Best Practices for Computational Fluid Dynamic Applications in Water Infrastructure
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 149, Issue 10
Abstract
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a branch of fluid mechanics that uses numerical analysis and data structures to calculate, analyze, and visualize fluid (liquids, gases, and dissolved gases) flows. This document provides general introductions to best practices for CFD modeling in water infrastructure for practitioners, particularly those new to CFD modeling, which is becoming a widely used tool in the design and retrofitting of water, wastewater, and stormwater infrastructure. The method serves as an alternative, or complement, to physical modeling. In recent years, CFD has often been used in evaluating and troubleshooting existing water systems as well as improving future designs. As with the applications in other fields, the popularity of CFD in the water industry has been propelled by a multitude of factors including, but not limited to, the maturity achieved by CFD techniques, the development of stable and reliable numerical schemes, and the ever-improving computer-aided design (CAD) and meshing technologies for real-world complex geometries. This has been accompanied by many commercial and open-source CFD packages that can be run on increasingly more powerful computing hardware. Despite the visible progress in the application of CFD in water infrastructure projects achieved to date, there are still many challenges that hinder the widespread use of CFD techniques in water treatment design. Perhaps more important is that many of these challenges may result in misuse of the tool with dire consequences. It is imperative that CFD practitioners appropriately apply this tool without overpromising capability or accuracy and that reviewers of CFD model results know what to look for in ensuring proper methods have been applied and that results are representative of reality.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
No data, models, or code were generated or used during the study.
Acknowledgments
Logistic support was provided by ASCE–EWRI for the activities of the task committee.
References
AIAA (American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics). 2002. Guide for the verification and validation of computational fluid dynamics simulations. AIAA G-077-1998. Reston, VA: AIAA. https://doi.org/10.2514/4.472855.001.
Anderson, J. D., G. Degrez, E. Dick, and R. Grundmann. 2013. Computational fluid dynamics: An introduction. Berlin: Springer.
Ansys Fluent. 2013. User’s guide v2015. Canonsburg, PA: Ansys.
ASCE. 2018. Standard guidelines for in-process oxygen transfer testing. Reston, VA: ASCE.
ASCE. 2022. Measurement of oxygen transfer in clean water. ASCE/EWRI 2-22. Reston, VA: ASCE.
ASME. 2009. Standard for verification and validation in computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer. New York: ASME.
Bartrand, T. A., B. Farouk, and C. N. Haas. 2009. “Countercurrent gas/liquid flow and mixing: Implications for water disinfection.” Int. J. Multiphase Flow 35 (2): 171–184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmultiphaseflow.2008.08.004.
Celik, I. B., U. Ghia, P. J. Roache, and C. J. Freitas. 2008. “Procedure for estimation and reporting of uncertainty due to discretization in CFD applications.” J. Fluids Eng. 130 (7): 1–4. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.2960953.
Cockx, A., Z. Do-Quang, J. M. Audic, A. Liné, and M. Roustan. 2001. “Global and local mass transfer coefficients in wastewater treatment process by computational fluid dynamics.” Chem. Eng. Process. 40 (2): 187–194. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0255-2701(00)00138-0.
Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. 2021. Technical guidance manual on computational fluid dynamics modeling of chlorine contact Basins—Determining baffling factors through the use of CFD modeling. Glendale, CO: Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment.
ERCOFTAC (European Research Community on Flow, Turbulence, and Combustion). 2000. Industrial computational fluid dynamics of single-phase flows. Brussels, Belgium: ERCOFTAC.
ERCOFTAC (European Research Community on Flow, Turbulence, and Combustion). 2008. Computational fluid dynamics of dispersed multi-phase flows. Brussels, Belgium: ERCOFTAC.
Fayolle, Y. 2006. “Modelisation de l’hydrodynamique et du transfert d’oxygene dans les chenaux d’aeration, Modeling of hydrodynamics and oxygen transfer in oxidation ditches.” Doctoral thesis, INSA de Toulouse and Cemagref, Section VI.2.1. Cemagref Unité de Recherche Hydrosystèmes et bioprocédés Parc de Tourvoie.
Fayolle, Y., A. Cockx, S. Gillot, M. Roustan, and A. Héduit. 2007. “Oxygen transfer prediction in aeration tanks using CFD.” Chem. Eng. Sci. 62 (24): 7163–7171. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2007.08.082.
Fayolle, Y., S. Gillot, A. Cockx, M. Roustan, and A. Héduit. 2006. “In situ local parameter measurements for CFD modeling to optimize aeration.” In Proc., 79th Annual Technical Exhibition and Conf. WEFTEC, Water Environment Foundation. Antony Cedex: Cemagref Unité de Recherche Hydrosystèmes et bioprocédés Parc de Tourvoie.
Ferziger, J. H., M. Perić, and R. L. Street. 2002. Vol. 3 of Computational methods for fluid dynamics, 196–200. Berlin: Springer.
Fluence. 2020. “What is biological wastewater treatment.” Accessed October 20, 2022. https://www.fluencecorp.com/what-is-biological-wastewater-treatment.
Fotovat, F., X. T. Bi, and J. R. Grace. 2017. “Electrostatics in gas-solid fluidized beds: A review.” Chem. Eng. Sci. 173 (Dec): 303–334. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2017.08.001.
Garofalo, G., and J. Sansalone. 2019. “Modeling annual particulate matter separation and washout by unit operations with CFD.” J. Environ. Eng. 146 (1): 04019101. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001620.
Gupta, H. V., K. J. Beven, and T. Wagener. 2006. Model calibration and uncertainty estimation, encyclopedia of hydrological sciences. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
Karpinska, A. M., and J. Bridgeman. 2016. “Review—CFD-aided modelling of activated sludge systems: A critical review.” Water Res. 88 (Jan): 861–879. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2015.11.008.
Lee, J. 2018. “Development of a model to determine the baseline mass transfer coefficient in bioreactors (aeration tanks).” Water Environ. Res. 90 (12): 2126–2140. https://doi.org/10.2175/106143017X15131012187999.
Lee, J. 2022. “Theoretical translation of clean water to wastewater oxygen transfer rates.” J. Environ. Eng. 149 (1): 04022085. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0002081.
Liu, X., and J. Zhang, eds. 2019. CFD applications in water, wastewater, and stormwater. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Liu, X., J. Zhang, K. Nielsen, and Y. A. Cataño-Lopera. 2020. “Challenges and opportunities of computational fluid dynamics in water, wastewater, and stormwater treatment.” J. Environ. Eng. 146 (11): 02520002. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)EE.1943-7870.0001815.
McCutcheon, S. C., Z. Donwei, and S. Bird. 1990. Model calibration, validation and use: Manual for performing waste load allocations. USEPA-823-R-92-003. Washington, DC: USEPA.
Metcalf and Eddy, Inc., G. Tchobanoglous, H. Stensel, R. Tsuchihashi, and R. Burton. 2014. Wastewater engineering: Treatment and resource recovery. 5th ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Education.
NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration). 2021. “Overview of CFD verification and validation.” Accessed August 24, 2022. https://www.grc.nasa.gov/www/wind/valid/tutorial/overview.html.
Nopens, I., D. Sudrawska, W. Audenaert, D. Fernandes del Pozo, and U. Rehman. 2020. “Water and wastewater CFD and validation: Are we losing the balance?” Water Sci. Technol. 81 (8): 1636–1645. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2020.181.
Nopens, I., E. Torfs, J. Ducoste, P. A. Vanrolleghem, and K. V. Gernaey. 2015. “Population balance models: A useful complementary modelling framework for future WWTP modeling.” Water Sci. Technol. 71 (2): 159–167. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2014.500.
Oberkampf, W. L., and T. G. Trucano. 2002. “Verification and validation in computational fluid dynamics.” Prog. Aerosp. Sci. 38 (3): 209–272.
OpenFOAM. 2018. OpenFOAM V6 user guide: 4.4 Numerical schemes. London: OpenFOAM Foundation.
Pan, H., X.-Z. Chen, X.-F. Liang, L.-T. Zhu, and Z.-H. Luo. 2016. “CFD simulations of gas–liquid–solid flow in fluidized bed reactors—A review.” Powder Technol. 299 (Oct): 235–258. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.powtec.2016.05.024.
Pathapati, S., A. Mazzei, J. Jackson, P. Overbeck, J. Bennett, and C. Cobar. 2016. “Optimization of mixing and mass transfer in pipeline ozone contactors using computational fluid dynamics.” Ozone Sci. Eng. 38 (4): 245–252. https://doi.org/10.1080/01919512.2016.1188682.
Pires, J. C. M., M. C. M. Alvim-Ferraz, and F. G. Martins. 2017. “Photobioreactor design for microalgae production through computational fluid dynamics: A review.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 79 (Nov): 248–254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2017.05.064.
Pirkl, L. 2021. “CFD is not a calculator.” Accessed November 21, 2022. https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/cfd-calculator-lubos-pirkl/?trackingId=JfDIkRQzmAbVxWI7CKI0zg%3D%3D.
Rehman, U. 2016. “Next generation bioreactor models for wastewater treatment systems by means of detailed combined modelling of mixing and biokinetics.” Doctoral dissertation, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent Univ.
Rehman, U., W. Audenart, Y. Amelinck, T. Maere, M. Arnaldos, and I. Nopens. 2017. “How well-mixed is well mixed? Hydrodynamic-biokinetic model integration in an aerated tank of a full-scale water resource recovery facility.” Water Sci. Technol. 76 (8): 1950–1965. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2017.330.
Rosso, D., S. E. Lothman, M. K. Jeung, P. Pitt, W. J. Gellner, A. L. Stone, and D. Howard. 2011. “Oxygen transfer and uptake, nutrient removal, and energy footprint of parallel full-scale IFAS and activated sludge processes.” Water Res. 45 (18): 5987–5996. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2011.08.060.
Rosso, D., and M. K. Stenstrom. 2006. “Surfactant effects on a-factors in aeration systems.” Water Res. 40 (7): 1397–1404. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2006.01.044.
Sharma, S. K., and V. R. Kalamkar. 2016. “Computational fluid dynamics approach in thermo-hydraulic analysis of flow in ducts with rib roughened walls—A review.” Renewable Sustainable Energy Rev. 55 (Mar): 756–788. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2015.10.160.
Solsvik, J. 2018. “Lagrangian modeling of mass transfer from a single bubble rising in stagnant liquid.” Chem. Eng. Sci. 190 (Nov): 370–383. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ces.2018.06.002.
Uby, L. 2019. “Next steps in clean water oxygen transfer testing—A critical review of current standards.” Water Res. 157 (Jun): 415–434. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.watres.2019.03.063.
USNRC (US National Regulatory Commission). 2013. Validation of a computational fluid dynamics method using horizontal dry cask simulator data. NUREG/CR-7274. Washington, DC: USNRC.
Versteeg, H. K., and W. Malalasekera. 2007. An introduction to computational fluid dynamics: The finite volume method. London: Pearson Education.
Wang, R. Q., A. W. K. Law, E. E. Adams, and O. B. Fringer. 2011. “Large-eddy simulation of starting buoyant jets.” Environ. Fluid Mech. 11 (6): 591–609. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10652-010-9201-0.
Wicklein, E., D. Batstone, J. Ducoste, J. Laurent, A. Griborio, J. Wicks, S. Saunders, R. Samstag, O. Potier, and I. Nopens. 2015. “Good modelling practice in applying computational fluid dynamics for WWTP modeling.” Water Sci. Technol. 73 (5): 969–982. https://doi.org/10.2166/wst.2015.565.
Xi, L., D. W. Yin, and J. S. Park. 2021. CFD modeling of complex processes—Multiscale and multiphysics challenges. Basel, Switzerland: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute.
Yang, J., W. J. Du, and J. Zhang. 2017. “Rapid analysis of effluent water quality in activated sludge systems using computational fluid dynamics.” In Proc., World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2017. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Zhang, J. 2014. “Numerical simulation of flow in ozonation process.” Ph.D. thesis, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Univ. of South Florida.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Published online: Aug 2, 2023
Published in print: Oct 1, 2023
Discussion open until: Jan 2, 2024
ASCE Technical Topics:
- Building design
- Business management
- Chemical properties
- Chemistry
- Computational fluid dynamics technique
- Computer aided design
- Decision making
- Decision support systems
- Design (by type)
- Dissolved gases
- Engineering fundamentals
- Environmental engineering
- Flow (fluid dynamics)
- Fluid dynamics
- Fluid flow
- Fluid mechanics
- Gases
- Hydrologic engineering
- Infrastructure
- Models (by type)
- Physical models
- Practice and Profession
- Water and water resources
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.
Cited by
- Bushra Tasnim, Xing Fang, Xueqian Li, Joel Hayworth, Hydrodynamic and Water Quality Simulations in the Perdido and Wolf Bay System under Various Scenarios, World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2024, 10.1061/9780784485477.066, (752-761), (2024).