Just as Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has found extensive use across a wide range of external flow applications, it is also used to simulate a diverse set of internal flow applications.

Wind Tunnel CFD SimulationStreamlines colored by velocity magnitude

Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning (HVAC)

Room HVAC CFD SimulationStreamlines colored by velocity magnitude

While many HVAC duct networks are often designed using simple lookup tables for pressure loss coefficients, there are many cases where CFD can provide a greater level of confidence in the final design. This is especially true where expansions, junctions, and shape transitions are part of a design. Also CFD can provide a detailed view of the air movement and temperature in a room once the HVAC system has delivered its air.

Turbomachinery

Compressor Passage CFD SimulationVelocity magnitude iso-surfaces

Pumps and compressors are mainstays of our energy generation and consumption infrastructure. It should come as no shock that CFD has proven invaluable in optimizing the performance and efficiency of turbomachinery.

Wind Tunnels

Racecar in a Wind Tunnel CFD SimulationVelocity magnitude iso-surfaces

Most wind tunnels attempt to mimic the airflow around objects as if they were in free air, but a wind tunnel is considered an internal flow device in its own right. As such, CFD has been used to optimize wind tunnel design and also to determine wind tunnel correction factors to better mimic free air.

Electronics Cooling

Electronics Cooling CFD SimulationStreamlines colored by temperature

Adequate cooling for electronic devices is an essential consideration to keep our digital-age devices operating smoothly. With the ever increasing energy density of modern electronics CFD has found a crucial role in the design of heat dissipation strategies whether it be passive (heat sinks) or active (fans).

Materials Processing

Cyclone CFD SimulationVelocity Vectors

Transferring fluids from one location to another invariably means using pipes and, as with HVAC, simple lookup tables can help with simple pipe networks, but CFD is usually necessary wherever expansions, junctions, and shape transitions are called for. Also special fluid processing devices, such as cyclones, often require the insights provided by CFD to obtain the level of efficiency required for profitable operations.