CFD Applications : MRF Approach for Turbo Machinery Simulation
- Jul 20
- 1 min read
Blog Summary
Multiple reference frame (MRF) is used in CFD simulations, where separate static and rotating zones are present. For example, in a centrifugal pump, impeller imparts a rotating motion to fluid.
Explanation :
Multiple reference frame (MRF) is used in CFD simulations, where separate static and rotating zones are present. For example, in a centrifugal pump, impeller imparts a rotating motion to fluid. The zone of fluid between casing and impeller is a non rotating zone. In a CFD simulation of centrifugal pump, if rotation motion is given to the region of mesh representing the impeller, solution will be based on an unsteady algorithm. The simulation can be made steady, if frame of references is changed. For instance, with respect to an observer standing on a stationary reference frame impeller rotates. But when the observer is on impeller, rotating impeller will look as stationary. In similar manner, steady RANS could be solved for centrifugal pump on a stationary frame, with a condition for providing additional source terms (inertial forces due to rotating reference frame), whenever rotating fluid zone is being solved.
