Propeller

Download simulation

Introduction

This is an example of the propeller from the pimpleFoam tutorial of OpenFOAM. This is to predict the flow over the rotation of a propeller using the sliding mesh.

The simulation conditions are as follows

  • solver : buoyantPimpleNFoam
  • turbulence model : $Realizable$ $k-epsilon$ model
  • density : 1000 $kg/m^3$
  • viscosity : 0.001 $kg/ms$
  • rotating velocity : 1432 $RPM$
  • flow condition : 5 $m/s$ at inlet

Start BaramFlow and load mesh

Run the program and select [New Case] from the launcher. In the launcher, select [Pressure-based] for [Solver Type] and [None] for [Multiphase Model].

Use the given constant/polyMesh folder of [Download simulation] file. In the top tab, click [File]-[Load Mesh]-[OpenFOAM] in that order and select the constant/polyMesh folder.

General

Change Time to Transient.

Models

For turbulence, use $Realizable$ $k-epsilon$ model and [Enhanced Wall Treatment].

Materials

Change the Name to water and enter a Density of 1000 and a viscosity of 0.001.

Cell zone Conditions

Select [Sliding Mesh] at [Cell Zone Conditions] and set values as follows

  • Rotating Speed : 1432(RPM)
  • Rotation-Axis Origin : (0 0 0)
  • Rotation-Axis Direction : (-1 0 0)

Boundary Conditions

Set the boundary type and values as shown below.

  • cellZone_surface, cellZone_surface_slave : Interface – Internal Interface
    • cellZone_surface : Change to Internal Interface, then select cellZone_surface_slave as [Coupled Boundary]

  • propeller, propellerStem : Wall
    • Velocity Condition : Moving Wall
  • far_surface : Wall
    • Velocity Condition : Slip
  • inlet : Velocity Inlet
    • Velocity Specification Method : Magnitudde, Normal to Boundary
    • Profile Type : Constant
    • Velocity Magnitude : 5 (m/s)
    • Turbulent Intensity : 1 (%)
    • Turbulent Viscosity Ratio : 10

  • outlet : Pressure Outlet
    • Total Pressure : 0 (Pa)

Numerical Conditions

Change [Max Iterations per Time Step] to 20, [Number of Correctors] to 2. Use default value for the rest.

Initialization

Set [X-Velocity] as 5, [Scale of Velocity] as 5.

Enter the value and click the Initialize button at the bottom. Then click the [File]-[Save] menu to save the case file.

Run

In Run Conditions, set the following settings and proceed with the calculation.

  • Time Stepping Method : Fixed
  • Time Step Size : 1e-5
  • End Time : 0.1
  • Save Interval : 0.001
  • Data Write Format : Binary
  • Selct [Parallel]-[Environment] in menu. Set Number of Cores as you want and select [Local Machine] for [Parallel Type].