Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Modelling of a Full-Scale Oxidation Ditch: Suitable Mesh Selection Method and Hydrodynamic Perfomance Analysis

This work highlights the importance of selecting an appropriate mesh element size in Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) modelling to balance between accuracy and computational effort, and proposes a methodology to select a suitable mesh according to three mesh quality parameters. Four meshes were selected and evaluated in single-phase and two-phase simulations of a full-scale oxidation ditch reactor. Hydrodynamic results showed the existence of heterogeneities in terms of velocity and oxygen concentration along the reactor. Experimental velocity measurements were made which provided essential information to validate the model.