Latest Modelling Advancements in Fluid Machinery

Commonly Used Industrial Software

1. ANSYS Fluent/CFX

As the global gold standard for Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), ANSYS Fluent and CFX are indispensable for simulating complex flow phenomena—including turbulence, multiphase flow (e.g., liquid-solid mixing, gas-liquid separation), cavitation, and combustion. They are widely adopted in the design and optimization of pumps, turbines, heat exchangers, and compressors. For example, engineers use Fluent to model flow inside centrifugal pumps, predict cavitation hotspots, and refine impeller geometry to boost efficiency and extend service life.

2. STAR-CCM+

A comprehensive multiphysics simulation platform, STAR-CCM+ integrates CFD, Finite Element Method (FEM) for structural analysis, and thermal/electromagnetic modeling. Its strength lies in solving fluid-structure-thermal coupling problems—critical for industries like automotive (engine cooling system design), aerospace (aerodynamic optimization of aircraft wings), and marine (hydrodynamic analysis of ship propellers). For instance, automotive manufacturers use STAR-CCM+ to simulate airflow in engine bays, optimizing heat sink layouts to reduce engine temperatures.

3. COMSOL Multiphysics

Renowned for interdisciplinary multiphysics simulation, COMSOL excels at modeling complex interactions between fluid dynamics, structural mechanics, and electromagnetics. It is widely used in fuel cell design (simulating mass transfer coupled with electrochemical reactions) and motor thermal management (analyzing heat transfer between winding losses and cooling water flow to optimize散热效率 heat dissipation efficiency).

4. SolidWorks Flow Simulation

A user-friendly, lightweight CFD tool designed for mechanical engineers, SolidWorks Flow Simulation is ideal for routine flow analysis (e.g., airflow in fans, intake efficiency of compressors, pressure drop in valves). It integrates seamlessly with SolidWorks CAD, allowing engineers to convert 3D models into simulation setups in minutes—making it a top choice for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) looking to balance speed and cost.

5. MATLAB/Simulink

While not a dedicated CFD tool, MATLAB/Simulink is the backbone of system modeling and control design for fluid machinery. It is often paired with CFD software: for example, engineers use Simulink to build closed-loop control models for pumps (e.g., pressure feedback regulation) and Fluent to simulate the corresponding flow fields, verifying control strategy effectiveness. MATLAB also processes CFD data (e.g., turbulence intensity, pressure distribution) to extract key performance metrics.

6. OpenFOAM

The leading open-source CFD software, OpenFOAM offers unparalleled flexibility for customized simulations—making it a favorite in academic research (e.g., topology optimization of novel fluid machinery) and industrial R&D (e.g., simulating supercritical fluid flow or microscale phenomena). Many enterprises modify OpenFOAM to create tailored solutions (e.g., wave-flow coupling for offshore turbines), reducing licensing costs while maintaining precision.