CONTENTS

1. Abstract

.1

2. Introduction

.2

3. Literature Survey

.3

4. Objective

.3

5. ANSYS Procedure
5.1. Modeling

.4

5.2. Meshing

.4

5.3. Preprocessing

.5

6. Results and Discussions

.6

7. Conclusion

.12

8. Acknowledgement

.12

9. References

.13

1. ABSTRACT
To solve an engineering problem we can make use of various methods like the
analytical method, experimental methods using prototypes. The analytical method is
very complicated and difficult. The experimental methods are very costly. If any
errors in the design were detected during the prototype testing, another prototype is to
be made clarifying all the errors and again tested. This is a time-consuming as well as
a cost-consuming process. The introduction of Computational Fluid Dynamics has
overcome this difficulty as well as revolutionized the field of engineering. In CFD a
problem is simulated in software and the transport equations associated with the
problem is mathematically solved with computer assistance. Thus we would be able to
predict the results of a problem before experimentation.

The CFD analysis of a De Laval nozzle has been conducted to understand the
phenomenon of supersonic flow through it at various divergent angles. A twodimensional axis-symmetric model is used for the analysis and the governing
equations were solved using the finite-volume method in ANSYS FLUENT software.
The inlet boundary conditions were specified according to the available experimental
information. The variations in the parameters like the Mach number, static pressure,
temperature are being analyzed. The values of temperature, pressure and velocity
should be available at every section of the nozzle so as to design the nozzle shape,
insulation and cooling arrangements.

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2. INTRODUCTION
De Laval nozzle was invented by Gustaf de Laval, a Swedish inventor. It is a convergentdivergent type of nozzle, generally employed to provide supersonic jet velocity at the exit of
the nozzle. A convergent divergent nozzle has a convergent region, a throat region and the
divergent region. The area of flow will be minimum at the throat region. In order to convert
an initially subsonic flow of a compressible fluid in a nozzle into a supersonic flow, it is
necessary to have a convergent passage followed by a divergent passage. For this to happen
the velocity of flow at the throat region should be equal to sonic velocity. Otherwise the
divergent passage will have only the subsonic flow of compressible fluid and then it will
simply function as a diffuser where the flow is decelerated.

Figure 1: Diagram of De Laval Nozzle with approximate flow velocity, static pressure and temperature

De Laval nozzle is used to accelerate hot pressurized gas passing through it to a higher
speed in axial (thrust) direction, by converting the heat energy of the flow into kinetic energy.
Because of this the nozzle is widely used in some types of steam turbines and rocket engine
nozzles. It is also used in supersonic jet engines.
In the analysis isentropic flow of ideal gas was assumed.

Mathematical Model
The governing continuity, momentum, and energy equations for this steady, isentropic flow
can be expressed, respectively as
Continuity:
Momentum:
Energy:

1 1 1 = 2 2 2
2

(1)

1 1 + 1 12 1 + 1 = 2 2 + 2 2 22
1 + 12 /2 = 2 + 22 /2

.(2)

...(3)

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Differentiating continuity equation we get

=0

(4)

Therefore we get area-velocity relationship as

(2 1)

(5)

The following information can be derived from the area-velocity relation

1. For M < 1, a decrease in area results in increase of velocity and vice versa. Therefore, the
velocity increases in a convergent region and decreases in a divergent region. This result for
compressible subsonic flows is the same as that for incompressible flow.
2. For M > 1, an increase in area results in increase of velocity and vice versa, i.e. the velocity
increases in a divergent region and decreases in a convergent region. This is directly opposite
to the behavior of subsonic flow in divergent and convergent ducts.
3. For M = 1, dA/A = 0, which implies that the location where the Mach number is unity, the
area of the passage is either minimum or maximum. We can easily show that the minimum in
area is the only physically realistic solution.

3. LITERATURE SURVEY
A detailed information on the isentropic flow through De Laval nozzle
(Rocket nozzle) was given by Biblarz and Sutton [4]. Different nozzle configurations were
also mentioned in [4]. Continuity, energy and momentum equations for the isentropic flow
were given by Yunus A. engel and John M. Cimbala [3]. Biju Kuttan P and M Sajesh [2]
have observed that the shock is completely eliminated from the nozzle as the divergent is
increased, the oblique shock is displaced towards the exit of the nozzle. For geometrical
dimensions of the nozzle and the boundary conditions, journal [5] was referred. The
theoretical results and results obtained from CFD analysis were almost identical in the journal
[5]. This validates the CFD procedure which is being used for the analysis.

4. OBJECTIVE
The objective is to analyze the flow through De Laval nozzle and to study the effect
of divergent angle on Mach number, static pressure and static temperature at the outlet of the
nozzle.
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5. ANSYS PROCEDURE
5.1 Modelling:
A 2-Dimensional model of the nozzle was created in GEOMETRY (FLUENT
WORKBENCH 15.0). The nozzle dimensions are listed in below table
Table I
Nozzle Dimensions
Parameter
Total Nozzle length (mm)

Dimension
484

Inlet Diameter (mm)

166.6

Throat Diameter (mm)

69

Outlet Diameter (mm)

Chamber Length (mm)

183
99.93

Convergent Angle (deg)

*Divergent Angle (deg)

32
4, 7 , 11, 15

Throat Radius of Curvature (mm)

70

Convergent Radius of Curvature (mm)

40

Figure 2: 2-D model of nozzle

Figure 3: Refined Mesh at the Throat region

The geometry was divided into 4 sections to get a fine mesh in throat region.

5.2 Meshing:
After modeling of the nozzle, its meshing was done in ANSYS MESH software. The
mesh composed of quadrilateral elements. The mesh was created by dividing the edges into
appropriate number of divisions (Edge Sizing). Then Mapped Face Meshing was used to
generate a structured mesh. Mesh was refined in throat region. Inlet, Outlet and Wall regions
were named.
Grid independence study:
Number of nodes
160750
370370
464922

Number of elements
79608
184000
231132

Pressure(monitoring quantity)
9.80e+06
9.80e+06
9.80e+06

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5.3 Preprocessing:
Preprocessing was done in ANSYS FLUENT. The mesh was scaled since all the
dimensions were initially specified in mm. The mesh was checked in fluent and no critical
errors were reported.
Table II: Problem Setup
General

Precision : Double Precision

Solver type : Density Based
2D Space : Planar:

Models

Energy equation : On
Viscous model: Standard k- model, realizable,
enhanced wall treatment.

Materials

Density : ideal gas

=1880 J/Kg K
Viscosity =8.98310-5 Pa-s
Thermal conductivity = 0.0142 W/mK
Mean molecular mass =27.7 g/mol

Boundary Conditions

Inlet Pressure =100 bar

Inlet Temperature = 3300 K
Outlet Temperature =1700 K

Solution Controls

Courant number = 5

Solution Initialization

Compute from : Inlet

Run Calculation

Check case
No. of iterations = 5000
Calculate

The criterion for convergence of all the scaled residuals was set to 0.001. Solutions
converged after 4789 iterations.

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6. RESULTS AND DISCUSSIONS:

In CFD Post Processor counter plots were obtained for Static Pressure, Static
Temperature and Mach number for various divergent angles.
Case 1: Divergent angle =4
Mach number

Figure 4: Counters of Mach number

From the figure, it is clearly visualized that in the convergent section at inlet point,
Mach number, is in the subsonic region (0.34) while at the throat, flow becomes sonic (1.02)
and at the nozzle exit it becomes Supersonic (1.81) for which the nozzle is designed. Near the
wall, the Mach number decreases, this is due to the viscosity and turbulence in the fluid.
Static Pressure

Figure 5: Counters of Static Pressure (Pa)

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Static pressure is the pressure that is exerted by a fluid. Specifically, it is the pressure
measured when the fluid is still, or at rest. The above figure reveals the fact that the gas gets
expanded in the nozzle exit. The static pressure in the inlet is observed to be 9800 KPa and as
we move towards the throat there is a decrease and the value at the throat is found out to be
6520 KPa. After the throat, there is sudden expansion and the static pressure falls in a more
rapid manner towards the exit of the nozzle. At the exit it is found to be 1610 KPa.
Static Temperature

Figure 6: Counters of Static Temperature (K)

The total temperature almost remains a constant in the inlet up to the throat after which it
tends to decrease. The temperature at the inlet is 3300K and at the exit region temperature is
2510K. It can be observed that as we move vertically upwards at a section the temperature
decreases.
Case 2: Divergent angle= 7
Mach number

Figure 7: Counters of Mach number

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The variation in mach number is same as in previous case. At the inlet flow is subsonic an the
throat flow is sonic (1.08). At the exit Mach number increases from 1.81 to 2.07.
Static Pressure

Figure 8: Counters of Static Pressure (Pa)

The static pressure is found to be 9800 KPa at the inlet. The pressure dropped to about 6740
KPa at the throat section and continues to decrease to a value of 1070 KPa at the exit.
Compared to the previous case the value of static pressure has dropped.
Static Temperature

Figure 9: Counters of Static Temperature (K)

The temperature remains same at the inlet. At the exit temperature near the walls is 2340K
and at the centre region temperature is increased to 2390K.

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Case 3: Divergent angle= 11

Mach number

Figure 10: Counters of Mach number

At the inlet Mach number is less than 1 and at the throat Mach number is 1.08, hence the flow
is sonic at the throat. Mach number increases to 2.29 at the exit. Near the walls the flow
velocity is decreased due to viscosity.
Static Pressure

Figure 11: Counters of Static Pressure (Pa)

The static pressure is found to be 9800 KPa at the inlet. The pressure dropped to about 6610
KPa at the throat section and continues to decrease to a value of 696 KPa at the exit.
Compared to the previous case the value of static pressure has dropped at the exit.

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 Static Temperature

Figure 12: Counters of Static Temperature (K)

Temperature at the inlet remains same but the temperature at the exit is reduced to 2200K.
Case 4: Divergent angle= 15
Mach number

Figure 13: Counters of Mach number

At the inlet the flow is subsonic with a mach number of 0.196 and at the throat Mach number
increases to 1.14 and the flow is sonic. At the exit Mach number is maximum with a value of
2.44. Viscosity effect can be observed near the walls.

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 Static Pressure

Figure 14: Counters of Static Pressure (Pa)

Static pressure remains constant at the inlet region and is same as previous cases. At the exit
static pressure is reduced to 508 KPa. It can be observed that out of all cases static pressure at
the exit is minimum in this case.
Static Temperature

Figure 15: Counters of Static Temperature (K)

Inlet temperature remains same. Temperature reduces to 2940 at the throat. Temperature
decreases in the divergent region and at the exit temperature is minimum (2110), least among
all cases.

Table III: Result Table

Conditions at exit

Sl No.

Divergent Angle

Mach Number

Static Pressure

Static

(KPa)

Temperature(K)

1.81

1610

2510

2.07

1070

2340

11

2.29

696

2200

15

2.44

508

2110
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7. CONCLUSION:
The following observations were found in the nozzles with different divergence angles

At the exit section, the Mach number is found to increase with increase in divergent
angle. It is 1.81 Mach for 4 and it increases to the highest value of 2.44 Mach for 15.

At the throat section, the flow is sonic i.e. Mach number is around 1 for all
configurations. Because of this the velocity of flow increases in the divergent region.

Near the wall, the Mach number is decreasing for all the nozzles. This is due to the
viscosity and turbulence in the fluid.

At the exit section, the static pressure is found to decrease with increase in divergent
angle. It is 1610 KPa for 4 and it decreases to the lowest value of 508 KPa for 15.

The variation of static temperature at the exit section for different divergent angles is
same as of static pressure. It is found to decrease with increase in divergent angle with
a value of 2510K for 4 divergent angle and 2110K for 15 divergent angle.

8. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT:
We would like to acknowledge the support and guidance provided by Dr. T. N.
Shridhar, Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute Of
Engineering, Mysore.

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9. REFERENCES:
[1]

K.M.Pandey and S.K.Yadav, CFD Analysis of a Rocket Nozzle with Two Inlets at
Mach 2.1, Journal of Environmental Research and Development, Vol 5, No 2,
2010, (pp 308-321).

[2]

Biju Kuttan P and M Sajesh, "Optimization of Divergent Angle of a Rocket Engine

Nozzle Using Computational Fluid Dynamics", The International Journal Of
Engineering And Science (Ijes), Volume 2, No 2, 2013, (pp 196-207).

[3]

Yunus A. engel and John M. Cimbala, Fluid Mechanics, Tata McGraw-Hill New
York, Second edition, (pp 853- 910).

[4]

George P. Sutton and Oscar Biblarz, Rocket Propulsion Elements,

Interscience Publication, Seventh Edition, 2001, (pp 52-85).

[5]

Nikhil D. Deshpande, Suyash S. Vidwans, Theoretical & CFD analysis of de laval

nozzle.

A Wiley-

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