Optimizing Designs of

Industrial Pipes, Ducts and Manifolds Using CFD

CFD Simulation & Consulting Services

Hi-Tech CFD | Email: info@hitechcfd.com
Voice: +91 79 4000 3252

Optimizing Designs of

Industrial Pipes, Ducts and Manifolds Using CFD

Fluid Flow Behavior

Almost every industry involves the utilization of pipes, ducts and
manifolds to handle wide range of fluids, gases or a mixture of
solids and fluids.
It is evident that these transport mediums are exposed to
critical pressure and temperature, requiring thorough study on
their designs to ensure longevity and performance.
A theoretical design calculation for these equipments only give
information about the inlet and outlet conditions, and does not
involve the details on the fluid flow behavior that is actually
occurring inside the channels.

Since the design of these components play important role in

determining losses in desired output pressure, temperature or
flow rate, it is essential to conduct comprehensive analysis of
the system.

Source: http://www.engineeringexchange.com/profiles/blogs/optimizing-designs-of-industrial-pipes-ducts-and-manifolds-using

Optimizing Designs of

Industrial Pipes, Ducts and Manifolds Using CFD

Fluid Flow Behavior

Computational fluid dynamics proves to be a decisive tool for

such cases, providing detailed insights about important design
considerations that can be incorporated prior to actual
application.

Some common applications of CFD

for pipes, ducts and manifolds are
as discussed on next pages

Source: http://www.engineeringexchange.com/profiles/blogs/optimizing-designs-of-industrial-pipes-ducts-and-manifolds-using

Optimizing Designs of

Industrial Pipes, Ducts and Manifolds Using CFD

Heat Transfer Studies

For industries handling process streams at high temperatures
using piping system, the prominent requirement is to avoid heat
transfer losses that occur while the fluid is being transported.
As such, the pipes are usually provided with insulating materials
that prevent the motive stream heat from getting transferred to
the atmosphere. The losses also occur due to complex bends in
the piping arrangement, requiring the selection of suitable bend
angles.
While experimental investigation provides useful information, it is
extremely difficult and time consuming to evaluate large piping
systems. CFD as such is an alternative approach to assess the
piping design comprehensively.

CFD provides insights on the convective heat transfer process

occurring within the fluid flow, while also assessing the insulation
capability of the material used on the pipes.
Impact of bend angles and pipe materials on temperature loss can
also be evaluated, which can be utilized as design inputs to
perform required optimization for greater efficiency.
Source: http://www.engineeringexchange.com/profiles/blogs/optimizing-designs-of-industrial-pipes-ducts-and-manifolds-using

Optimizing Designs of

Industrial Pipes, Ducts and Manifolds Using CFD

Pressure Drop and Vortex Studies

Pressure drop is a crucial factor required to be studied in long
range pipelines, HVAC ducts and exhaust manifolds.
The accurate prediction of pressure drop helps in sizing the
upstream and downstream equipments and also assists in
optimizing the design.
One of the prominent characteristics of fluid is the generation of
vortex that leads to a choked flow and reduces the fluid pressure
as well as cause the structure to vibrate.
However, in many cases where sold and liquid mixing is required,
vortex formation is equally important to ensure better mixing
characteristics.
Utilizing the capabilities of CFD, the entire flow field can be
studied to determine the impact of geometry and fluid flow
parameters on pressure and vortex generation.
Using turbulence model, CFD simulates the flow characteristics
close to actual phenomena to better understand the flow and
adopt necessary optimization techniques.
Source: http://www.engineeringexchange.com/profiles/blogs/optimizing-designs-of-industrial-pipes-ducts-and-manifolds-using

Optimizing Designs of

Industrial Pipes, Ducts and Manifolds Using CFD

Species Distribution
Industrial ducts such as chimneys, ash handling systems, etc. are
required to handle fluids involving suspended solid particles.
The design of these ducts requires understanding about the
concentration of solid particles in liquids or gases to ensure that
required pressure and temperature is maintained for successful
evacuation.
CFD provides the facility to assess these systems by evaluating
species distribution in fluids and its behavior inside the duct
geometry.
Through these simulations, parameters such as deposition,
concentration, mixing ratio and flow velocity can be assessed for
the designed duct geometry.
Based on the results, the geometry or the fluid parameters can be
optimized accordingly.

Source: http://www.engineeringexchange.com/profiles/blogs/optimizing-designs-of-industrial-pipes-ducts-and-manifolds-using

About Author
Mehul Patel is CFD Specialist at Hi-Tech. He works as a
CFD consultant with Hi-Tech CFD for the past 5 years
and has successfully executed numerous CFD projects
of high complexities.

He specializes in handling CFD projects for Automobile, Aerospace, Oil and Gas and
building HVAC sectors. He is an expert in turbo-machinery, gas dynamics,
Combustion, Fluid Dynamics, multiphase flow analysis etc.
For more information, visit: http://www.hitechcfd.com

CFD Simulation & Consulting Services

Hi-Tech CFD | Email: info@hitechcfd.com
Voice: +91 79 4000 3252