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Determing the hydraulic diameter of a non-circular channel

Posted Jul 24, 2019, 10:17 a.m. EDT Fluid & Heat, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), Microfluidics 2 Replies

Hadi Awadah
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Hello,

I am quite familier with comsol, and i have a question in the field of microfluids. I am trying to simulate a microchannel which does not have circular cross section. Is there a way or an approach that i can find the hydraulic diameter of such a channel ?

I want the to know the hydraulic diameter to be able to calculate the pressure drop across this channel.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

2 Replies Last Post Jul 25, 2019, 7:06 a.m. EDT
Henrik Sönnerlind COMSOL Employee

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Posted: 5 years ago Jul 25, 2019, 4:43 a.m. EDT
Updated: 5 years ago Jul 25, 2019, 4:39 a.m. EDT

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_diameter

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Henrik Sönnerlind
COMSOL
Hadi Awadah
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Posted: 5 years ago Jul 25, 2019, 7:06 a.m. EDT
Updated: 5 years ago Jul 25, 2019, 7:58 a.m. EDT

Hello Mr. Henrik,

Well my question was a little bit deeper than the wiki page can explain. I am working with a laminar flow in microchannels, and the cross section area is not circular, not rectangular, not square, and not annulus. So the the simple equations provided is not suitable.

My question was, is there a way that i can calculate the hydraulic diameter by maybe varying the Inlet BC velocity or playing with the drop pressure at the vents ?

For example, if i am trying to simulate a rectangular cross section channel. I can calculate the hydraulic diamater of this channel theoritically through the equations provided. Can i validate this value in comsol by way or another ?

Many thanks inadvance.

Hello Mr. Henrik, Well my question was a little bit deeper than the wiki page can explain. I am working with a laminar flow in microchannels, and the cross section area is not circular, not rectangular, not square, and not annulus. So the the simple equations provided is not suitable. My question was, is there a way that i can calculate the hydraulic diameter by maybe varying the Inlet BC velocity or playing with the drop pressure at the vents ? For example, if i am trying to simulate a rectangular cross section channel. I can calculate the hydraulic diamater of this channel theoritically through the equations provided. Can i validate this value in comsol by way or another ? Many thanks inadvance.

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