Study of flow in the test section of a circulating water channel by varying the honey comb cross-section

Abstract

The Circulation Water Channel (CWC) is a research facility available at Indian Maritime University, Visakhapatnam Campus. The investigation of a flow, in different configurations of the CWC set up, for obtaining a required flow velocity in the test section, is complex. To study the flow, a physical model of the CWC, with different configurations, should be made, which in overall is a complicated and time-consuming exercise. But this difficulty can be overcome through using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis, as in this study, where a CFD analysis is done using ‘STAR-CCM+’ software. A CFD model of the existing CWC [corresponding to the 1:4 scale setup at IMUV], is first made, and its validity is checked, by comparing the results of the CFD analysis, against those results obtained from the experimental analysis. The test section is the area in the CWC, or its CFD model, where the experimental activities are carried out. It is important to have a smooth streamlined flow in the test section, and to ensure this, a honeycomb structure is placed such that the flow enters the test section through the structure. The optimum honeycomb structure, which produces a smooth flow in the test section of a CWC, is found out, by conducting analyses for different shapes - i.e. for shapes ranging from rectangular to hexagonal and also for different inlet velocities