What is CFD
A Working Definition of Computational Fluid Dynamics
- First, let's break down the words:
- Computational - having to do with mathematics, computing
- Fluid Dynamics - the dynamics of things that flow
This is CFD - a computational technology that enables you to study the dynamics of things that flow. Using CFD, you can build a computational model that represents a system or device that you want to study. Then you apply the fluid flow physics and chemistry to this virtual prototype, and the software will output a prediction of the fluid dynamics and related physical phenomena. Therefore, CFD is a sophisticated computationally-based design and analysis technique. CFD software gives you the power to simulate flows of gases and liquids, heat and mass transfer, moving bodies, multiphase physics, chemical reaction, fluid-structure interaction and acoustics through computer modeling. Using CFD software, you can build a 'virtual prototype' of the system or device that you wish to analyze and then apply real-world physics and chemistry to the model, and the software will provide you with images and data, which predict the performance of that design.
The Benefits of CFD
There are three compelling reasons to use CFD software: insight, foresight, and efficiency.
Insight
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If you have a device or system design which is difficult to prototype or test through experimentation, CFD analysis enables you to virtually crawl inside your design and see how it performs. There are many phenomena that you can witness through CFD, which wouldn't be visible through any other means. CFD gives you a deeper insight into your designs.
Foresight
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Because CFD is a tool for predicting what will happen under a given set of circumstances, it can quickly answer many 'what if?' questions. You provide a set of boundary conditions, and the software gives you outcomes. In a short time, you can predict how your design will perform, and test many variations until you arrive at an optimal result. All of this can be done before physical prototyping and testing.
Efficiency
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The foresight you gain from CFD helps you to design better and faster, save money, meet environmental regulations and ensure industry compliance. CFD analysis leads to shorter design cycles and your products get to market faster. In addition, equipment improvements are built and installed with minimal downtime. CFD is a tool for compressing the design and development cycle allowing for rapid prototyping.
The CFD Process
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There are essentially three stages to every CFD simulation process: preprocessing, solving and postprocessing.
Preprocessing
This is the first step in building and analyzing a flow model. It includes building the model within a computer-aided design (CAD) package, creating and applying a suitable computational mesh, and entering the flow boundary conditions and fluid materials properties. We supply our customers with preprocessing tools such as GAMBIT, TGrid and G/Turbo as standard. But, we also have very good filters to nearly every other third-party preprocessing tool available in the market today.
CAD geometries are easily imported and adapted for CFD solutions in GAMBIT, Fluent's own preprocessor. 3D solid modeling options in GAMBIT allow for straightforward geometry construction as well as high quality geometry translation. Among a wide range of geometry tools, Boolean operators provide a simple way of getting from a CAD solid to a fluid domain. A state-of-the-art set of cleanup and conditioning tools prepares the model for meshing. GAMBIT's unique curvature and proximity based "size function" produces a correct and smooth CFD-type mesh throughout the model. Together with our boundary layer technology, a number of volumetric meshing schemes produce the right mesh for your application. Parametric variations are also inherent to the process.
Fluent's solvers also couple with leading third party meshing tools such as ANSA, Harpoon, Sculptor and YAMS, extending your capability to effectively create the mesh you need.
Solving
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The CFD solver does the flow calculations and produces the results. We provide four general-purpose products: FLUENT, FloWizard, FIDAP, and POLYFLOW. FLUENT is used in most industries. FloWizard is the first general-purpose rapid flow modeling tool for design and process engineers built by Fluent. POLYFLOW (and FIDAP) are also used in a wide range of fields, with emphasis on the materials processing industries.
The FLUENT CFD code has extensive interactivity, so you can make changes to the analysis at any time during the process. This saves you time and enables you to refine your designs more efficiently. Our graphical user interface (GUI) is intuitive, which helps to shorten the learning curve and make the modeling process faster. It is also easy to customize physics and interface functions to your specific needs. In addition, FLUENT's adaptive and dynamic mesh capability is unique among CFD vendors and works with a wide range of physical models. This capability makes it possible and simple to model complex moving objects in relation to flow.
We provide the broadest range of rigorous physical models that have been validated against industrial scale applications, so you can accurately simulate real-world conditions, including:
- multiphase flows
- reacting flows
- rotating equipment
- moving and deforming objects
- turbulence
- radiation
- acoustics, and
- dynamic meshing
The FLUENT solver has repeatedly proven to be fast and reliable for a wide range of CFD applications. The speed to solution is faster because our suite of software enables you to stay within one interface from geometry building through the solution process, to postprocessing and final output. FLUENT's performance has been tried and proven on a variety of multi-platform clusters. Our parallel computing capability is flexible and enables you to solve larger problems faster.
Postprocessing
This is the final step in CFD analysis, and it involves the organization and interpretation of the predicted flow data and the production of CFD images and animations. All of Fluent's software products include full postprocessing capabilities. Our postprocessing tools enable you to provide several levels of reporting, so you can satisfy the needs and interests of all the stakeholders in your design process. Quantitative data analysis can be as sophisticated as you require. High-resolution images and animations help you to tell your story in a quick and impactful manner.
Fluent's CFD data exports to third-party postprocessors and visualization tools such as Ensight, Fieldview and TechPlot as well as to VRML formats. In addition, FLUENT CFD solutions are easily coupled with structural codes such as ABAQUS, MSC and ANSYS, as well as to other engineering process simulation tools.
How to Become a Fluent CFD Customer
There are two ways to add capability in CFD to your design process:
Purchase Fluent's CFD Software Products
If you have the staff resources and ongoing needs to develop an in-house CFD capability, you may choose to purchase our CFD software. Many university courses are using CFD software to teach students fluid dynamics, and graduates are coming into the marketplace with CFD user skills already in place. Even without prior training, engineers and analysts can quickly learn how to use our user-friendly CFD software products.
Outsource Through a Fluent CFD Consultant or to our Online Simulation Service
If your need for CFD analysis is not continuous, or you have special project requirements that demand software customization or high levels of computing power, you may choose to take advantage of our CFD consulting services. Our CFD consultants are experts in applying the software to help you solve problems. Many of our experts have the capability to develop customized software and we have large computer networks at our disposal. A consultant can often provide a timely answer to a critical problem in a very cost effective manner. Our unique RSolve Service allows you to do your flow predictions on our servers from anywhere in the world whenever or wherever you are on a pay-per-use basis.
Fluent is also committed to creating training programs that cater to all customer levels from novice to advanced. We want to make certain that you get the most from your software tools, while reducing your learning curve and contributing to the productivity of your organization. Throughout the year, we keep you updated on events and innovative uses of FLUENT through our newsletters and email announcements. As a FLUENT customer you will be invited to attend annual worldwide Fluent Focal Events and other CFD conferences, forums and webinars. Advanced and customized training opportunities are offered so you can continue to expand your skills and knowledge of flow modeling.
Technical Support to Help You Succeed with CFD
We are the world's largest supplier of CFD software and consulting services. More people use Fluent software than any other CFD code. This is because we are committed to helping our customers succeed with CFD. Through Fluent's extensive technical services offerings, we help guide you to success. We have hundreds of engineers specifically trained in applications related to particular industries. Together, you and your supporting engineer form a close working partnership to tackle the toughest simulation issues until a satisfactory result is achieved. In addition, you will have access to our worldwide technical team, the largest CFD knowledge base in the world, as well as a complete backup team of technical staff who provide additional skills and expertise to further supplement your support needs.
As your skill level grows, you can take advantage of Fluent's advanced and customized training. Further educational opportunities are offered at our annual worldwide Fluent Focal Events and through various CFD conferences, forums and webinars that Fluent hosts. And, by accessing our online User Services Center and online technical support portal, you can get support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Fluent's CFD Software Products Pricing
A variety of different usage and pricing options for Fluent's CFD software licenses and eBusiness entrance points are available for purchase. Contact us to find out more and we will connect you with a sales engineer in your area.