The user modeled a U-Pipe with laminar flow using Fluent but observed a pressure drop of 3 kPa, while theoretical calculations suggest it should be 6 kPa. Discussions revealed potential issues with the friction factor estimation or simulation settings in Fluent, particularly regarding laminar versus turbulent flow assumptions. The user confirmed their Reynolds number indicates laminar flow, yet discrepancies persisted even when modeling with water. Ultimately, it was discovered that the simulation results were accurate only when the geometry was modeled as axisymmetric, raising questions about how to implement this for a U-shaped pipe. The conversation emphasizes the importance of proper modeling techniques in computational fluid dynamics to align simulation results with theoretical predictions.
