Method to model dryer fabrics in paper machine scale using small-scale simulations and porous media model

This paper presents a method which has been developed in order to model dryer fabrics in a paper machine scale CFD model. The proposed method is based on source terms in the momentum equations of a large-scale model (porous media model). The coefficients for source terms are determined according to results of small-scale simulations of a periodic unit of a fabric. Additionally, the k–ε turbulence model has been modified in the large-scale model. A test for a dryer fabric is presented, and large-scale results are compared to wind tunnel measurements. The results show consistent behavior of the model.