- Definition of CFD
- Where is CFD used?
- How is CFD used?
- What is the basic CFD process?
- How can CFD help me?
1. Definition of CFD
CFD stands for Computational Fluid Dynamics. It means predicting physical fluid flows and heat transfer using computational methods.
Fluid flows are encountered in virtually all areas of industry, especially during the manufacturing and operation of various machinery and components that we encounter. For example, the automotive sector includes a whole world of different fluid and heat transfer mechanisms, such as cooling, combustion, ventilation and aerodynamics. Understanding how all these fluid and heat transfer mechanisms work is important for engineers and scientists to improve the operation of the mechanism and reduce its impact on the environment. Using CFD software, they are able to build a virtual prototype of a product design they wish to analyze and get data and images allowing them to predict the performance of that design.
2. Where is CFD used?
CFD is used in an extremely wide range of industries. Any industrial process that involves fluid flow and/or heat transfer can benefit from CFD analysis. Below is list of industrial and academic areas where CFD is commonly used.
- Aerospace: Aerodynamics, wing design, missiles, passenger cabin
- Automotive: Internal combustion, underbody, passenger comfort
- Biology: Study of insect and bird flight
- Biomedical: Heart valves, blood flow, filters, inhalers
- Building: Clean rooms, ventilation, heating and cooling
- Civil Engineering: Design of bridges, building exteriors, large structures
- Chemical Process: Static mixing, separation, reactions
- Electrical: Equipment cooling
- Environmental: Pollutant and effluent control, fire management, shore protection
- Marine: Wind and wave loading, sloshing, propulsion
- Mechanical: Pumps, fans, heat exchangers
- Meteorology: Weather prediction
- Oceanography: Flows in rivers, estuaries, oceans
- Power Generation: Boilers, combustors, furnaces, pressure vessels, nuclear
- Sports Equipment: Cycling helmets, swimming goggles, golf balls
- Turbomachinery: Turbines, blade cooling, compressors, torque convertors
3. How is CFD used?
Within the list of industries and applications listed above, CFD can include any of the following phenomena and flow regimes:
- Laminar/turbulent flow
- Subsonic/Transonic/Supersonic/Hypersonic flows
- Newtonian/Non-Newtonian fluid
- Multiple fluids, mixing and phase changes/mass transfer
- Solid/fluid heat transfer, convection and thermal radiation
- Combustion of gas, liquids and solids
- Distributed resistances (porous media)
- Fluid-Structure interaction
- Aeroacoustics and noise prediction
- Free-surface flows, surface tension effects
- Time varying (transient) effects and moving boundaries
- Electromagnetic, electrostatic, electrochemical and other effects
- Casting, solidification and melting
This was a very personal class, which increased my confidence quickly. After taking this class I could not see another way to learn this material and feel ready to use STAR‑CCM+- Brian Page, Andretti Green Racing
