Geometry - Region - Physics Continuum

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Geometry

 

As in the simulation with virtual disks, the wind turbine studied is the Repower MM70 :

 

As it is difficult to create a turbine geometry from scratch in StarCCM+, a possible solution is to import an *.stl file created with a CAD software. It is easy to find one on the internet. The one used here is taken from the website GrabCAD.

 

Firstly, the *.stl geometry file is imported : Geometry $\rightarrow$ right click on 3D-CAD models $\rightarrow$ New $\rightarrow$ right click on 3D-CAD model 1 $\rightarrow$ import $\rightarrow$ CAD models.

Next, the idea is to modify the bodies to be as close as possible to the geometry of the MM70.

Here, mainly Scaling is used. Finally :

After this step being done, parts need to be created : here, to simplify, only blades and the nacelle will be represented.

Geometry $\rightarrow$  3D-CAD models $\rightarrow$ 3D-CAD model 1 $\rightarrow$ bodies $\rightarrow$ right click on the body $\rightarrow$ New geometry part.

Now, let us create the domain : right click on Part $\rightarrow$ New Shape Part $\rightarrow$ Block. Be careful to create a domain big enough to avoid problems of limit conditions having an impact on the solution. Split the domain's surface Domaine $\rightarrow$ Surfaces $\rightarrow$ right click on Surface $\rightarrow$ Split by angles. Rename the surfaces created (inlet, outlet, side, floor...).

The next step is to create the moving part : it is defined as

To do that, create a cylinder which include the geometry (Part $\rightarrow$ New Shape Part $\rightarrow$ Cylinder). Then, select both part (the geometry part and the cylinder) $\rightarrow$ Boolean $\rightarrow$ Substract parts. Do the same as before to split the surfaces.

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The region

Select both the domain and Substract $\rightarrow$ Assign Parts to region :

Rename the regions : domain and moving_region.

Now, create an interface : select both region $\rightarrow$ right click $\rightarrow$ Create interface $\rightarrow$ Overset Mesh. Check that the interface node created has the moving region as region-0 and the domain as region-1.

Set the boundary conditions : for the moving_region, everything has a type "wall" excepted the cylinder surface whose type is "Overset mesh". For the domain :

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The Physics Continuum

To create a physics continuum right click on Continua $\rightarrow$ New $\rightarrow$ Physics Continuum. Now select the models : right click on models $\rightarrow$ Select Models. Select :

It is now generally necessary to add a source term : "This source term is required for such cases because the overset mesh method is not conservative and comes with an interpolation error that prevents residuals from converging. STAR-CCM+ automatically calculates the source term." (starCCM+ documentation).
To activate it : right click on Models $\rightarrow$ Edit $\rightarrow$ Segregated Solver

It is now possible to put initial conditions for the velocity (10 m/s here) and turbulence intensity (0.12) :

It is the good moment to set up the boundary conditions (0.12 as turbulence intensity and 10m/s as entering velocity):

 

 

The next step is the creation of the mesh