ANSYS Fluent Detailed Manual

1. Introduction to ANSYS Fluent

Overview of ANSYS Fluent

ANSYS Fluent is a powerful computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software

used to model fluid flow, heat transfer, and chemical reactions in complex
geometries. It is widely used in various industries for design and
optimization, ensuring products meet performance standards.

Key Features and Capabilities

 Advanced Meshing Tools: Tools to create high-quality meshes that

are crucial for accurate simulations.
 Comprehensive Physics Models: Supports models for different
types of fluid flows (laminar, turbulent), heat transfer, multiphase
flows, and chemical reactions.
 High-Performance Computing: Utilizes parallel computing to handle
large, complex simulations efficiently.
 User-Friendly Interface: Intuitive graphical user interface (GUI) with
scripting capabilities for automation.

Applications and Industries

 Aerospace: Simulating airflow over aircraft wings, jet engines, and

environmental control systems.
 Automotive: Analyzing vehicle aerodynamics, engine cooling, and
exhaust systems.
 Chemical Processing: Modeling reactors, mixers, and separators.
 Energy: Optimizing wind turbines, oil and gas pipelines, and power
plant equipment.

System Requirements and Installation

 System Requirements: Ensure your computer meets the minimum

requirements:
 CPU: Multi-core processors (Intel or AMD)
 RAM: At least 16 GB (32 GB recommended for larger
simulations)
 GPU: Dedicated graphics card for visualization
 Disk Space: Minimum 10 GB free space
  Installation Guide: Follow these steps to install ANSYS Fluent:
1. Download the installer from the ANSYS website.
2. Run the installer and follow the on-screen instructions.
3. Activate your license using the provided license manager.
4. Open ANSYS Workbench to access Fluent.

2. Getting Started
Starting ANSYS Fluent

 Launching Fluent: Open ANSYS Workbench and drag the Fluent

module into the project schematic. Double-click on the Fluent module
to start.
 User Interface Overview:
 Graphics Window: Displays the geometry, mesh, and results.
 Navigation Pane: Helps you navigate through different sections
of the setup.
 Command Panel: Used for inputting and adjusting simulation
parameters.
 Menu Bar: Accesses various tools and functions.

Basic Workflow

1. Pre-processing: Define the problem, create or import geometry, and

generate the mesh.
2. Solution Setup: Configure physical models, define material
properties, and set boundary conditions.
3. Solving: Run the simulation and monitor the progress.
4. Post-processing: Analyze and visualize the results.

Creating and Managing Projects

 Project Management: Use ANSYS Workbench to organize your

simulations. Projects can include multiple design points and studies.
  Saving and Exporting: Regularly save your project files. Export
results for documentation or further analysis.

3. Geometry Creation and Import

Creating Geometry in ANSYS DesignModeler

1. Basic Tools:

 Creating Shapes: Use the rectangle, circle, and other shape

tools to create basic geometries.
 Operations: Extrude (extend a shape in 3D), revolve (rotate a
shape around an axis), and sweep (move a shape along a path)
to build complex models.
 Example: Create a cylinder by drawing a circle and extruding it.

2. Advanced Features:

 Boolean Operations: Combine or subtract shapes to create

complex geometries.
 Fillets and Chamfers: Add rounded edges (fillets) or beveled
edges (chamfers) to improve mesh quality.
 Example: Combine a box and a cylinder using a Boolean union
operation to create a more complex shape.

Importing Geometry from CAD Software

1. Supported Formats: Fluent supports various CAD formats such as

STEP, IGES, Parasolid, and STL.
2. Import Procedure:
 Import Geometry: Use the ‘Import Geometry’ option in ANSYS
DesignModeler.
 Check Units: Ensure the units of the imported geometry match
your simulation settings.
  Example: Import a STEP file of a turbine blade and check for any
gaps or overlaps in the geometry.

Geometry Cleanup and Repair

1. Small Feature Removal: Remove unnecessary small features that

could affect the mesh quality.
2. Surface Repair: Fix gaps, overlaps, and other issues using the repair
tools.
3. Example: Use the ‘Face Merging’ tool to eliminate small faces that are
not relevant to the simulation.

4. Meshing
Introduction to Meshing

1. Importance of Meshing: Meshing divides the geometry into smaller

elements that the solver uses to calculate the flow field. A good mesh
is crucial for accurate results.
2. Types of Meshes:
 Structured Mesh: Regular grid, usually hexahedral cells,
suitable for simple geometries.
 Unstructured Mesh: Irregular grid, typically tetrahedral cells,
better for complex geometries.
 Hybrid Mesh: Combination of structured and unstructured
meshes.

Mesh Generation Techniques

1. Automatic Meshing:

 Procedure: Use the default meshing settings for a quick and

easy mesh.
 Example: Generate a default mesh for a simple pipe flow
simulation.
 2. Manual Meshing:

 Local Refinement: Manually refine the mesh in critical areas

such as near walls or where high gradients are expected.
 Example: Refine the mesh near the leading edge of an airfoil to
capture the boundary layer accurately.

Mesh Quality and Refinement

1. Checking Mesh Quality:

 Metrics: Aspect ratio, skewness, orthogonality, and smoothness.
 Example: Check the aspect ratio to ensure elements are not too
elongated.
2. Refining the Mesh:
 Local Refinement: Refine the mesh where needed without
increasing the overall mesh size excessively.
 Adaptive Meshing: Automatically refine the mesh based on
solution gradients.
 Example: Use adaptive meshing to refine areas with high
velocity gradients.

Advanced Meshing Tools

1. Hexahedral Meshing:
 Procedure: Create hexahedral elements for structured meshes.
 Example: Use blocking techniques to create a structured
hexahedral mesh around a cylindrical object.
2. Adaptive Meshing:
 Procedure: Set criteria for the solver to refine the mesh during
the simulation.
 Example: Enable adaptive meshing to refine the mesh
dynamically around a jet flow region.
5. Setup and Solution
Setting Up a CFD Simulation

1. Problem Definition:

 Define Objectives: Clearly state the goals of your simulation,

such as determining pressure drop or heat transfer rate.
 Example: Set up a simulation to determine the drag coefficient
of a car model.

2. Domain Initialization:

 Initial Conditions: Initialize the flow field, either uniformly or

based on a previous solution.
 Example: Set an initial velocity field for a pipe flow simulation.

Defining Material Properties

1. Fluid Properties:
 Define Properties: Density, viscosity, specific heat, thermal
conductivity.
 Example: Define air properties with a density of 1.225 kg/m³
and viscosity of 1.7894e-5 kg/(m·s).
2. Solid Properties:
 Define Properties: For heat transfer simulations, define the
properties of solid materials.
 Example: Define aluminum with a thermal conductivity of 237
W/(m·K).

Boundary Conditions

1. Inlet and Outlet Conditions:

 Specify Conditions: Define velocity, pressure, or mass flow
rate at inlets and pressure or outflow at outlets.
 Example: Set a velocity inlet of 10 m/s and a pressure outlet of
0 Pa for a wind tunnel simulation.
2. Wall Conditions:
  No-Slip Condition: Default for solid walls, where the fluid
velocity at the wall is zero.
 Thermal Conditions: Specify adiabatic, constant temperature,
or heat flux.
 Example: Set the walls of a pipe to no-slip and adiabatic
conditions.

Solver Settings

1. Solver Selection:
 Pressure-Based vs. Density-Based: Use pressure-based
solvers for incompressible and mildly compressible flows,
density-based for highly compressible flows.
 Example: Use a pressure-based solver for simulating airflow
over a car.
2. Discretization Schemes:
 Spatial Discretization: First-order upwind (quick but less
accurate) vs. second-order upwind (more accurate but slower).
 Temporal Discretization: First-order implicit (stable) vs.
second-order implicit (more accurate for transient simulations).
 Example: Use second-order upwind for better accuracy in a
steady-state airflow simulation.
3. Convergence Criteria:
 Set Criteria: Define residual thresholds and monitor physical
quantities to ensure the solution has converged.
 Example: Set residuals for continuity, momentum, and energy
to 1e-6 and monitor lift and drag coefficients.

Running the Simulation

1. Solution Control:
 Under-Relaxation Factors: Adjust these factors to stabilize
and accelerate convergence.
 Example: Use an under-relaxation factor of 0.7 for momentum
equations.
2. Monitoring Convergence:
 Residual Monitors: Track residuals to ensure they drop below
the set thresholds.
  Physical Monitors: Monitor key quantities such as temperature
or velocity at specific points.
 Example: Monitor the temperature at the outlet of a heat
exchanger to ensure it reaches a steady value.

6. Post-Processing
Introduction to Post-Processing

 Tools and Features: Fluent provides various tools for visualizing and
analyzing simulation results, including contour plots, vector plots, and
reports.

Visualizing Results

1. Contour Plots:
 Creating Contours: Display scalar fields such as temperature,
pressure, and velocity magnitude.
 Example: Create a contour plot of pressure distribution over an
airfoil.
2. Vector Plots:
 Flow Patterns: Display velocity vectors to show the direction
and magnitude of the flow.
 Example: Create a vector plot to visualize the flow around a
cylinder.

Creating Plots and Reports

1. XY Plots:
 Plotting Variables: Generate plots of variables along specified
lines or at particular points.
 Example: Plot the velocity profile along the centerline of a pipe.
2. Reports:
  Summary Reports: Create reports summarizing key results and
simulation parameters.
 Example: Generate a report of lift and drag coefficients for an
aircraft wing.

Exporting Data

1. Data Export:
 Export Formats: Export simulation data in formats such as
CSV, Excel, or image files for documentation and further
analysis.
 Example: Export temperature data to a CSV file for detailed
analysis in Excel.

7. Advanced Features
Multiphase Flow Modeling

1. Eulerian and Lagrangian Models:

 Eulerian Model: Treats multiple phases as interpenetrating
continua.
 Lagrangian Model: Tracks individual particles in a continuous
phase.
 Example: Use the Eulerian model to simulate oil-water
separation in a tank.
2. Volume of Fluid (VOF) Model:
 Interface Tracking: Track the interface between immiscible
fluids.
 Example: Simulate water sloshing in a tank using the VOF
model.

Heat Transfer and Radiation

1. Conduction, Convection, and Radiation:

  Modeling Modes: Conduction in solids, convection in fluids, and
thermal radiation between surfaces.
 Example: Simulate the heat transfer in a heat exchanger with
conduction in the walls and convection in the fluid.
2. Radiation Models:
 P1, Discrete Ordinates (DO), and Surface-to-Surface: Use
different models for detailed radiation analysis.
 Example: Use the Discrete Ordinates model to simulate
radiation heat transfer in a furnace.

Turbulence Modeling

1. RANS Models:
 Common Models: k-epsilon, k-omega, and Reynolds Stress
Models (RSM) for turbulence simulation.
 Example: Use the k-epsilon model for simulating turbulent
airflow over a car.
2. LES and DES:
 Large Eddy Simulation (LES): Captures large turbulence
structures.
 Detached Eddy Simulation (DES): Combines LES with RANS
for efficient simulations.
 Example: Use LES for high-fidelity simulation of turbulent flow in
a jet engine.

Chemical Reactions

1. Combustion Modeling:
 Combustion Models: Eddy Dissipation Model and Finite-Rate
Chemistry for simulating combustion processes.
 Example: Simulate the combustion in a gas turbine using the
Eddy Dissipation Model.
2. Species Transport:
 Chemical Species: Track multiple chemical species and their
interactions.
 Example: Simulate the mixing and reaction of different gases in
a chemical reactor.
Moving and Deforming Meshes

1. Dynamic Mesh:
 Moving Boundaries: Simulate problems with moving
boundaries or deforming meshes.
 Example: Simulate the movement of a piston within a cylinder.
2. Rigid Body Motion:
 Modeling Motion: Model the motion of rigid bodies within the
fluid domain.
 Example: Simulate the rotation of a fan blade within an airflow.

8. Optimization and Parametric Studies

Design of Experiments (DOE)

1. Setting Up DOE:
 DOE Configuration: Set up and run design of experiments to
explore the effects of various parameters.
 Example: Run a DOE to study the impact of different inlet
velocities on the pressure drop in a pipe.
2. Analyzing Results:
 Result Analysis: Analyze DOE results to identify optimal
designs and parameter sensitivities.
 Example: Use the results to determine the optimal inlet velocity
for minimal pressure drop.

Sensitivity Analysis

1. Sensitivity Studies:
 Parameter Influence: Perform sensitivity analysis to determine
the influence of different parameters on the results.
  Example: Analyze the sensitivity of drag force on a car to
changes in air density.

Optimization Techniques

1. Optimization Algorithms:
 Built-in Algorithms: Use optimization algorithms to find the
best design parameters.
 Example: Use gradient-based optimization to minimize the drag
coefficient of an airfoil.
2. Multi-Objective Optimization:
 Balancing Trade-offs: Simultaneously optimize for multiple
objectives, balancing trade-offs.
 Example: Optimize both lift and drag coefficients for an aircraft
wing.

9. Troubleshooting and Best Practices

Common Errors and Warnings

1. Error Messages:
 Understanding Errors: Learn to understand and resolve
common error messages during setup and simulation.
 Example: Resolve a “Divergence detected in AMG solver” error
by refining the mesh or adjusting solver settings.
2. Debugging Techniques:
 Diagnostics Tools: Use diagnostic tools and techniques to
identify and fix issues.
 Example: Use the mesh quality check tool to identify
problematic areas in the mesh.

Tips for Improving Convergence

 1. Convergence Strategies:
 Improving Convergence: Techniques such as adjusting under-
relaxation factors, refining the mesh, and improving initial
conditions.
 Example: Reduce the under-relaxation factor for pressure to
improve convergence in a complex flow simulation.

Best Practices for Accurate Simulations

1. Model Validation:
 Validate Models: Validate your CFD models with experimental
data or benchmark cases to ensure accuracy.
 Example: Compare simulation results of a heat exchanger with
experimental data to validate the model.
2. Mesh Independence:
 Independence Studies: Conduct mesh independence studies
to ensure results are not dependent on mesh resolution.
 Example: Perform simulations with different mesh densities and
compare the results to ensure accuracy.

10. Appendices
Glossary of Terms

 Definitions: Glossary of common terms and acronyms used in ANSYS

Fluent and CFD.
 CFD: Computational Fluid Dynamics
 RANS: Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes
 LES: Large Eddy Simulation

Keyboard Shortcuts
  Shortcuts: List of keyboard shortcuts to enhance efficiency while
using ANSYS Fluent.
 Ctrl + P: Open project
 Ctrl + S: Save project
 F1: Open help

Additional Resources and References

 Documentation: References to ANSYS Fluent documentation and user

guides.
 Online Resources: Links to tutorials, forums, and other online
resources for further learning and support.
 ANSYS Customer Portal: Access to user guides, tutorials, and
technical support.
 YouTube: Various channels offer step-by-step tutorials for
ANSYS Fluent.

 This expanded manual provides a comprehensive guide to using

ANSYS Fluent, ensuring that even users with no prior knowledge can
effectively set up, run, and analyze their simulations. Each section
includes detailed steps and examples to facilitate learning and
application.