SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation Fluid Mixing Tutorial

The mixing of fluids is a phenomenon that needs to be accurately modeled in order to understand the behavior of the different fluids involved, as well as understanding the rate that the mixing happens.  SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation  allows the use of non-newtonian fluids, gases, real gases, and liquids. For fluid mixing, all of the fluids being mixed must be in the same state. 

This fluid mixing tutorial, we are going to test a helium tank getting air pumped into one side and look at how the volume fraction changes as a function of time. 

Wizard Setup

Launch the Flow Simulation Wizard to get the analysis started. Below are the selections for this example analysis. 

Page 1  – Give the analysis a name

• Fluid Mixing
  
  
  

Page 2  – Set the units  

• SI unit system, the only thing we will be changing is the Temperature parameter from K to ºC. 
  
  
  

Page 3  – Choose analysis type

• Internal study that is time-dependant. Total analysis time, 30 s. Output time step, 1 s.
  
   

Page 4  – Select fluids. Make sure all fluids used are the same type of fluid (i.e., Gases, Liquids, Non-Newtonian Liquids, Compressible Liquids, Real Gases, or Steam).

• Gases – Air & Helium
  
  
  

Page 5  – Wall Conditions

• Leave defaults (Adiabatic wall and 0 micrometer roughness)
  
  
  

Page 6  – Initial Conditions

• Start tank of being filled with heat. Concentrations, change Air to 0, and Helium to 1. 
• Select Finish
  
  
  

Adding Boundary Conditions and Settings Goals

Boundary Conditions

Add an Inlet Volume Flow to the inner face of one of the lids.

• Expand  Substance Concentrations , leave it on  Mass fraction  and set Air = 1, Helium = 0
• Leave the rest of the defaults
  
  
  

Add an Environmental Pressure to the inner face of the other lid.

• Change Type to  Pressure Openings  and select  Environment Pressure
• Leave the rest of the defaults
  
  
  

Goals 

Goal - to reach convergence as it solves for fluid behavior inside the tank.

Set the goals that you would like. For this example we will be looking at:

• GG Mass Flow Rate
• GG Average Velocity
• GG Average Mass Fraction of Air
• GG Maximum Mass Fraction of Air
• GG Average Volume Fraction of Air
  
  
  

Looking At Results

Cut Plot – Volume Fraction of Air

• To see how the results change as a function of time, right click on  Results  and select  Transient Explorer . That will place a time bar in your graphics area that you can play, or select certain times to look at. 
  
  
  

I hope you found this SOLIDWORKS Flow Simulation tutorial helpful. Check out more fluid studies below.

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