Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has become an essential part of modern engineering design and analysis. By simulating fluid behavior numerically in a virtual environment, engineers can predict performance, reduce prototyping costs, and accelerate the product development process.
At Fetech Advanced Engineering, we utilize ANSYS Fluent, one of the most powerful CFD software tools available, to deliver high-accuracy fluid flow and heat transfer simulations across industries such as automotive, defense, energy, and industrial machinery.
What Is CFD?
CFD is based on the numerical solution of the Navier–Stokes equations, which describe the motion and interaction of fluids (liquids and gases). These equations represent three fundamental physical conservation laws:
| Conservation Law | Equation | Description |
|------------------|-----------|--------------|
| Mass Conservation | Continuity Equation | Ensures mass balance across the flow domain |
| Momentum Conservation | Navier–Stokes | Relates forces and velocity changes in the flow |
| Energy Conservation | Energy Equation | Represents heat transfer and temperature distribution |
These equations are discretized using the Finite Volume Method (FVM) and solved iteratively on a computational mesh. This process enables engineers to calculate parameters such as velocity, pressure, temperature, turbulence intensity, and density in three dimensions.
The Three Core Stages of a CFD Simulation
In ANSYS Fluent, the CFD workflow consists of three major phases: Pre-Processing, Solution, and Post-Processing.
1. Pre-Processing
Geometry Creation:
The geometry is prepared in ANSYS SpaceClaim or DesignModeler, where the fluid domain — the region through which the fluid flows — is extracted. Unnecessary small features are simplified to improve computational efficiency.
Mesh Generation:
The model is divided into millions of small cells, called a mesh or grid, which forms the basis of the numerical calculation.
- Cell types: Tetrahedral, Hexahedral, Polyhedral, Prism
- Quality criteria: Skewness < 0.9, Orthogonal Quality > 0.15, Aspect Ratio < 5
2. Solution Stage
ANSYS Fluent numerically solves the Navier–Stokes equations using advanced algorithms designed for both steady-state and transient flows.
Physical Model Selection:
Depending on the application, appropriate physical models are activated:
- Laminar Flow
- Turbulent Flow (k–ε, k–ω SST, LES, DES)
- Heat Transfer (CHT)
- Multiphase Flow
- Combustion / Chemical Reactions
- Compressible Flow
Boundary and Initial Conditions:
Each surface is assigned appropriate boundary types such as Velocity Inlet, Pressure Outlet, Wall, Symmetry, or Interface.
Solver Settings:
Pressure–velocity coupling via SIMPLE, Coupled, or PISO algorithms. Convergence check: residuals < 1e-5. Relaxation factors are tuned for numerical stability.
3. Post-Processing
ANSYS Fluent provides powerful visualization and reporting tools to analyze the computed results.
- Velocity vectors and streamlines
- Pressure and temperature contours
- Turbulence intensity plots
- Iso-surfaces and plane cuts
Results include drag and lift coefficients, pressure drop, heat transfer rates, and overall efficiency.
ANSYS CFD Software Ecosystem
| Module | Application | Key Advantage |
|---------|--------------|----------------|
| ANSYS Fluent | General-purpose flow and heat transfer simulations | Versatile and user-friendly |
| ANSYS CFX | Turbomachinery, pumps, and rotating systems | High-accuracy solver for periodic flows |
| ANSYS Icepak | Electronics cooling analysis | Integrated with thermal design workflows |
| ANSYS Discovery Live | Real-time flow predictions | Ideal for early-stage conceptual design |
| ANSYS Mechanical | Structural analysis | Enables coupled Fluid–Structure Interaction (FSI) studies |
Common Challenges in CFD Simulations
- Poor mesh quality leading to numerical instability
- Incorrect boundary condition setup
- Inappropriate turbulence model selection
- Convergence issues or residual stagnation
- Numerical discretization and truncation errors
Industrial Applications of CFD
| Industry | Application | Analysis Type |
|-----------|--------------|----------------|
| Automotive | Aerodynamics, cooling, exhaust systems | Turbulent flow, heat transfer |
| Defense | Missiles, projectiles, radar systems | Compressible and transient flows |
| Energy | Wind turbines, heat exchangers, cooling towers | Conjugate heat transfer |
| Construction / HVAC | Indoor air flow, ventilation, comfort analysis | Natural/forced convection |
| Biomedical | Blood flow, respiratory airflow | Multiphase laminar flow |
Fetech’s Approach to CFD Analysis
At Fetech Advanced Engineering, our CFD workflow follows a systematic and validated methodology:
1. Requirement Definition — Understanding customer objectives and operating conditions
2. Geometry & Mesh Planning — Simplification and localized refinement strategy
3. Model Setup — Selection of turbulence, thermal, or multiphase models
4. Simulation & Validation — Solving with Fluent or CFX and comparing results
5. Reporting — Delivering detailed performance summaries and flow visualizations
Why Choose ANSYS Fluent?
- Industry-proven numerical solvers
- Extensive physical model library (multiphase, combustion, FSI, acoustics)
- Adaptive meshing and parallel computing capability
- Tight integration with structural and electromagnetic analyses
- Reliable, validated results across all engineering domains
CFD with Fetech Advanced Engineering
- Official ANSYS Certified Partner
- Experienced multidisciplinary engineering team
- Analyses validated under academic and industrial standards
- Comprehensive reporting and visualization
- Nationwide technical support and consulting services
💡 Whether you need hydraulic, thermal, or aerodynamic analysis, Fetech provides CFD solutions that transform data into design confidence.
📩 info@fetech.com.tr