Numerical simulation of flow past circular duct

The Renormalization Group (RNG) k—ɛ turbulence model and Volume of Fluid (VOF) method were employed to simulate the flow past a circular duct in order to obtain and analyze hydraulic parameters. According to various upper and bottom gap ratios, the force on the duct was calculated. When the bottom gap ratio is 0, the drag force coefficient, lift force coefficient, and composite force reach their maximum values, and the azimuth reaches its minimum. With an increase of the bottom gap ratio from 0 to 1, the drag force coefficient and composite force decrease sharply, and the lift force coefficient does not decreases so much, but the azimuth increases dramatically. With a continuous increase of the bottom gap ratio from 1 upward, the drag force coefficient, lift force coefficient, composite force, and azimuth vary little. Thus, the bottom gap ratio is the key factor influencing the force on the circular duct. When the bottom gap ratio is less than 1, the upper gap ratio has a remarkable influence on the force of the circular duct. When the bottom gap ratio is greater than 1, the variation of the upper gap ratio has little influence on the force of the circular duct.