Modeling of Residence Time Distribution in FLUENT

Purpose: This document presents a brief description of modeling residence time distribution. Different
approaches for calculating mean residence time are reviewed.

Introduction

In chemical reaction engineering, residence time distribution (RTD) and mean residence time are the two
important parameters considered in the design of reactors. Residence time is a measure of the total time spent
by the fluid molecules within the reactor. Mean residence time is the average of the residence time of all
molecules in the domain.

The RTD for process equipment is usually measured using stimulus-response tracer experiments to detect
design flaws such as bypass, channeling, and dead zones, in addition to characterizing the mean residence
time and standard deviation of a reactor. This measurement is usually done when a complete velocity
distribution map for the fluid in the vessel is not available. Because CFD is capable of predicting the
complete velocity distribution in a vessel, it provides an alternative and simpler means of determining the
RTD. In addition, the RTD curves are useful tools that can be used to compare the CFD results with
experimental results.

There are multiple approaches available for predicting residence time distribution with FLUENT. The tracer
fluid can be treated as a continuum by solving a transport equation for the tracer species. Two common
methods for solving the tracer species are:
1. Species transport model
2. User defined scalar (UDS) transport model

RTD Calculation Using the Species Transport Model

In this approach, the tracer will be modeled as a species. If the properties of the tracer and background liquid
are identical, the concentration of the tracer will not have any significant effect on the flow field. The fluid
flow (i.e., the momentum equations and turbulence model, if applicable) and species equations will be solved
sequentially. The fluid flow equations are first solved using a steady state approach. Next, the species
equation is solved as an unsteady simulation using the computed fluid flow solution. The area-weighted-
averaged concentration of the tracer at the outlet (or any marked location) is monitored with time to obtain
the RTD.

The two commonly used approaches for calculating residence time using tracer analysis are the pulse method
and step method.

The Pulse method: In this approach, the tracer is

injected from the inlet at time t=0. In the CFD
Concentration

simulation, the species concentration at the inlet will

be increased to C = Cmax for first time step, and then
be reset to zero for the second and subsequent time
steps.

A plot of tracer concentration versus time at the outlet 0

0 Time
will provide the residence time distribution. The Figure 1: Variation of tracer concentration at the outlet
with respect to time for the pulse method.
variation of concentration versus time at the outlet will follow a C-curve shape (see Figure 1).

The mean residence time can be calculated as:

t i Ci
Mean residence time, t = i
(1)
Ci
i

Procedure:

1. Activate species transport model using the Define Models Species Transport and
Reaction panel.
2. In the Define Materials panel, create a new fluid species “tracer” with the same physical
properties as the test fluid.
3. For the mixture material in the Define Material panel, select following properties.
a. Mixture species: tracer and test fluid
b. Density: volume-weighted-mixing-law
4. In the Define Boundary Condition panel, set the tracer mass fraction at the inlet equal to zero.
5. Disable the tracer species equation in the Solve Controls Solution panel.
6. Solve the steady state flow field to obtain a converged solution.
7. Enable the unsteady option in the Define Models Solver panel.
8. Set the tracer mass fraction at the inlet equal to 1.
9. Disable the flow equation through the Solve Controls Solution panel and choose the tracer
equation for the solution of the species transport.
10. Define a Surface Monitor to monitor the area-weighted-averaged concentration of tracer mass
fraction with flow time at the outlet. Activate the Plot and Write options to write the monitor data to a
file. For detailed information, please refer to:
http://www.fluentusers.com/fluent/doc/ori/html/ug/node1279.htm
11. Iterate one time step.
12. Set the tracer mass fraction at the inlet back to 0.
13. Solve the transient solution of the species equation.
14. Calculate the mean residence time from the monitor data using Equation 1.

The Step method: In this approach, the species

concentration, will be set to C = Cmax at time t=0, and
Concentration

maintained at this level over subsequent time steps. The

species concentration at the outlet will be monitored as a
function of time. The variation of concentration-time will
follow an F-curve shape (see figure 2). Mathematically,
mean residence time can be expressed as:
0
0
1 C max Time
Mean residence time, t = t dC (2) Figure 2: Variation of tracer concentration at the outlet
C max 0
with respect to time for the step method.

Procedure:

Perform the steps #1 through #10 from the pulse method. Then, do the following:
1. Solve the transient solution of the species equation.
 2. Calculate the mean residence time from the monitor data using Equation 2.

RTD calculation using UDS transport model

In this approach, a user-defined scalar (UDS) equation will be used in place of the species equation to model
the tracer flow.

1. Solve the single–phase, steady-state flow field.

2. Enable the unsteady option in the Define Models Solver panel.
3. Define a UDS through Define User-Defined Scalars.
Select mass flow rate under Flux Function and default under Unsteady Function. The UDS represents
a passive tracer that will be used to determine RTD. For detailed information about use of user-
defined scalars, refer: http://www.fluentusers.com/fluent/doc/ori/html/udf/node269.htm
4. Set up the problem accordingly for the pulse and step methods, respectively.
5. Solve the transient solution.

Tips/Troubleshooting

1. Species/UDS diffusion can adversely affect the prediction of RTD through CFD. To minimize this
diffusion effect, the mass diffusivity of the mixture should be a small value (e.g., 1e-15 m2/s) in the case
where the species transport model is used for the RTD calculation. Similarly, the UDS diffusivity of the
fluid should be a small value (e.g., 1e-7 kg/m-s) if the UDS model is used.

2. Time step size should be adjusted based upon the number of iterations required to converge the solution
in each time step. Ideally, the solution should converge (species/UDS residual around 1e-4) within 10 to
20 iterations in each and every time step.

3. For a RTD calculation in unsteady flows, the tracer equation (either Species or UDS) should be turned on
at time t = 0. The flow and tracer equations will be solved simultaneously.

Product Version: FLUENT 6.2 and onward.

Authors: Ramesh Behera and Nilesh Gandhi