By default snappyHexMesh writes files relating to the hex-splitting process into
the polyMesh directory: cellLevel level0Edge pointLevel surfaceIndex
but by setting the noRefinement flag:
writeFlags
(
noRefinement
.
.
.
);
these optional files which are generally not needed are not written.
If you run the three stages of snappyHexMesh separately or run a dynamic mesh
solver supporting refinement and unrefinement these files are needed
and "noRefinement" should not be set.