Run the Simulation

Verify that the steps for preparing the model, scenario, and mesh are complete. Then, run the simulation, and view the simulation status plots.

A common method for determining if the simulation converged properly is to verify that the results stabilize as the iterations increase. You can verify the stability of the results by reviewing the simulation status plots.

By default, the simulation runs on your local machine using an embedded license. Depending on your configuration, you might need to run the simulation on a remote machine.

This task shows you how to:

Simulate the Flow

  1. From the Simulate section of the Assistant, click Model and Scenario Checks .

    This option generates the mesh first, and then it validates the features that you defined using the Assistant, action bar, and tree.

  2. Close the Model and Scenario Checks Status dialog box.
  3. From the Simulate section of the Assistant, click Simulate .
  4. From the License options, select Tokens.
  5. Click OK.
    The Simulation Status window appears, and the simulation iterates until the convergence value falls below the residual thresholds or until it reaches the maximum number of iterations. You can monitor the progress by navigating to the Plots tab and then selecting any of the variables from the Plot Variable options. After the simulation converges, the Plots window opens with the total number of increments noted.

View the Status Plots

  1. From the Plot Variable options, select Outlet Nozzle Opening: Surface Average Temperature to see a plot of the average temperature of the water at the outlet nozzle's opening.

    Tip: You can enlarge a section of the plot by clicking the plot and dragging the pointer over it.

    The average temperature is approximately 308 K, which is nearly 7 K warmer than the water entering the inlet nozzle's opening.

  2. Compare the mass flow of the water entering and exiting the heat exchanger.
    1. From the Plot Variable options, select Inlet Nozzle Opening: Mass Flow.
      The plot indicates that 0.84 kg of water enter the heat exchanger per second.
    2. From the Plot Variable options, select Outlet Nozzle Opening: Mass Flow.
      The plot indicates that 0.84 kg of water leave the heat exchanger per second. This value is equal and opposite of the mass flow entering the heat exchanger. Generally, if the mass flow values indicate conservation of mass, your simulation ran properly.
  3. Compare the absolute pressure of the water entering and exiting the heat exchanger.
    1. From the Plot Variable options, select Inlet Nozzle Opening: Average Absolute Pressure.
      The plot of the water pressure at the inlet nozzle's opening stabilizes at approximately 1.02×105 Pa.
    2. From the Plot Variable options, select Outlet Nozzle Opening: Average Absolute Pressure.
      The plot of the water pressure at the outlet nozzle's opening stabilizes at approximately 1.01×105 Pa. Therefore, there is a slight, almost negligible pressure drop across the openings.
  4. Close the Simulation Status window.