Study on the Fluid Characteristics of Plug Valves Based on CFD Visualization Analysis

Abstract

This study employs Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulation to explore the dynamic characteristics of the flow field inside plug valves under varying degrees of valve openings, aiming to propose optimized designs. A geometric model of the plug valve was developed, with appropriate boundary conditions defined. Numerical calculations were performed using the SIMPLE algorithm to ensure the precision of the simulation outcomes. The mesh configuration of the model took into account the complexities of localized flow behaviors, utilizing polyhedral mesh elements and local refinement strategies to enhance mesh quality. The experimental results indicate that the valve opening has a significant influence on the distribution of pressure and velocity fields. As the valve opening decreases, the static pressure and velocity distributions become increasingly non-uniform, particularly near the valve core, where significant pressure and velocity gradients emerge, leading to increased flow resistance. By analyzing the flow field distribution under different valve openings, this study proposes recommendations for further optimizing the plug valve design to improve flow control precision and overall operational efficiency.