fixed and the water region around them is assigned a rotating frame turning at the same 191 rpm about the Z-axis. Because the simulation is steady-state, the Mesh Motion option is disabled — it applies only when time-dependent effects must be captured, whereas here the objective is simply to impose the rotational speed on the blades.The solution setup is summarized below:Viscous model — SST k-omegaBoundary conditions — velocity inlet at 1 m/s; pressure outlet at 0 Pa gauge; all walls set as stationarySolution methods — SIMPLE pressure-velocity coupling; second-order upwind discretization for pressure, momentum, turbulent kinetic energy, and turbulent dissipation rateInitialization — standard method, with an initial velocity of −1 m/s in the Z-directionConclusionOn completion of the solution, the velocity and pressure distributions over the turbine blades can be examined in detail through the corresponding contours. These results reveal how the water loads the blade surfaces and how the rotational flow develops within the cylindrical zone, providing the basis for evaluating the hydrodynamic performance of the horizontal-axis water turbine.

Kaplan Turbine CFD Simulation, ANSYS Fluent TrainingDescriptionThis project simulates a Kaplan turbine using ANSYS Fluent. Turbomachines, also known as fluid machines, are widely used across industry, making it essential to understand their behavior in a fluid environment. Turbomachines generally fall into two categories: the first group — such as fans and compressors — takes energy and transfers it to the fluid, while the second group extracts energy from the fluid and transfers it to the system, as seen in wind and water turbines. Kaplan turbines belong to this second category.Kaplan turbines are a type of inward-flow reaction turbine, among the most widely used turbine designs in industry, operating through a combination of axial and radial flow concepts. Water enters through an inlet tube that rotates around guide vanes, flowing tangentially through these vanes before being redirected into a spiral pattern by the runner's propeller blades — ultimately driving the runner's rotation.This project investigates water flow passing through a Kaplan turbine rotating at 3300 rpm. The geometry was designed in Design Modeler and meshed in ANSYS Meshing using an unstructured grid totaling 919,824 cells.MethodologyTurbine rotation was modeled using the MRF (Moving Reference Frame) approach, applied through the Frame Motion option. Rather than rotating the turbine blades themselves, the surrounding fluid is treated as rotating at a velocity matching the turbine's own rotational speed, implemented through the MRF tool within Cell Zone Conditions.ConclusionResults include 2D and 3D contours of pressure, velocity, and surface pressure, along with velocity vector fields illustrating the fluid's rotational motion around the turbine blades.The surface pressure contour reveals localized regions on the turbine blades experiencing notably reduced pressure — these areas represent potential sites where cavitation could occur, and warrant closer examination in subsequent, more detailed analysis to assess cavitation risk and its potential impact on turbine performance and blade integrity.

Kaplan Hydro Turbine Evaluation, ANSYS Fluent CFD Simulation TutorialDescriptionThis project evaluates a Kaplan hydro turbine using ANSYS Fluent. The Kaplan turbine is a propeller-type water turbine featuring adjustable blades, classified as an inward-flow reaction turbine — meaning the working fluid undergoes a pressure change as it passes through the turbine, giving up its energy in the process. Power is recovered from both the hydrostatic head and the kinetic energy of the flowing water, with the Kaplan design combining characteristics of both radial and axial turbines.This project studies the turbine's hydrodynamic behavior, with the rotor set to an angular velocity of 16.5 rpm. Boundary conditions include a constant mass flow rate of 1000 kg/s at the inlet, zero gauge pressure at the outlet, and symmetry conditions applied to all side walls, given their distance from the region of primary interest. The study also evaluates turbine performance through the resulting drag force.The geometry — a small-scale Kaplan turbine — was designed in Design Modeler and meshed in ANSYS Meshing using an unstructured grid totaling 9,861,922 cells.MethodologyTurbine rotation was modeled using the MRF (Moving Reference Frame) approach via the Frame Motion option, treating the fluid surrounding the turbine blades as rotating rather than the blades themselves. Given the turbomachinery nature of this simulation, a dedicated cylindrical zone was separated from the broader computational domain, with the fluid within this zone assigned a rotational velocity matching the turbine's own, implemented through the MRF tool within Cell Zone Conditions.ConclusionResults include 2D and 3D contours of pressure, velocity, and surface pressure, along with velocity vectors and streamlines illustrating the fluid's rotational motion around the turbine blades.The lowest pressure occurs at the turbine's leading edge, consistent with the highest velocity values occurring at the blade tip. Velocity contours further show that rotational velocity — and the influence of the associated source terms — increases with distance from the turbine axis. The pressure distribution along the turbine walls forms two distinct regions: a high-pressure zone upstream, before the flow interacts with the turbine, and a corresponding low-pressure zone downstream, behind the turbine geometry.The flow vectors also capture the wake region's resolved behavior — a central challenge in aerodynamic simulation of this kind — revealing a suction mechanism active at the turbine's lower sections and a blowing mechanism at the upper sections. A core vortex adjacent to the turbine body is likewise captured, offering insight into how the flow field is reshaped in close proximity to the rotating walls.

DescriptionIn this project, we present a simulation of a Horizontal-Axis Water Turbine (HAWT) via ANSYS software.Since the turbine blades are exposed to water flow, an interaction occurs between the water flowing and the turbine blades' structure. So, the water flow exerts a hydraulic force on the blades' body by hitting it. Therefore, we intend to perform a numerical simulation of the water turbine as a Fluid-Structure Interaction (called FSI).The interaction between fluid and structure can be implemented as:One-way FSITwo-way FSIIn this project, we aim to analyze only the effect of fluid on the structure, and there is no need to account for the effect of the structure on the fluid. So, we choose One-way FSI, which is a simple and less-expensive approach.We modeled the geometry via Design Modeler software. The computational domain is a sample space for water flow, in which a distinct fluid region is defined around the turbine body. The turbine is of the horizontal-axis type and includes three blades.We meshed the computational domain via ANSYS Meshing software. The mesh is of an unstructured type, and approximately 3,400,000 cells have been generated.MethodologyFluid-structure interaction can be performed in two general methodologies:In the ANSYS Workbench environment, using an external solverOnly in the Fluent solver (in the form of an intrinsic FSI).For one-way FSI with an external solver, three main steps are required:Simulation of the fluid domain from the model using the Fluent solverSimulation of the solid domain from the model using the Transient Structural solverTransfer data directly from the fluid solver to the structural solverSince we were analyzing one-way FSI and not considering the effect of structural displacement on the adjacent fluid, we didn't need to use the dynamic mesh model.In addition, we used the Multiple Reference Frame (MRF) to define a rotational flow with a certain angular velocity in the region around the turbine body.ResultsWe analyzed the results in two fluid and solid approaches:In Fluent, we studied the behavior of water flow around the turbine. For this, we obtained the distributions of the pressure and velocity of water near the blades. The results show that the water flow collides with the rotating blades' body and, as a result, exerts a hydraulic force on the turbine structure.In Structural Transient, we studied the behavior of the turbine blades' body under the influence of the applied forces of the water flow. For this, we obtained the distribution of the deformation, von Mises stress, and elastic strain. The results confirm that the water flow affects the turbine blades' structure.In conclusion, we can claim that we carried out the simulation project of a HAWT correctly and acceptably by using the one-way FSI method.

DescriptionIn this project, we present a simulation of a Horizontal-Axis Water Turbine (HAWT) via ANSYS Fluent software.Since the turbine blades are exposed to water flow, an interaction occurs between the water flowing and the turbine blades' structure. First, the water flow exerts a hydraulic force on the blades' body by hitting it. Subsequently, displacement or deformation appears on the turbine, which can lead to the water flow being affected. Therefore, we intend to perform a numerical simulation of the water turbine as a Fluid-Structure Interaction (called FSI).The interaction between fluid and structure can be implemented as:One-way FSITwo-way FSIIn this project, we aim to analyze both the effect of fluid on the structure and the effect of the structure on the fluid. So, we choose Two-way FSI, which is a more accurate and realistic but more complex approach.We modeled the geometry via Design Modeler software. The computational domain is a sample space for water flow, in which a distinct fluid region is defined around the turbine body. The turbine is of the horizontal-axis type and includes three blades.We meshed the computational domain via ANSYS Meshing software. The mesh is of an unstructured type, and approximately 3,400,000 cells have been generated.MethodologyFluid-structure interaction can be performed in two general methodologies:In the ANSYS Workbench environment, using an external solver (specifically, system coupling)Only in the Fluent solver (in the form of an intrinsic FSI).In this project, we implemented a two-way FSI in the ANSYS Fluent environment. In other words, the Fluent solver performs both fluid and solid calculations simultaneously.For two-way FSI in Fluent solver, the Structure model is utilized. The structural model can be implemented in two ways:Linear elasticity: The deformation is proportional to the applied force. In this case, the deformations are usually small, and the calculation process is faster.Nonlinear elasticity: The deformation is not necessarily proportional to the applied force. In this case, the deformations are usually large, and the calculation process is more complex and time-consuming.In this project, we considered fluid-structure interaction in the form of a Linear Elasticity state.Since we were analyzing two-way FSI and considering the effect of structural displacement on the adjacent fluid, we used the Dynamic Mesh model. In other words, we establish a connection between the fluid and structural calculations with the Intrinsic FSI option. Then, we enabled the smoothing and remeshing methods to define a deformable mesh.In addition, we used the Multiple Reference Frame (MRF) to define a rotational flow with a certain angular velocity in the region around the turbine body.ResultsWe analyzed the results in two fluid and solid approaches:In a fluid view, we studied the behavior of water flow around the turbine. For this, we obtained the distributions of the pressure and velocity of water near the blades. The results show that the water flow collides with the rotating blades' body and, as a result, exerts a hydraulic force on the turbine structure.In a solid view, we studied the behavior of the turbine blades' body under the influence of the applied forces of the water flow. For this, we obtained the distribution of the von Mises stress and displacements (in all directions). The results confirm that the water flow affects the turbine blades' structure.In conclusion, we can claim that we carried out the simulation project of a HAWT correctly and acceptably by using the two-way FSI method.

Pelton Turbine (FSI) — ANSYS Fluent CFD SimulationDescriptionThis project simulates fluid–structure interaction (FSI) in a Pelton turbine using ANSYS Fluent. A Pelton turbine converts the pressure energy of a high-velocity water jet into mechanical rotation via cup-shaped blades, and when that high-pressure jet strikes the turbine body, it can noticeably displace or deform the solid structure — making this a genuine two-way coupling problem between the fluid flow and the structural response rather than a fluid-only analysis. Within the FSI: Beginner CFD Training Package, this project applies FSI to an impulse hydro turbine, extending the coupled approach to a high-load rotating machine where the jet impact drives the structural response.MethodologyThe geometry, covering both the solid turbine body and the surrounding fluid region, is built in 3D using Design Modeler and meshed in ANSYS Meshing with roughly 6 million cells. Rather than coupling Fluent to an external structural solver through a system-coupling setup, the project uses Fluent's Intrinsic FSI capability, running both the fluid and structural calculations natively within Fluent by enabling the Structural Model with a linear elasticity formulation for the deformation. Rotation of the turbine is captured through the Moving Reference Frame approach, applying a specified rotational speed to the fluid zone adjacent to the turbine body via Frame Motion, consistent with a steady-state run.AnalysisThe results are examined from both structural and fluid perspectives: total displacement and von Mises stress describe how the turbine body responds mechanically, while the pressure and velocity fields describe the water flow around it. The coupled results show that the high-pressure, rotating water jet imposes substantial loading on the solid body, producing noticeable deformation concentrated on the blades — exactly where the jet impact is most direct — confirming that the intrinsic FSI setup captures a physically consistent fluid-to-structure load transfer. By the end of this project, you'll be able to set up an intrinsic FSI simulation within ANSYS Fluent using the Structural Model with linear elasticity, apply the Moving Reference Frame approach for a rotating turbine, and interpret the displacement, stress, pressure, and velocity fields that characterize the jet-driven fluid-structure interaction in a Pelton turbine.