This thesis investigates the effects of varying model refinement and representation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in two case studies. Product and process realization in engineering design requires substantial resources (time and money) in order to test novel designs for effectiveness. In recent decades, engineering has been relying more heavily on simulation-based analysis in the design process with computer models to help reduce the demands for real-life testing. The first case study analyzed in this thesis is a photobioreactor, which is used to grow microalgae for biofuel and require a balance of nutrients, light, and mixing for growth. The second case study analyzed is a laboratory scale grain dryer used to assess and quantify the drying mechanics of corn. The air flow in the system is analyzed to look at both the velocity and temperature stratification of the packed bed of corn within the drying chamber. The model refinement techniques used in these systems involved refining the computational grid and increasing the complexity of the simulated systems. A recommended model was obtained with successful iterations of the simulations. This model could then be used to describe and predict the system behavior. Through the use of modeling and simulation with CFD, the design process can be simplified.
","abstract_html":"<p>This thesis investigates the effects of varying model refinement and representation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in two case studies. Product and process realization in engineering design requires substantial resources (time and money) in order to test novel designs for effectiveness. In recent decades, engineering has been relying more heavily on simulation-based analysis in the design process with computer models to help reduce the demands for real-life testing. The first case study analyzed in this thesis is a photobioreactor, which is used to grow microalgae for biofuel and require a balance of nutrients, light, and mixing for growth. The second case study analyzed is a laboratory scale grain dryer used to assess and quantify the drying mechanics of corn. The air flow in the system is analyzed to look at both the velocity and temperature stratification of the packed bed of corn within the drying chamber. The model refinement techniques used in these systems involved refining the computational grid and increasing the complexity of the simulated systems. A recommended model was obtained with successful iterations of the simulations. This model could then be used to describe and predict the system behavior. Through the use of modeling and simulation with CFD, the design process can be simplified.</p>","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Gerdes, Caitlin R."],"institution":null,"degree_name":"Master of Science (MS)","degree_level":"Thesis - Open Access","degree_discipline":"Mechanical Engineering","degree_department":null,"school":null,"contributors":["Stephen Gent"],"advisors":[],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2017,"date_issued":"2017-01-01T08:00:00Z","date_published":"2017-01-01T08:00:00Z","updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:28:43Z","subjects":["CFD","computational fluid dynamics","grain dryer","modeling and simulation","model refinement","photobioreactor","Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering","Mechanical Engineering"],"languages":["en"],"rights":[],"rights_urls":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1202","outbound_label":"Repository record","outbound_source":"dc:identifier"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor","label":"Contributor","values":["Stephen Gent"]},{"key":"dc:creator","label":"Author","values":["Gerdes, Caitlin R."]}]},{"id":"academic_context","label":"Academic Context","entries":[{"key":"dc:date.available","label":"Dc Date Available","values":["2017-05-11T07:00:00Z"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_discipline","label":"Discipline","values":["Mechanical Engineering"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_level","label":"Degree Level","values":["Thesis - Open Access"]},{"key":"thesis:degree_name","label":"Degree Name","values":["Master of Science (MS)"]}]},{"id":"subjects_keywords","label":"Subjects and Keywords","entries":[{"key":"dc:subject","label":"Dc Subject","values":["CFD","computational fluid dynamics","grain dryer","modeling and simulation","model refinement","photobioreactor","Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering","Mechanical Engineering"]}]},{"id":"language_rights","label":"Language and Rights","entries":[{"key":"dc:language","label":"Dc Language","values":["en"]},{"key":"dc:rights","label":"Dc Rights","values":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"]}]},{"id":"identifiers","label":"Identifiers","entries":[{"key":"dc:identifier","label":"Identifier","values":["https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1202"]}]},{"id":"additional","label":"Additional Metadata","entries":[{"key":"dc:description.abstract","label":"Abstract","values":["This thesis investigates the effects of varying model refinement and representation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in two case studies. Product and process realization in engineering design requires substantial resources (time and money) in order to test novel designs for effectiveness. In recent decades, engineering has been relying more heavily on simulation-based analysis in the design process with computer models to help reduce the demands for real-life testing. The first case study analyzed in this thesis is a photobioreactor, which is used to grow microalgae for biofuel and require a balance of nutrients, light, and mixing for growth. The second case study analyzed is a laboratory scale grain dryer used to assess and quantify the drying mechanics of corn. The air flow in the system is analyzed to look at both the velocity and temperature stratification of the packed bed of corn within the drying chamber. The model refinement techniques used in these systems involved refining the computational grid and increasing the complexity of the simulated systems. A recommended model was obtained with successful iterations of the simulations. This model could then be used to describe and predict the system behavior. Through the use of modeling and simulation with CFD, the design process can be simplified.
"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Assessment of Varying Model Representations in CFD Simulations"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor":["Stephen Gent"],"dc:creator":["Gerdes, Caitlin R."],"dc:date.available":["2017-05-11T07:00:00Z"],"dc:description.abstract":["This thesis investigates the effects of varying model refinement and representation of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations in two case studies. Product and process realization in engineering design requires substantial resources (time and money) in order to test novel designs for effectiveness. In recent decades, engineering has been relying more heavily on simulation-based analysis in the design process with computer models to help reduce the demands for real-life testing. The first case study analyzed in this thesis is a photobioreactor, which is used to grow microalgae for biofuel and require a balance of nutrients, light, and mixing for growth. The second case study analyzed is a laboratory scale grain dryer used to assess and quantify the drying mechanics of corn. The air flow in the system is analyzed to look at both the velocity and temperature stratification of the packed bed of corn within the drying chamber. The model refinement techniques used in these systems involved refining the computational grid and increasing the complexity of the simulated systems. A recommended model was obtained with successful iterations of the simulations. This model could then be used to describe and predict the system behavior. Through the use of modeling and simulation with CFD, the design process can be simplified.
"],"dc:identifier":["https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/1202"],"dc:language":["en"],"dc:rights":["http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/"],"dc:subject":["CFD","computational fluid dynamics","grain dryer","modeling and simulation","model refinement","photobioreactor","Bioresource and Agricultural Engineering","Mechanical Engineering"],"dc:title":["Assessment of Varying Model Representations in CFD Simulations"],"thesis:degree_discipline":["Mechanical Engineering"],"thesis:degree_level":["Thesis - Open Access"],"thesis:degree_name":["Master of Science (MS)"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-24T04:28:43Z"}