Centrifugal Compressor Design with Ansys TurboSystem - Part 3
Introduction
It is time to perform a higher fidelity analysis on our blade design. To achieve this, we first need to generate a mesh. We will use TurboGrid to integrate our blade design with the TurboMesh functionality within Workbench.
Mesh Generation Process
- Open TurboGrid and connect it to the blade design.
- Double-click to start TurboMesh, a user-friendly hexahedral mesh generation tool for turbomachinery.
- The tool automatically imports our geometry, which includes one-sixth of the section containing the main blade, a second blade, and a third blade.
Mesh Configuration
The TurboGrid settings are typically optimized to create a high-quality hex mesh with wall resolution. This process is automated, and we will soon have our 3D mesh ready.
Handling Warnings and Errors
We received a warning about the outlet domain. To address this, we will:
- Switch to a single sector view for quicker mesh inspection.
- Check the mesh at different locations, focusing on the boundary layer region.
- If errors arise, such as volume ratio issues, we may need to regenerate the mesh.
Fixing Outlet Domain Warning
To resolve the outlet domain warning, we will:
- Click on the topology set.
- Split the mesh regions at the trailing edge and apply the changes.
- Regenerate the mesh, adding a third region to our meshing block.
This trick often resolves the problem, eliminating the warning.
Final Mesh Inspection
After regeneration, we inspect the mesh:
- Check the mesh at different regions, including the hub and shroud.
- Note the refinement at the top and the gap between the shroud and the blade.
With a successful mesh generated, we can proceed to the next step.
Conclusion
We have successfully generated a high-quality mesh for our centrifugal compressor design using Ansys TurboSystem. This process ensures that we can move forward with confidence in our design analysis.
It's time now to perform a higher fidelity analysis on our blade design. For this purpose, we need to start with mesh generation. I'll go to TurboGrid, select blade design, which will connect our design to the TurboMesh functionality within Workbench. Then, I'll double click and start TurboMesh.
This is a user-friendly hexahedral mesh generation tool specifically designed for turbomachinery. The tool has automatically imported our geometry, including the main blade and three additional blades. We can see the CAD model here. This tool is highly useful.
I'll show the full design to get a better feel for our centrifugal compressor. With this, we simply go unsuspecting. We unsuspect the topology set, telling the software to go ahead and mesh the design. The settings are well optimized to create a high-quality hex mesh with wall resolution.
Now, the mesh generation process is underway. Soon, we'll have our 3D mesh. I'll speed it up a bit and give it a decompression. And we're good now. Next, we'll discuss the aluminum mesh for your printed part. Here, we have a warning about the outlet domain. To avoid this, I'll employ a trick.
We'll look at the mesh with all sectors, then go back to a single sector for a quicker view. We can check the mesh at different locations, especially the boundary layer region. This is a high-quality mesh.
If an error occurs, and the volume ratio is out of ideal bounds, it's likely that CFX will be forgiving, and we'll be able to work with the mesh. If not, we'll have to return to the mesh generation level, improve the mesh, and then move on with the solution.
To fix the outlet issue, click on topology set. Here, we'll split the mesh regions at the trailing edge. I'll hit apply, then regenerate the mesh. The mesh is being regenerated, and we're splitting the zone right at the trailing edge, adding a third region to our meshing block.
This trick should resolve the problem, and we shouldn't see the warning again. And it's done. We have our mesh with the main blade and splitter blade. We can check the mesh at different regions, turn on the hub, look at the hub mesh, and examine the mesh on the shroud.
As you'll notice, there's a lot of refinement at the top here, and a gap between the shroud and the blade. Our measurements indicate that we've generated a successful mesh, and we can move on to the next step.
