Tutorial 4: Hydraulic Turbine Francis

1 NUMECA Software
2 Prerequisites
3 Problem Description
4 Preparation

NUMECA Software
The resolution of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) problems involves three main steps:

spatial discretization of the flow equations,

flow computation,
visualization of the results.

To answer these questions, NUMECA has developed a Flow INtegrated Environment for internal and Turbomachinery
assimilations called FINE™/Turbo. The environment integrates the following tools:

IGG™ is an Interactive Geometry modeler and Grid generator, based on structured multi-block techniques.
AutoGrid5™ is a three-dimensional Automated Grid generation software tool, dedicated to
turbomachinery applications. Similarly to IGG™, it is based on structured multi-block techniques.
Euranus is a state-of-the-art multi-block flow solver, able to simulate Euler and Navier-Stokes equations in the
laminar, transitional and turbulent regimes.
CFView™ is a highly interactive flow visualization and post-treatment software tool.
FINE™ Graphical User Interface is a user-friendly environment that includes the different software. It integrates the
concept of projects and allows the user to achieve complete simulations, going from the grid generation to flow
visualization, without the need of file manipulation.

A turbomachine is a device in which the energy is transferred either to or from a continuously flowing fluid by the dynamic
action of one or more moving blade rows. It plays a major role in particular in aircraft, marine, space (liquid rockets) and
land propulsion systems but also in hydraulic, gas and steam turbine applications. It is also used in industrial pipeline and
processing equipment such as gas, petroleum and water pumping plants. Other applications can be related to heart-
assist pumps, industrial compressors and refrigeration plants, and more.

The turbomachinery field includes turbines, pumps, fans, compressors. A turbomachine is composed of several basic
elements including the blade (also called vane if it is non-rotating), hub, and shroud. Several technological effects
involving clearances, seal leakages and cooling holes among others can complete the machine. Due to the complexity of
the blade shapes, the presence of technological elements and the rotation of machine, the nature of the flow is strongly
three-dimensional, often depicting complex flow paths.

This tutorial is particularly adapted to the simulation of a hydraulic turbine. It makes use of FINE™/Turbo and describes
how to deal with the specific options implemented in FINE™ environment. In this tutorial you will learn how to:

define multi-rows;
generate and optimize the blade-to-blade mesh;
check for mesh quality;
manage fluid database;
manage preconditioning parameters;
model rotor-stator interface using mixing plane approach;
set up boundary and initial conditions;
numerical process management;
select adequate outputs;
control calculation process;
check for convergence;
visualize and analyze results.

Prerequisites
This tutorial does not require any prior experience with the menu structure in FINE™/Turbo.

Problem Description
The problem considers a Francis hydraulic turbine with medium/high specific speed. It has been designed at IMHEF for an
experimental research study in the hydraulic laboratory. The model has been used as a test case in the 1989 GAMM
workshop.

The spiral casing of the GAMM turbine has been designed to ensure a constant meridional velocity distribution, and fillets
have been added on both sides of the distributor inlet in order to achieve well-defined inlet conditions. The distributor
consists of 24 stay vanes and 24 guide vanes. The runner includes 13 blades, with an external diameter of 0.4 m.

Preparation
Start FINE™/Turbo v9.1-x ("x" symbol corresponds to the current release number):

For LINUX and UNIX systems, you can access the FINE™/Turbo v9.1 graphical user interface directly with the
following command line:

localhost % fine -niversion 91_x -print

For WINDOWS systems, you can access FINE™/Turbo v9.1 graphical user interface from the start menu by
going to /Programs/NUMECA software/Fine91_x/FINE.
Click the Create a New Project icon to create a new project.

Select your directory of choice to store the project.

Enter the project name in the dialog box as <Tutorial4> <Enter>.
Click on Create Grid File to access the interactive geometry modeler and grid generator IGG™.

Access the menu Modules, select AutoGrid5 and confirm (yes) to enter AutoGrid5™ v9.1.
You are now ready to start the grid generation process and mesh the FRANCIS TURBINE configuration! Click here to start
the mesh generation...
Tutorial 4: Mesh Generation
1 Create Mesh Project
2 Load Geometry
3 Mesh Wizard
4 Mesh Visualization
5 Check Boundary Conditions & Mesh Quality
6 Save Project

The AutoGrid5™ v9.1 graphical user interface includes several windows that enable the simultaneous visualization of the geometry and the mesh of the turbomachine in the me
views. The access to main menu and controls is provided through a menu bar and a quick access pad, and is completed with a tool/icon bar. The execution of the different
in the message box at the bottom of the interface.

A step by step approach is provided in the following lines. It aims at driving you through various steps that need to be executed from the creation of the mesh project to the va

Create Mesh Project

1. Select Basic Mode if necessary in the toolbar.

The Basic Mode will give access to a simplified graphical user interface. For most projects the available parameters in the Basic Mode are sufficient.

2. Close the Open Turbo Project Wizard dialog box.

The Open Turbo Project Wizard dialog box enables the user to retrieve a ".trb" file (with associated grid) including the data required to regenerate a mesh on an
this tutorial, these data will be progressively introduced based on the geometry of the project case.

3. Go to File -> New Project.

4. Click yes to close the active project.
5. Choose Initialize a New Project from a geomTurbo File.

Load Geometry
6. Locate and select "stay.geomTurbo" (geometry defined in [Millimeter]) in the dialog box and click Open.

The ".geomTurbo" file format is structured in three main blocks: the header, the channel and the row definitions.

The channel format contains the definition of the turbomachinery meridional contour (hub, shroud). It is composed by curves defined by a set of points. The ".g
channel curves named respectively "hub" and "shroud".

The row definition contains the geometry of a complete row. It is defined by a row name, a row type, a periodicity and the definition of the main blade and p
and splitter are defined by the pressure and the suction side surfaces identified by the keywords "pressure" and "suction". Both surfaces are specified by a set of cro
spanwise location from hub to shroud. Each section is defined by a set of points from leading to trailing edge.

7. Click Add Row.

8. Go to row 2 −> Blades −> Main Blade, left-click Main Blade.
9. Right-click to access the contextual menu and select Define Geometry.
10. Locate and select "guide.geomTurbo" (geometry defined in [Millimeter]) in the dialog box and click Open.
11. Repeat step 7 to step 10 to import "run.geomTurbo" for row 3.
 The three elements are displayed in the meridional view corresponding to the three parts of the turbine. The location of the rotor/stator mixing plane is automati
default location is set at the average meridional location between the downstream trailing edge and the upstream leading edge.

12. Set geometry units:

Go to Geometry Definition -> Units.

Change the units to Millimeters.

The "units" of the imported geometry must be changed to impose a scaling factor and a corresponding tolerance that will ensure correct treatment during the gri
example the intersection. Unless it is necessary to change this, we recommend keeping the default settings (Scale Factor set to 1).

Mesh Wizard
13. Left-click Row Definition −> row 1 in the Quick Access Pad (QAP) to activate the current row, if not done already.
14. Left-click Row Wizard in the toolbar.

15. Click yes to start the wizard and to reset the mesh generation parameters.

The wizard is divided into 6 steps:

the geometry check (optional),

16. Click yes to confirm the geometry check (step 1).

During the geometry check of a blade, AutoGrid5™ performs the following operations: check blade definition, check orientation of the blade section curves, det
section curves and between the blade sections. More details can be found in the AutoGrid5™ User Manual.

17. Click Next in the dialog box to define the machine characteristics (step 2).
18. Select Francis Turbine as Row type in the Blade row type dialog box.
19. Enter the Periodicity (number of blades) if necessary. Left-click inside the string input area and type <24>, press <Enter> to confirm.
20. Select Stator.

21. Click Next in the dialog box to start the gap and fillet definition (step 3).
22. Keep all data unchanged (no gap or fillet).
23. Click Next>> in the dialog box to start the flow path definition (step 4).
24. Set Spanwise Grid Point Number to <57> <Enter> (corresponding to the flow paths number) in the Layer Control dialog box.

When increasing or decreasing the number of flow paths, the number of flow paths in the gaps and fillets is automatically together with the percentage of consta
decrease of the spanwise expansion ratio.

25. Estimate the width of the first cell at the wall:

The width of the first cell close to the wall must be selected with care since the quality of the flow solution will often depend upon the capture of the flow phenomena
develop along the solid walls.

Depending upon the turbulence model selected, NUMECA recommends to locate the nearest grid point along the wall, at a distance that corresponds to parietal coo
Reynolds number models) or 30-50 (high Reynolds number models). Assuming thermal effects must be modelled accurately, y+ can reach values as low as 0.1.

The relation between the parietal coordinate y+ and width of the first cell close to the wall y is driven by the Blasius equation, expressed as follows for turbulent flow

where:

ywall is the distance of the nearest grid point to the wall (in meter);
Vref is a reference velocity of the flow, for instance the inlet velocity (in m/s);
υ is the kinematic viscosity of the fluid (in m2/s), i.e. the dynamic viscosity divided by the density;
Lref is a reference length of the test case (in meter);
y+ is a non-dimensional value.

In the present case, one can estimate that Vref=1.096 m/s, Lref=0.12m and υ=1.01e-6 m2/s. Assuming one wishes to get y+ =5 at the wall, it turns out that y = 10-4
Width = <0.1> [Millimeters] <Enter> in the Layer Control dialog box.

26. Click Next>> in the dialog box to start the blade-to-blade mesh definition (step 5).
27. Set the Number of Points (of the 3D mesh) around 500,000 by clicking the << or >> button in the B2B Control dialog box.
28. Click Preview B2B to plot the blade-to-blade mesh at mid-span: default O4H topology is used with additional upstream/downstream H-blocks.

The Full Visibility option allows the user to see the mesh moving in the blade-to-blade view when applying the optimization steps.

The default O4H topology includes 5 blocks:

the skin block is an O-mesh surrounding the blade;

the inlet block is a H-mesh located upstream the leading edge;
the outlet block is a H-mesh located downstream the trailing edge;
the up block is a H-mesh located above the blade section;
the down block is a H-mesh located under the blade section.

29. Select Skewness or Expansion Ratio to plot the orthogonality or expansion ratio field of the blade-to-blade mesh at mid-span.

30. Click Finish to end the initialization process (step 6).

31. Click no in order to set row 2 and row 3 before making the complete 3D Mesh Generation.

32. Define row 2 periodicity:

Double left-click row 2 in meridional view.

Impose a Periodicity of <24><Enter>.
Close dialog box.

33. Copy the settings of row 1 to row 2:

Left-click Row Definition -> Row List -> row 1.

Click Copy Row Topology in the toolbar ( ).

Left-click Row Definition -> Row List -> row 2.

Click Paste Row Topology in the toolbar ( ).

This copy/paste option is very useful to easily impose the same wizard settings for multiple rows in a multi-stage configuration.

34. Repeat step 13 to step 31 for row 3 with the following parameters:

Francis Turbine as Row type, Periodicity=<13>, Rotor, Rotation speed=<-500>.

Spanwise Grid Point Number=<57>, Wall Cell Width=<0.01> [Millimeters].
Set Number of Points around 600,000.

35. Under Row Definition, left-click Select All Rows.

36. Click Generate 3D in the toolbar ( ).

You can check the blade-to-blade mesh quality at the hub and/or shroud before generating the 3D mesh.

Go to Row Definition and click Select All Rows to select all rows. Go to Mesh Control -> Active B2B Layer to specify the flow path (layer) on which the me
blade view. By default, the active view is located at the mid-span of the machine (Active Layer (%span) set to 50). The layer selected for visualization is defined
hub (0%) to shroud (100%). Enter <0> <Enter> or <100> <Enter> in order to visualize the mesh at hub or shroud respectively.

Select Update B2B View to regenerate the blade-to-blade mesh on the new specified layer in the blade-to-blade view.

A detailed analysis of the mesh quality can be performed on a blade-to-blade mesh after generation. Information on orthogonality, aspect ratio and expansion ratio
clicking :

Select a row in the Row list <Enter>.

Select quality criteria using the Type pull-down menu.
Left-click Show chart to visualize the distribution of the selected criteria in the form of a histogram. The histogram is drawn for each row.

Left-click part of the histogram to plot the concerned cells in blade-to-blade view or select Display all cells to have an overview of the mesh quality.

Left-click the More info button to obtain information regarding the minimum and maximum values of the selected criteria.

Close the quality check box.

After performing the blade-to-blade mesh quality, the 3D mesh generation can be started by clicking Row Definition -> Select All Rows and then clicking the Gen

(
).
 Once 3D grid generation is completed, a grid quality check is performed and displayed. Minimum cell skewness, maximum expansion ratio and aspect ratio are
available for the entire mesh and separately for each entity (row, technological effect, bulb). Data related to grid quality report is automatically stored in a report file

37. Close the dialog box. The page can be reopened by clicking .

Mesh Visualization
38. Select the View -> view 3D Solid Mesh menu.
39. Left-click the View 3D button in the toolbar to visualize only the 3D view.

By default the 3D solid mesh is plotted on hub and blades. To remove the plot, select View −> hide 3D Solid Mesh.

40. Use the Repetition icon ( ) to toggle the repetition of the channel.

41. Use the View menu in the Quick Access Pad to toggle edge, mesh and/or solid shading.

Check Boundary Conditions & Mesh Quality

42. Check for boundary conditions by clicking .
43. Select UND under Type pull-down menu and press <Enter> to check that there are no patches in the patch list still set to an undefined type.

It is important to ensure that no undefined patches (UND) are present in the mesh. If this is not the case, they can usually be removed by increas
the Search procedure.

In a multi-stage context, interfaces between rotating and non-rotating rows are set to ROT.

44. Close the dialog box.

45. Left-click in the 3D view to activate the view (red border), if not done already.

46. Check for negative cells by clicking .

47. Click Apply.

be outlined in the mesh pushing View neg cells button. Beware that the visualization
started.

48. Click ok and Close the dialog box.

49. Left-click in the 3D view to activate the view (red border), if not done already.

50. Check for grid quality by clicking .

A detailed analysis of the mesh quality on a 3D mesh can only be performed once the 3D mesh has been generated. Information on orthogonality, angular deviation,
cell width can be outlined in this window using the Type pull-down menu.

51. Select block number (0 for all) - <Enter>.

52. Select quality criteria using the Type pull-down menu.
53. Left-click Show chart to visualize the distribution of selected criteria in the form of a histogram. The histogram is drawn per block (0 = all blocks).

54. Left-click part of the histogram to plot the concerned cells in the 3D view.
55. Left-click the More Info button to obtain information regarding minimum and maximum values of the selected criteria and block.

56. Close the dialog box.

Save Project
57. Go to File −> Save Project As <tutorial4> and press <Enter> to save the mesh and template files in the "_mesh" subfolder.

The mesh files (7 files) contain the multiblock mesh topology, geometry and grid points and the boundary condition types: ".bcs", ".cgns", ".geom" (".xmt_txt
".qualityReport". The meaning of these files is detailed in the User Manual.

The template files (4 files) contain the parameters and the geometry needed to reproduce the mesh with AutoGrid5™: ".geomTurbo" (".geom Turbo.xmt_txt"
".info". The meaning of these files is detailed in the User Manual.

Now that the mesh is saved, click here to set up the computation in FINE™/Turbo interface!
Tutorial 4: Flow Settings
1 Manage Computations
2 Set Flow Configuration
3 Set Boundary Conditions
4 Set Numerical Model
5 Set Initial Conditions
6 Select Outputs
7 Control Computation Steering
8 Save Project & Start Calculation
9 Follow Convergence Steering

The mesh generation process is now completed and one can now go back to the FINE™ graphical user interface in
order to set the various flow settings required before starting the computation. Access to the main menu and
controls is provided through a menu bar and a left-tree, and is complemented with an icon bar.

Access to the FINE™ graphical user interface from the AutoGrid5™ window is provided through
the Modules menu, simply confirm (yes) to enter FINE™ GUI v9.1. You are now back at the FINE™ graphical user
interface!

A step by step approach is provided in the following lines. It aims at driving you through the various steps that
need to be executed from mesh linking to the execution of the calculation.

Link Mesh & Project

58. Click the icon and link the mesh "tutorial4.igg" to the project.
59. Define grid units in Millimeters as the geometrical data inserted in the "tutorial4.geomTurbo" file expressed in
millimeters.
60. Select a Cylindrical and 3 Dimensions configuration.
61. Click OK to close the dialog box.

Manage Computations
62. Rename the default computation "computation_1" as "111_SA" in the Computations area, to indicate that the
calculation will be executed on the coarse grid first and will use the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence model. This can be
achieved by left-clicking the Rename button and replacing "computation_1" by "111_SA".

Similar operations can be executed using the New Computation or Remove buttons, to respectively
create a new computations or remove one.

Set Flow Configuration

63. Go to the tree in the left menu and double left-click the Configuration menu.
 Three sub-menus related to the definition of the working fluid, main flow characteristics and rotating
machinery definition can then be accessed.

64. Double left-click Fluid Model to access the fluid database.

65. Select WATER as a working fluid.

The fluid database includes a number of pre-defined fluids, covering various approximations in fluid
definition such as perfect gas, ideal (real) gas, incompressible fluids and fluids defined as a set of
thermodynamic tables (optional, subjected to a separate license key).

A default fluid database is provided with FINE™/Turbo. The user is also able to create and modify
his/her own fluids and/or use fluids created by others. More details about these functionalities are
available in the FINE™ User Manual.

66. Double left-click Flow Model to set the flow characteristics.

67. Select Steady to indicate that a steady solution is of interest.
68. Select Turbulent Navier-Stokes to activate the resolution of the RANS equations.
69. Select Spalart-Allmaras as the turbulence model of choice.

A number of turbulence models can be accessed through the interface. They require the additional
resolution of 0-equation to 4-equations, depending upon the model selected. Some of these models
do need a fine resolution near the wall (y+ ranging from 1 to 5), while others use the log-law concept
and can mimic the logarithmic law. More details can be found in the FINE™ User Manual.
70. Set Reynolds Number Related Info:

Set the Characteristic length = <0.4> < Enter>,

Set the Characteristic velocity = <10.472> < Enter>,
Set the Characteristic density = <1001> < Enter>.

Characteristic variables (length, velocity, density) are required to estimate the Reynolds number. This
number is used at few locations inside the flow solver, in particular inside the damping functions
related to the modeling of turbulence down to the walls.

The impact of the characteristic variables on the flow solution is very limited, but it is advised to select
values in accordance with characteristic quantities of the geometrical domain and flow conditions. As
an example, the characteristic length may be defined on the basis of a reference diameter or length at
inlet and/or outlet of the computational domain, and/or the chord of the blade (if any). The
characteristic velocity may be set to the averaged inlet velocity. The characteristic density is fixed as
the average (molecular) fluid density.

71. Double left-click Rotating Machinery to set the rotating machinery definition.
72. Select row1.
73. Check that the Rotational Speed = <0> <Enter>.
74. Select row2.
75. Check that the Rotational Speed = <0> <Enter>.
76. Select row3.
77. Check that the Rotational Speed = <-500> <Enter>.

In the cylindrical mode, the flow solver resolves the equations by default in a relative frame of
reference. As a consequence, the mesh attached to the blade is rotating at the same speed as the
blade, as far as no rotor-stator interaction is concerned. The rotation speed has been introduced in
AutoGrid5™ and transferred through FINE™, limiting user interventions in the graphical user
interface.

For rotating machinery projects, the axis of rotation must be aligned along the z-direction. In
addition, a unique rotation speed must be considered for the entire computational domain.

78. Left-click the Rotor-Stator tab.

 A separate ID is allocated to each rotor-stator interface, based on data included in AutoGrid5™. Each
interface is defined with 2 patches, located upstream and downstream of the rotor-stator interface.
The definition of ID’s and allocation of upstream/downstream sides is performed automatically
in FINE™.

79. Left-click the "outlet_id_10" patch.

80. Change the method to Full Non Matching Frozen Rotor (Periodicities Must Be Equal).
81. Change ID Number to <10> <Enter>.
82. Select Upstream for Side.
83. Select "inlet_id_10".
84. Change the method to Full Non Matching Frozen Rotor (Periodicities Must Be Equal).
85. Change ID Number to <10> <Enter>.
86. Select Downstream for Side.
87. Go through the remaining 2 groups and keep the default settings. This means that Conservative Coupling
by Pitchwise Row is used to treat the rotor-stator surface between row 2 and row 3.

Several methods, based on steady quasi 3D approximations, can be accessed to ensure a proper
treatment of rotor-stator interfaces.

The Conservative Coupling by Pitchwise Row method is the default option. It guarantees
an exact conservation of mass flow, momentum and energy through the interface and has
proven to be robust in most circumstances.
The Local Conservative Coupling method is recommended in projects coupling an impeller
with a volute, and has proven to offer more robustness than the Conservative Coupling by
Pitchwise Row in these cases.
The Full Non Matching Mixing Plane method guarantees an exact conservation of mass flow,
momentum and energy through the interface and relaxes several constraints with respect to
the preparation of the mesh. It is not activated as a default option but may be a candidate of
choice in some circumstances.
The Non Reflecting 1D Mixing Plane method is recommended when wave reflection is
observed at the interface, which can occur when the interface is close to the blade.
The Non Reflecting 2D Mixing Plane method is recommended when a shock wave is crossing
the interface, and can give a better representation of the shock wave.
The Full Non Matching Frozen Rotor method considers the rotor-stator interface as a perfect
connection and neglects the movement of the rotor in the connecting algorithm. In this
approach, the periodicities must necessarily be equal between the rotor and the stator.

The tab page related to Throughflow Blocks is not required in the frame of this tutorial. Please
consult the FINE™ User Manual for more details about the possibilities offered with the throughflow
module.

Set Boundary Conditions

88. Go to the tree in the left menu and double left-click the Boundary Conditions menu.

During the grid generation process, AutoGrid5™ defines the type of the boundary conditions to be
applied on each block face. The most common types are INLET, OUTLET, PERIODIC and SOLID
boundary conditions.

PERIODIC boundary conditions are set automatically by the flow solver and must not be modified by
the user.
 It is important to confirm each entry by pressing the <Enter> key.

89. Go to Mesh -> View On/Off to load the mesh into the FINE™ GUI.

This toggle menu is used to visualize the grid in FINE™. The parameters area will be overlapped by a
graphics window, and the small control button on the upper-left corner of the graphics window can be
used to resize the graphics area in order to visualize simultaneously the parameters and the mesh.

The selection of patches in the left column outlines the corresponding patch in the graphics area, thus
enabling a fast and easy visualization of the boundary conditions.

90. Go to the INLET tab:

Select Mass Flow Imposed (related patches must be grouped),

Select Velocity Direction,
Set Vr / V = <-0.5591> <Enter>,
Set Vt / V = <-0.829><Enter>,
Set Vz / V = <0> <Enter>,
Set mass flow = <361> <Enter>,
Set static temperature = <293> <Enter>,
Set Turbulence Viscosity = <1.1e-6> <Enter>.

91. Go to the OUTLET tab:

Select Pressure Imposed,

Select Averaged Static Pressure (related patches must be grouped),
Set Static Pressure = <80000> <Enter>.
 An averaged static pressure of 80000 Pa is fixed at the exit boundary of the computational domain.
Based on this data, at each iteration, the flow solver keeps the distribution of static pressure at the
exit and moves it to respect the averaged static pressure imposed.

92. Go to the SOLID tab and keep default settings.

For each row, patches including the keyword "hub" are by default collected in a unique group named
as "row_*_hub_(r.p.m.*)". Patches including the keyword "shroud" are grouped in "row_*_shroud".
Finally, patches of the blade are grouped in "row_*_blade_(r.p.m.*)". If part of the row is rotating,
the suffix _(r.p.m. rot_speed) is added to the group name. The presence of a tip gap is
automatically taken into account in the blade group, thus minimizing user intervention in
the definition of the boundary conditions. For a rotor, which is defined in AutoGrid5™, it is assumed
that the hub and the blade are fully rotating. The rotation speed takes the value introduced during the
mesh generation process. The shroud is assumed to be a fixed entity, with no rotation speed
assigned.

The rotation speed is usually considered as a constant for the entire patch (group). However, FINE™
integrates the possibility to define that only part of a patch is rotating (e.g. part of the hub). For the
Francis Turbine project, a constant rotational speed is considered.

The convergence of both axial thrust and torque can be monitored in the computational steering, to
make sure that both quantities have reached stable values at the end of the convergence process.
Both values are also available from the *.mf file located in the computation directory. The torque can
also be used for the calculation of the efficiency of the machine. It is common practice to enable force
and torque calculation on rotating patches only.
93. Go to Mesh -> View On/Off to toggle the mesh visualization, if needed.

Set Numerical Model

94. Go to the tree in the left menu and double left-click the Numerical Model menu.

This menu gives access to the most frequently used numerical parameters, including the Courant
Friedrichs Lewy (CFL) number and the selection of the grid level on which the simulation will apply. It
is important to confirm each entry by pressing the <Enter> key.

95. Keep CFL unchanged = <3>.

The CFL number drives the pseudo-time step selected to reach a steady state solution using the time-
marching method integrated in the flow solver. In combination with the 4-step Runge-Kutta
integration scheme included in the flow solver, it has a theoretical stability limit close to 2.8. However,
the additional implicit smoothing scheme can increase this value slightly, which justifies the default
value of 3.

The default value for CFL number is adequate in most cases, but can be decreased in some
circumstances, in particular at off-design conditions.

96. Define the grid level on which the simulation will apply:

The flow solver is based on an explicit time integration technique, which is accelerated by means of
dedicated multi-grid methods. To this end, several levels of intermediate grids must be generated
started from the finest one. This is achieved by taking one node over 2 in each I-, J- or K-directions,
starting from the finer grid level.

It is strongly advised to enable the definition of at least 3 grid levels, by carefully selecting the
number of nodes on every edge forming the patches and blocks. More details can be found in the
IGG™, AutoGrid5™ and FINE™ User Manuals.

In the FINE™ terminology, the finest grid level a user can access will be called 000, while the
intermediate and coarsest ones will be named the 111 and 222 level respectively, assuming 3 grid
levels can be selected.

Hybrid grid levels can theoretically be defined (e.g. 010 or 211). It is however not advised to use such
hybrid levels since it deforms the mesh in a preferential direction and thus possibly increasing the
aspect ratio. Consequently, the quality of the resulting mesh can be decreased.

Make sure that Current Grid Level = <1 1 1>,

Keep Number of Grid(s) = <2>,
Keep the Coarse Grid Initialization active.

In addition to the multi-grid acceleration technique, the number of iterations to convergence can be
significantly reduced activating the coarse grid initialization process. In that case, the simulation
starts on the coarsest grid level available, leading to fast convergence. Once done, the flow solver
automatically interpolates the current flow solution on the intermediate levels before the iterative
process is restarted. A similar process occurs until as the expected finest grid level is reached. The
iterative process is then pursued as long as the convergence criteria is not reached or the maximum
number of iterations is exceeded. More details can be found in the FINE™ User Manual.

Activate Expert Mode to access expert parameters for coarse grid initialization,
 Change the Maximum number of cycles per grid level = <400> <Enter>.

97. Define preconditioning parameters: keep default parameters.

Preconditioning is applied at low speed flows and/or modeling incompressible fluids. At low Mach
numbers, the convergence rate of the iterative process can be largely slowed down due to the
numerical formulation selected in the flow solver. The equations are then preconditioned to recover a
satisfactory rate of convergence. Preconditioning is controlled in the Hakimi method through a user
controlled parameter ß*.

This parameter ß is imposed by the user through a coefficient ß* and the characteristic
velocity Uref such that:

ß² = ß* . Uref²

Uref is the representative value of the maximum velocity in the flow field. For the user's convenience,
the constant Uref is however always set equal to the reference velocity specified in the Flow
Model page and used in the calculation of the Reynolds Number. In that case, Uref must be carefully
selected since it influences the convergence.

Set Initial Conditions

98. Go to the tree in the left menu and double left-click the Initial Solution menu.
99. Left-click the ROWS group.

The group is automatically created when the mesh is loaded into the FINE™ GUI. In complex projects,
hybrid initial solutions can be useful. In that case, a constant initial solution per block can be selected
for some groups, while others can for instance benefit from an initial solution from Turbomachinery.
Limitations related to the use of hybrid initial solutions are described in the FINE™ User Manual.

100. Select for turbomachinery to access the initial solution menu for turbomachinery.

Initial conditions can be selected in different forms, going from constant values per block to
throughflow based solutions. When running a rotating machinery project case, it is common practice
to select the initial solution for Turbomachinery. Based on a 1D estimation of the flow solution, the
initial solution for Turbomachinery often enables a drastic reduction in the number of iterations in
running 3D simulations. Inputs ("best estimation") related to static pressure at inlet and rotor-stator
interfaces (if it applies) are requested.

101. Left-click the inlet patch ("row_1_flux_1_Main_Blade_upStream_inlet").

102. Set Estimated Static Pressure = <100000> <Enter>.
103. Left-click the rotor/stator interface ID10.
104. Set Estimated Static Pressure = <90000> <Enter>.
105. Left-click the rotor/stator interface ID20.
106. Set Estimated Static Pressure = <50000> <Enter>.

Groups ID10 and ID20 are automatically created when the mesh is loaded into the FINE™ GUI. The
presence of an inlet condition is mandatory for use with the initial solution for turbomachinery.

Select Outputs
107. Go to the tree in the left menu and double left-click the Outputs menu.
108. Double left-click Computed Variables.

Quantities of interest in the simulation must be pre-selected in this menu. They will be stored in the
solution file (*.cgns) once the iterative process will be finished and/or during intermediate steps.
Quantities can be accessed both in the 3D field (Computed Variables) and/or in the meridional
plane (following circumferential averaging, see Azimuthal Averaged Variables). Additional data can
be selected on the solid walls and/or on predefined surfaces (Surface Averaged Variables).

The adequate selection of outputs of interest will reduce the size of the solution file. This is in
particular important when projects involving very fine meshes and/or unsteady capabilities are
managed.

109. Activate Static, Total Absolute and Total Relative Temperature if not yet active.
110. Activate Static, Total Absolute and Total Relative Pressure if not yet active.
111. Activate Density, Entropy, Rothalpy and Dynamic viscosity if not yet active.

112. Left-click the Velocities tab.

113. Activate Vxyz in absolute velocities section if not yet active.
114. Activate Wxyz in relative velocities section if not yet active.

Vxyz and Wxyz are the velocity vector fields in respectively the absolute and relative frame of
reference. The examination of solution quantities in the relative frame of reference is particularly
useful to observe the flow angles relative to the blade close to leading and trailing edge.

115. Left-click the Solid data tab.

116. Activate Static pressure, Static temperature, Cf, Relative velocity and y+ (in first inner cell) if not
yet active.
 Cf is known as the friction coefficient.

The parietal coordinate y+ is a direct function of the distance from the wall. Therefore, y+ = 0 at the
wall and takes a non-zero value at the center of the first cell close to the wall (also called "inner cell").
As a consequence, the examination of y+ "at the wall" should be understood as the examination
"in the first inner cell". Although it is not correct theoretically speaking, this concept is very often used
to ease the post-treatment and benefit from the existing solid surfaces.

117. Left-click the Turbulence tab.

118. Activate Wall distance and Turbulent Viscosity ratio if not yet active.

The analysis of the Turbulent Viscosity ratio field is often of major interest to ensure that the turbulent
quantities are computed accurately, according to the turbulence model and mesh refinement selected.

Running k-epsilon related models gives access to additional quantities in particular related to the
production term, the kinetic energy and dissipation rate fields. It is strongly advised to activate these
fields for post-treatment.

119. Double left-click Azimuthal Averaged Variables.

120. Go through the various tab pages and select the quantities as selected under Computed Variables.

Additionally, outputs can be re-directed using the PLOT3D format, using various formats. More details
can be found in the FINE™ User Manual.

Control Computation Steering

121. Go to the tree in the left menu and double left-click the Computation Steering menu.
122. Double left-click Control Variables.
123. Keep Maximum Number Of Iterations = <1000> <Enter>.
124. Keep Save Solution Every = <100> <Enter>.
125. Keep Convergence Criteria = <-6> <Enter>.

Depending upon the quality of the initial solution, the density of the mesh (number of nodes) and the
complexity of the underlying flow field, a few hundred to a few thousand iterations are typically
required to reach convergence. The iterative process is stopped once the convergence criteria
is reached over the entire domain or the maximum number of iterations is exceeded on the finest grid
level (000).
 The ability to select Minimum output offers the possibility to minimize the size of the solution files.
In this case, the flow solution is stored only once the iterative process is finished, and limited
information is provided during the intermediate storage. This limited information allows the user to
perform a restart procedure from an existing flow solution, but cannot be visualized within CFView™.

Static memory allocation is enabled inside the flow solver. A best estimate of the memory required to
run and save the flow solution is calculated and proposed as a default. However, in some
circumstances, the estimation may be too low and it is then require to manually increase the number
of reals or integers required to drive the solution to success. In that case, click Set the requested
memory and increase the inputs accordingly.

Save Project & Start Calculation

126. Open the File menu and Save the project.

The project parameters are stored in the *.iec file. This file includes the entire set of parameters
required to reproduce the project, excluding the mesh.

127. Press the icon and click Start Flow Solver in the dialog box to start the calculation: a task manager
window will appear.
 The calculation will start in serial mode (1 processor) on the local machine. FINE™ includes multi-
processor capabilities and the ability to manage computations through a task manager and/or in batch
mode. More details can be found in the FINE™ User Manual.

Follow Convergence Steering

128. Double left-click Convergence History.

The evolution of averaged residuals on the entire domain can be observed during the convergence
process. Similarly, the evolution of the mass flow balance (in/ out) and/or global quantities (isentropic
efficiency, torque and axial thrust on solid walls selected in the boundary conditions page, pressure
ratio) can be displayed.

Local and global quantities may also be added for follow-up during the convergence process.
However, their representation in the graphical area will be effective only once they will be added, and
past history will not be available. More details can be found in the FINE™ User Manual.

The examination of residuals per block and/or for a given primitive variable can be achieved accessing
the monitorTurbo tool. The tool is included in the FINE™ package and can be accessed through the
adequate command line. More details can be found in the FINE™ User Manual.

129. Once the calculation has converged or reaches the maximum number of iterations allowed on the current grid
level, the flow solver stops.
130. The final solution is then stored in the solution file (*.cgns) and the task manager window is closed.
 To check the convergence of the computation, NUMECA recommends observing the evolution of
multiple criteria including (a) an adequate decrease in residuals (minimum 3 orders of magnitude);
(b) complete stabilization of global performances; (c) stabilization of mass flow in/out, with
satisfactory correspondence (usually less than 0.5% difference between in/out).

Now that the iterative process is over, click here to start the visualization of the solution within the
post-treatment tool CFView™ integrated in FINE™/Turbo.
Tutorial 4: Post Processing
1 Select Surfaces
2 Select Quantity
3 Select Representation
4 Blade-to-Blade View
5 Turbomachinery Mode

The iterative process is now over and the flow solution is stored in the ".cgns" file. The number of nodes in a
typical mesh usually ranges from few hundred thousands to several millions, which makes visualization delicate in
most cases. As part of the FINE™ environment, NUMECA proposes the use of the home-made visualization and
post-treatment tool CFView™. CFView™ is entirely integrated in the environment and includes numerous tools
which are particularly best suited for the analysis of turbomachinery configurations.

Access to CFView™ from the FINE™ graphical user interface is provided through the Modules menu, or

alternatively by pressing the icon.

A step by step approach is provided in the following lines. It aims at driving you through the various steps that
need to be executed from reading the solution to the extraction of the main results. CFView™ automatically opens
the ".run" file associated with the active computation.

After running turbomachinery computation and assuming some variables have been selected in
the Azimuthal Averaged Variables section of the FINE™ graphical user interface output page, CFView™
proposes the user to open the azimuthal averaged solution first. Otherwise, the full 3D solution will be opened.

131. Activate View the azimuthal averaged solution.

132. Left-click Start CFView.

You will now enter CFView™ !

Select Surfaces
133. Left-click "domain1" and "domain9" while holding <Shift> in the Surfaces area, then right click and
choose Select in the pop-up menu to activate "domain1" to "domain9".

Select Quantity
134. Go to the Quantity menu.
135. Enter the Field Data -> Basic Quantities sub-menu.
136. Select quantity Wxyz.
 All quantities selected in the FINE™ graphical user interface are transferred to CFView™. However,
additional derived output can be accessed directly from the visualization and post-treatment tool,
including vector components, gradients, divergence and curl of selected quantities. New quantities,
defined as an arithmetic combination of existing quantities possibly combined with regular operations
(trigonometric functions, logarithmic functions,...) can furthermore be created.

Select Representation
137. Access the Representation menu.
138. Select Vector Type... .
139. Activate Color Uniform.

140. Click Apply and Close the dialog box.

Once the candidate quantity for visualization is selected, the user must to choose a representation
mode. Representation is typically executed in the form of a vector field or streamlines. More details
can be found in the CFView™ User Manual.

141. Select Vector On Grid Nodes ... in the Representation menu.

142. Adapt Step in the respective I and J directions at <3> and <2>.
143. Click Apply and Close the dialog box.

CFView™ offers the possibility to superpose representation modes. In the present case, the color
contour of the relative velocity magnitude will be superposed to the relative velocity vector field in
order to clearly identify the acceleration of the flow at the bend.

144. Go to Quantity -> Field Data -> Vector Components -> Wxyz sub-menu.
145. Select Magnitude of Wxyz to add the relative velocity magnitude to the list of available quantities.
146. Open the Representation menu.
147. Select Color Contour −> Smooth.

148. Go to the Representation menu.

149. Select Cartesian Plot -> Along Section.
150. Left-click and drag in the graphics area to select the first and second point of the section.
151. Left-click on the Cartesian plot window to activate it (red border).
152. Right-click and select Show H Grid Lines.
153. Right-click and select Show V Grid Lines.

154. Left-click the curve.

155. Right-click and select Curve Type.
156. Change Thickness from 2 to <1>.
157. Go to the Marker tab.
158. Change Symbol to Circle.
159. Change Size from 0.4 to <0.3>.
160. Change color to <red>.
161. Click Apply.

162. Left-click the Close button.

163. Left-click anywhere inside the Cartesian plot window.
164. Go to the View menu.
165. Select Maximize.

CFView™ offers the possibility to create and arrange Cartesian plots in different manners, with
numerous options related to the type, thickness and colors of the lines and symbols. The
manipulations are done interactively, mainly with the help of contextual menus. In addition, CFView™
includes a powerful project and windows based management, giving the user the possibility to open
multiple projects and manage several windows simultaneously. More details can be found in the
CFView™ User Manual.

3D Analysis
In the previous section, attention has been focused on the management and creation of plots in the
meridional plane, by means of the azimuthal averaged view. The creation of 3D plots is based on the
same concept of quantity selection and representation explained in the above sections. However,
since the plane of drawing is no longer two-dimensional, there is a need to select and/or create a
surface for representation first.

166. Go to the File menu.

167. Select Quit CFView to quit CFView™ and choose yes to confirm.

168. Access CFView™ again from the FINE™ GUI by pressing the icon.
169. Deactivate View the azimuthal averaged solution.
170. Click Start CFView.

You will now enter 3D analysis mode in CFView™ !

171. Access the Geometry menu.
172. Select Boundary to deactivate boundary representation.

Boundary activation/deactivation is used as a toggle and acts on all selected surfaces. Fast access is
ensured using the binding key <b>.

173. Double Left-click the following check boxes: "row1_shroud", "row2_shroud", "row3_shroud_(r.p.m.-500)"
inside the Surfaces area to deactivate the set of patches that define the shroud entity. Groups
"row1_hub_(r.p.m.0)", "row1_blade", "row2_hub_(r.p.m.0)", "row2_blade", "row3_hub_(r.p.m.-500)",
"row3_blade_(r.p.m.-500)" are the only entities that remain active at this moment.

Selection of surfaces for representation is controlled through the Surfaces area. Alternatively,
identical operations can be executed from the Geometry menu.

Patches flagged as solids are selected as the default surfaces for representation. Groups created in
the boundary condition area inside FINE™ are transferred directly to CFView™, so that the selection of
surface entities can be performed just in a few clicks.
 Fast selection of a group of surfaces in a large list including numerous surfaces, which are partly
checked/unchecked, can be done by first left-clicking (combined with <Ctrl> or <Shift> for multiple
surfaces) on the target surface(s) desired for representation, followed by a right-click to get the
contextual menu and choosing Select.

174. Go to the Geometry menu.

175. Select Boundary again to activate boundary representation on active surfaces.
176. Go to the Geometry menu once more.
177. Select Grid to display the surface mesh on active surfaces.

Fast access to mesh representation is ensured using the binding key <g>.

178. Access the Render menu.

179. Select Shading -> Gouraud to shade active surfaces.

180. Make use of the Viewing buttons to modify the representation mode and locate the Francis turbine to
outline the blades and hub in a clear way.
181. Press the binding key <g> to deactivate the mesh on active surfaces.
182. Go to the Geometry menu.
183. Select Repetition Number.
184. Set the number of repetitions to <Max> and press <Enter>. The repetitions for each group are automatically
set to their respective maximums.

185. Right-click to quit.

186. Open the Geometry menu.
187. Select Repetition on/off.

188. Go to the File menu.

189. Select Print ... .
 Pictures can be printed in different formats, either on the active or graphics windows. Information can
be introduced in a banner, possibly with current date of execution. Options related to picture
definition can also be modified.

190. Select Active View.

191. Set banner to <FRANCIS TURBINE> and press <Enter>.
192. Set the format to PNG.

193. Click OK.

194. Set the picture name and appropriate location.
195. Click Save.

The selection of Graphics Windows is recommended to insert several pictures in a unique file, as
they appear on the graphical window (WYSIWYG = what you see is what you get mode).

The ".png" format is often the preferred choice for printing.

196. Go to Update -> Delete -> All.

197. Go to Geometry -> Repetition on/off.

198. Click the icon to fit the geometry.

199. Select Quantity -> Solid Data -> y+.
200. Select Representation -> Color Contour -> Strip.
201. Select Representation -> Scalar Range -> Colormap Set Range.
202. Set the range to <0 30> in the keyboard area and press <Enter>.

The parietal coordinate y+ is now enabled on active surfaces (hub and blade). The range of
representation has been adapted automatically to variations on the selected surfaces, so as to outline
details as effectively as possible.

203. Make use of the Viewing buttons to modify the representation mode and find a suitable viewpoint.

204. Access the Representation menu.

205. Select Isolines -> Isolines.
206. Activate increment mode.
207. Change Value to <1> <Enter>.
208. Set min range to <0> <Enter>.
209. Set max range to <30> <Enter>.
210. Activate Color Uniform.
211. Click Apply button.
212. Close the dialog box.

Gradients are clearly observed near the leading and trailing edge of the blades, consequently locally
driving y+ values up to about 30. However, the calculation is on grid level 111 and it is expected that
a calculation on the finest available mesh (level 000) will reduce y+ by about a factor 2. This allows
the main characteristics of the flow to be outlined in a clear and elegant manner.

Blade-to-Blade View
213. Go to Update -> Delete -> All.
214. Go to Representation -> Colormap to remove the colormap.
215. Open the Render menu.
216. Select Shading -> Gouraud.
217. Go to the Geometry menu.
218. Select Blade to Blade Surface ... .
219. Set Surface type to Blade to blade.
220. Set S to <0.5> and press <Enter> (section located 50% spanwise).
221. Click the Apply button.

222. Click the Save button.

223. Click Close to quit the dialog box.
 CFView™ integrates the possibility to create cuts at constant spanwise position (also called "blade-to-
blade" planes). This capability is especially useful when the endwalls are not planar. The surface for
representation at constant spanwise position is then created based on linear interpolation between
the endwalls.

Pressing the Save button in the dialog box creates an additional surface for representation in
the Surfaces area, enabling quantity selection and representation as discussed in the previous
sections.

224. Left-click CUT1 in the Surfaces area.

225. Right-click to access the contextual menu.
226. Choose Select in order to select CUT1 as the only active surface for representation.

227. Go to the Quantity menu.

228. Select Field Data -> Basic Quantities -> Absolute Total Pressure.
229. Open the Representation menu.
230. Select Color Contour -> Smooth.
231. Open the Representation menu again.
232. Select Scalar Range -> Colormap Optimum Range.

Colormap Optimum Range restricts the bounds of the colormap to those related to active surfaces
instead of the complete 3D domain. This capability is useful to outline a number of details in a clearer

manner. It can also be accessed by pressing the icon .

233. Left-click the colormap.

234. Right-click and select Move or Resize.
235. Drag and drop the colormap to an appropriate location.
236. Move the mouse to a corner of the colormap to adjust the size.

It is advised to put the colormap at a location where it does not interfere with the representation, to
avoid any difficulty in the interpretation of the results.

237. Left-click the colormap.

238. Right-click and select Smooth Only.

Turbomachinery Mode
239. Open the File menu.
240. Select Turbomachinery.
241. Choose Load Flow Solver Pitch Average under Meridional Average.
242. Click Ok.
You have now entered the Turbomachinery mode! It gives simultaneous access to meridional,
meridional average, blade-to-blade and 3D views.

Actions required for surface representation, quantity selection and representation apply similarly to
those described in the previous sections. More details can be found in the CFView™ User Manual.