CFD

CFD Advantages and Practical Applications by Heejin Park, Director of CFD Modeling Introduction To Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
CFD is an acronym that refers to "Computational Fluid Dynamics". CFD uses numerical methods to solve the fundamental nonlinear differential equations that describe fluid flow (the Navier-Stokes and allied equations) for predefined geometries and boundary conditions. The result is a wealth of predictions for flow velocity, temperature, density, and chemical concentrations for any region where flow occurs. A key advantage of CFD is that it is a very compelling, non-intrusive, virtual modeling technique with powerful visualization capabilities, and engineers can evaluate the performance of a wide range of HVAC/IAQ system configurations on the computer without the time, expense, and disruption required to make actual changes onsite. CFD has seen dramatic growth over the last several decades. This technology has widely been applied to various engineering applications such as automobile and aircraft design, weather science, civil engineering, and oceanography. Today, the HVAC/IAQ industry is one of the fields that has initiated utilizing CFD techniques widely and rigorously in its design. Practical Advantages of Employing CFD The many reasons CFD is being widely used today are as follows:
CFD predicts performance before modifying or installing systems: o Without modifying and/or installing actual systems or a prototype, CFD can predict which design changes are most crucial to enhance performance. CFD provides exact and detailed information about HVAC design parameters: o The advances in HVAC/IAQ technology require broader and more detailed information about the flow within an occupied zone, and CFD meets this goal better than any other method, (i.e., theoretical or experimental methods).
CFD Saves Cost and Time: CFD costs much less than experiments because physical modifications are not necessary. (Note that the cost and time for physical changes/modifications increase almost exponentially as the size of the system increases). CFD is Reliable: The numerical schemes and methods upon which CFD is based are improving rapidly, so CFD results are increasingly reliable. CFD is a dependable tool for design and analyses.
What is CFD?
Fluid dynamics is a field of science which studies the physical laws governing the flow of fluids under various conditions. Great effort has gone into understanding the governing laws and the nature of fluids themselves, resulting in a complex yet theoretically strong field of research. Computational Fluid Dynamics or CFD as it is popularly known, is used to generate flow simulations with the help of computers. CFD involves the solution of the governing laws of fluid dynamics numerically. The complex set of partial differential equations are solved on in geometrical domain divided into small volumes, commonly known as a mesh (or grid). CFD has enabled us to understand the world in new ways. We can now see what it is like to be in a furnace, model how blood flows through our arteries and veins and even create virtual worlds. CFD enables analysts to simulate and understand fluid flows without the help of instruments for measuring various flow variables at desired locations.
Where CFD scores

There are various reasons why CFD is becoming popular, some of which are:
CFD allows numerical simulation of fluid flows, results for which are available for study even after the anaylsis is over. This is a big advantage over, say, wind tunnel testing where analysts have a shorter duration to perform flow measurements. CFD allows observation of flow properties without disturbing the flow itself, which is not always possible with conventional measuring instruments. CFD allows observation of flow properties at locations which may not be accessible to (or harmful for) measuring instruments. For example, inside a combustion chamber, or between turbine blades. CFD can be used as a qualitative tool for discarding (or narrowing down the choices between), various designs. Designers and analysts can study prototypes numerically, and then test by experimentation only those which show promise.
What CFD is not

CFD is not yet at the level where it can be blindly used by designers or analysts without a working knowledge of numerics involved. Despite the increasing speed of computation available, CFD has not yet matured to a level where it can be used for real time computation. Numerical analyses require significant time to be set up and performed. CFD is still an aid to other analysis and experimental tools like wind tunnel testing, and is used in conjunction with them.

CFD

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CFD

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Description:

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

CFD

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

CFD Advantages and Practical Applications by Heejin Park, Director of CFD Modeling Introduction To Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Where CFD scores

What CFD is not

You might also like