FLOW3D, a commercial package for fluid flow analyses, was used (1) to compute the flow pattern of various fluids (water, liquid aluminum, and other specified fluids) in shot sleeves, and (2) to predict the amount of ESP formed on the shot sleeve for various thermal conditions. Two geometric models were used, a 2-D model and a 3-D model. The 2-D model is a rectangular cross section channel and the 3-D model is a cylindrical cross section channel. Both models (2-D and 3-D) incorporate (a) filling of the shot sleeve to a specified percent fill with a given fill rate, and (b) movement of the plunger with a specified position-time (or velocity-position) history. Examples of the results from selected Flow3D simulations of the two models with water, liquid aluminum, or a high viscosity (10 centipoise) liquid are provided on this web page.

A. 2-D Model

a. Schematic view of geometry

* Without runner

* With runner

b. History of plunger movement

c. Results

- Coarse Mesh and laminar flow
        * Filling Process
        * The effect of plunger velocity
        * The effect of plunger acceleration
        * The effect of kinematic viscosity
        * The effect of surface tension
        * Experiment vs. Simulation

- Effect of mesh size and turbulence on the predicted results  (NEW 7/23/01)