Numerical Modeling of Flow over Tube Banks

In this article, flow through tube banks has been numerically simulated in order to determine flow induced forces. A Cartesian-staggered grid, based on finite-volume method has been implemented. Furthermore, the ghost-cell method in conjunction with great source term technique has been employed, in order to directly enforce no-slip condition on the tube's boundaries. The accuracy of the solver was validated by simulation of flow in a cavity and also flow over a single circular cylinder. The results are completely compatible with the experiments. Eventually, the flow through two types of unconfined tube banks with different arrangements in low Reynolds numbers were simulated and analyzed. For these tube bundles, the maximum drag and lift coefficients and maximum gap velocities were numerically obtained. The results shows more lift and drag coefficients in first rows. Also, confined tube boundle produces more folw induced forces on the cylinders.