Fluent Software Training

TRN-98-006

Fluent CFD Software: Overview

A1 © Fluent Inc. 8/3/2018

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A Suite of CFD Solvers

 Fluent provides a suite of computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
solvers:
FLUENT (4.5 & 5) NEKTON
FIDAP IcePak
POLYFLOW MixSim
 All are software packages for modeling processes involving:
 Fluid flow
 Heat transfer
 Mass transfer and chemical reactions
 Related phenomena
 They differ in the solver technology used and the industrial
applications on which they are focused.

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Why Multiple Solver Technologies?

 Each CFD solution method performs best on a specific group of
applications.
 As a result, distinct solver algorithms are needed to optimize speed,
robustness, and accuracy on different applications.
 Fluent Inc. pursues multiple solver technologies in order to meet the
diverse needs of our users.
 Recently, we have also developed products with capabilities and user
interfaces that are tightly focused on specific industries/applications
(e.g., IcePak and MixSim).

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FLUENT 4.5 and FLUENT 5

 FLUENT 5:
 FLUENT 5 integrates FLUENT/UNS and RAMPANT
 Segregated-implicit, coupled-explicit/implicit FVM solver options
 Complete mesh flexibility
 Unstructured quad/hex, tri/tet, or hybrid meshes with solution-based mesh
adaption
 FLUENT 4.5:
 Pressure-based, segregated, finite volume method

 Structured quad/hex meshes

 Contains some models which have not yet been ported to FLUENT 5

 Eulerian-Eulerian multiphase flow model

 Deforming mesh

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FLUENT 5

 Ideally suited for:

 Compressible and incompressible flows
 Able to handle full range of Mach numbers in single solution domain
 Flows involving complex geometries and complex physics

 Typical applications include:

 Automotive external aerodynamics  High-speed aerodynamics
 Underhood flows  Compressible nozzle flow
 Fans, Pumps, Burners, Furnaces  Turbomachinery
 Reactor Vessels, Heat Exchangers  Internal rocket motor flows

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FLUENT 5: Flow in a Cooling Jacket

Surface pressure distribution

in an automotive engine
cooling jacket

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FLUENT 5: Axial Compressor Blade

Surface grid (one periodic repetition) Contours of pressure

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FLUENT 4.5

 Ideally suited for:

 Incompressible and mildly compressible flows
 Flows involving complex physics
 Multiphase flows
 Flows requiring deforming grids

 Typical applications include:

 Cyclones  Mixing tanks (MixSim interface)
 Bubble columns  Fluidized beds
 Unsteady piston/cylinder flows

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FLUENT 4.5: Multiphase Flow in a Riser

Instantaneous solids concentration in a

riser, which is a pneumatic solids
conveying device. Porous media
(simulating a perforated plate) at the top of
the domain distributes the flow and
produces uniform delivery of catalyst
(solids) to the reactor.

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FIDAP

 Fully coupled or segregated finite element method

 Ideally suited for:
 Incompressible and mildly compressible flows
 Flows involving complex geometries and physics
 Complete mesh flexibility:
 Unstructured quad/hex, tri/tet, or hybrid meshes
 Solver of choice for applications involving turbulence, “stiff”
chemistry, free surfaces, phase change, and shear dependent viscosity
 Typical applications include:
 Biomedical flows
 Semiconductor flows: CVD, crystal growth, electroplating
 Metal casting, solidification, and extrusion
 Extruders, complex die flows

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FIDAP: Flow in a Blood Pump

Velocity vectors and pressure

distribution inside a blood pump.

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FIDAP: Crystal Growth

Flow pattern and melt

interface during
crystal growth using
the Bridgman
technique

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POLYFLOW

 Fully-coupled and segregated finite element methods

 Ideally suited for laminar, viscous flows involving:
 Complex rheology (including viscoelasticity)
 Free surfaces
 Mesh flexibility:
 Unstructured quad/hex, tri/tet, or hybrid meshes, wedge elements
 Solver of choice for polymer processing and related applications such as:
 Extrusion, coextrusion, die design
 Blow molding, thermoforming
 Film casting, glass sheet forming/stretching, fiber drawing
 Chemical reactions, foaming
 Viscoelastic flows (“memory effects”)

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POLYFLOW: “Inverse” Die Design

 Given desired part shape,

POLYFLOW determines
necessary die lip geometry. desired part

die lip
(calculated)

Requested part shape and

calculated die lip shape for
a rubber car door seal. extrusion
direction

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POLYFLOW: Blow Molding

 Uses 3D shell elements Initial configuration

 Simulation of:
 Parison extrusion
 Pinch-off Blow molding simulation of
a gas tank using the
 Inflation
membrane element
 Cooling
 Prediction of thickness
distribution
 Prediction of extrudate swelling
due to:
 Stress relaxation
 Other elastic effects
Final thickness profile

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NEKTON
 Variable-order finite element method (spectral element method)
 Ideally suited for laminar, viscous flows with free surfaces
 Unstructured quad/hex meshes with solution-based polynomial
adaption (2D)
 Linear stability analysis for coating applications
 Solver of choice for thin film coating flows such as:
 Slide, slot, roll, curtain, and blade coating
 Multi-layer coatings
 Deforming boundaries (rubber-backed rolls, compressible substrates)

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NEKTON: Coating Flow Analysis

 Template-based problem solving: base solution can be parameterized

to quickly study changes in:
 Properties, e.g.,
 Density
 Viscosity
 Surface tension
 Boundary conditions, e.g.,
 Flow rates
 Web speed
 Vacuum
 Geometry, e.g.,
 Slide angle
 Gap

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NEKTON: Template Example

1. Initial solution for 2. You can make changes in one panel:
slide coater

3. Web angle is automatically changed

 significant savings in problem setup and
solution time
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IcePak

 IcePak is focused on electronics

cooling design:
 Cooling airflow, heat
conduction, convection and
radiation heat transfer
 The user interface and automatic
meshing are tailored for
applications such as:
 Cabinet design
 Fan placement Flow pathlines and temperature
 Board-level design distribution in a fan-cooled computer
cabinet.
 Heat sink evaluation

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MixSim

 MixSim is a specialized user interface that allows quick and easy set-up
of mixing tank simulations.
 The tank size, bottom shape, baffle configuration, number and type of
impellers, etc. are specified directly.
 The mesh and complete problem definition are then automatically
created.
 Other features include:
 Impeller libraries from leading equipment
manufacturers
 Transient sliding mesh, steady-state multiple
reference frame models
 Non-Newtonian rheology

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MixSim: User Interface

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Overall Code Structure

Geometries and meshes can be imported from other CAE packages.

GAMBIT

TGrid
direct input

FLUENT 4.5, FLUENT 5, import import

NEKTON FIDAP POLYFLOW
export export

model results data file results

case file data file file file file

Data can be exported to other CAE packages for postprocessing.

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Long-Term Product Road Map

FIDAP
FLUENT 4.5
POLYFLOW GAMBIT
FLUENT 5
NEKTON

Common User Environment

2000+
“Shared FEM “Shared FVM
Technology” Technology”

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Summary
 As your applications for CFD expand, you can benefit from our
multiple solver technology.
 Our goal is to provide the appropriate (best) solver for each
application.
 Development of a common interface will allow you to more easily take
advantage of different solvers.

A24 © Fluent Inc. 8/3/2018