Simulación del flujo en CFD a través de un desarenador de doble pantalla perforada y uno de doble pantalla lisa en ANSYS FLUENT

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a tool that allows to simulate and observe the behaviour of any fluid, based on a physical, hydraulic and hydrodynamic analysis. This research analyses the behaviour of the flow in a sand trap, which is a structure used to remove sand particles with a minimum size of 0.10 mm, prior to treatment in a drinking-water plant. The objective of this study is to determine the highest efficiency between two sand traps, one with a double smooth screen and the other with a double perforated screen (with diffusers), based on the simulation and analysis of the behaviour of the flow inside each proposed unit. The methodology used includes the traditional design of each unit based on Hazen's model and Stokes viscosity law, to later carry out the simulation of the numerical model from ANSYS FLUENT (pre-processing, processing and post -processing). The result shows that the perforated double screen sand trap generates a removal efficiency of 78%, while the smooth double screen 28%. In addition, other four units of interleaved screens are proposed, in these cases efficiencies of up to 50% are observed and it is shown that it is necessary to implement at least two perforated screens (with diffusers) to guarantee an efficiency greater than 70%.