Three dimensional computational studies on steady-state flow field around a microsphere under laminar flow

Abstract

The numerical simulations of flow around a microsphere were performed under steady-state laminar conditions using a computational fluid dynamics tool, ANSYS FLUENT®. The fluid considered is incompressible and Newtonian with constant properties. A cylindrical domain with the sphere placed at its centre and a uniform flow at the inlet of cylindrical domain was considered. Finite volume method was used to solve the continuity and momentum equations in order to understand the velocity, and pressure fields across the microsphere at different microsphere Reynolds numbers ranging from 5 to 200. The results obtained were compared and validated with the published literature data. It is noted that increase in microsphere Reynolds number reveals the growth of counter- rotating vortex at rear end of the microsphere.