Hello CFD collegues

I am recently involved in modeling and oil platform, using the FLUENT code. To speed up calculating time, I modeled the regions on the platform, which contain many pipes, as boxes. By defining those boxes as porous zones, I try to simulate the right pressure loss due to the pipes.

My problem is that I do not know the right inputs for the permeability and the resistance factor. I do know about the Blake-Kozeny equation, but that one is valid only for porous zones, which model packed beds.

If anybody knows how to calculate the permeability and resistance factor inside a porous region, consisting of pipes, then please let me know. (Or if you know some literature dealing about this subject).

Thanks in advance, Roel

I'm sure Idelchik put pipe bundles in a wind tunnel to determine loss coefficients, he's certainly considered every other type of obstruction! Look at:

'Flow Resistances - A guide for Engineers'

Erwin Fried

I. E. Idelchick

ISBN 0-89116-435-9