Defining Cell Clusters

To reproduce the zones defined in the gPROMS network model, you group the Simcenter STAR-CCM+ mesh cells into clusters based on their position.

To enable cell clustering, you require an additional model in the fluid physics continuum:
  1. Right-click the Continua > Fluid Physics node and select Select Models...
  2. Activate the Coordinate Cell Clustering model.
To create the cell clusters, you define a cutting template by specifying the number of divisions along each axis of a coordinate system. As the spray dryer has cylindrical symmetry, it is convenient to use cylindrical coordinates. To create a cylindrical coordinate system:
  1. Expand the Tools > Coordinate Systems > Laboratory node.
  2. Right-click the Local Coordinate Systems node and select New > Cylindrical.
    The default orientation is appropriate.
  3. In the Create Coordinate System dialog, accept the default settings by clicking Create and Close.
In this simulation, you create 27 clusters by specifying 3 divisions along each axis of the cylindrical coordinate system:
  1. Expand the Solvers > Coordinate Cell Clustering node.
    The Cluster Merging Threshold value is appropriate. This property defines a threshold value for merging clusters that have small volumes with adjacent clusters.
  2. Right click the Clustering Criteria node, and select Coordinate > Number of Subdivisions.
  3. Select the Clustering Criterion node, and set the Coordinate System to Laboratory > Cylindrical 1.
    The default number of divisions ([3, 3, 3]) is acceptable.
To divide the mesh into clusters, you run the Coordinate Cell Clustering solver for one iteration:
  1. Click (Step).
To visualize the clusters in a scalar scene:
  1. Create a scalar scene named Cell Clusters.
  2. Expand the Scenes > Cell Clusters > Scalar 1 node and set the following properties:
    Node Property Setting
    Parts Parts Regions > SprayDryer
    Scalar Field Function Cell Cluster Index
    Color Bar Color Map purple-red
    After adjusting the position of the geometry in the scene, the scene appears as shown:

  3. Save the simulation.