Fluid Flow Analysis in a Concentric Annulus with a Rotating Inner Cylinder using ANSYS

In the present study, CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) analysis of velocity and pressure fields that occur in annular gap between two concentric cylinders was done. It encompassed the effects of inner cylinder rotation and fluid viscosity on an axial flow structure. Fluid flow in concentric annuli with and without rotating inner cylinder was investigated by numerical simulation as similar flows occur in drilling operations of oil wells. So, prediction of flow in drilling pipe in an annular space between wellbore and drill pipe is essential to determine the variation in fluid pressure within the wellbore. Numerical results obtained for pressure drop and velocity profiles from the present study were compared with experimental data as well as simulated data from the literature using two non-Newtonian fluids (0.2 % Xanthan Gum and 0.2 % Carboxymethyl cellulose). The simulated results of pressure drop in present study showed a good agreement with the experimental data and also yield data that were found rather more inclined towards the simulated data. The velocity and tangential profiles also showed a good agreement with simulated velocity profiles reported in literature. The additional work also contained, the study of Newtonian fluid (water) and its effects on hydrodynamics of these annular systems and compared.