Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)
Flow, pressure drop and heat transfer, predicted before anything is built.
- You send
- Geometry, operating conditions, flow rates and temperatures, and the question you need answered
- You get back
- Flow, pressure and temperature results, a short engineering summary and design changes to improve performance
What CFD can tell you
CFD shows how liquids and gases move through and around a design, and what that does to pressure, temperature and the energy it takes to move them.
- Airflow and cooling inside enclosures
- Pressure drop through valves, ducts, manifolds and pipework
- Heat transfer, including conjugate heat transfer
- Ventilation, exhaust and external flow
- Particle and gas flow in materials handling
How a study runs
We agree the objective and boundary conditions first, then prepare the geometry and mesh and run steady-state or transient simulations, checking convergence, mesh independence and numerical stability throughout.
A summary you can act on
Results come with a short engineering summary of what was found and the design changes we recommend, written by engineers who understand how the product is built and used.
Questions we are often asked
What can CFD be used for?
Typical uses are airflow and cooling, liquid and gas handling systems, duct and manifold design, and external flow around equipment and structures.
What information do you need to start?
A 3D CAD model, the operating conditions and basic flow or thermal data are usually enough for a first assessment.
How accurate are the results?
Accuracy depends on model quality, mesh density and boundary data. We check convergence and mesh independence on every study.
Can CFD replace physical testing?
It can reduce the testing needed. We often use it alongside physical tests for the most confidence.
Computational fluid dynamics in our work
Design to manufacture by F-CAD®
Simulation inside a whole product
In SixGate™, simulation is built into stage 03, Detail & Simulation. More on sixgate.co.uk.
Related services
Tell us about the flow
Describe the product or system, the operating conditions and what you need to find out.
- Freephone
- 0800 246 1012
- enquiries@f-cad.co.uk
- Office
- 220 St Vincent Street
Glasgow G2 5SG
Your designs are treated in confidence, with an NDA in place before any files are shared, and the design and CAD we produce are yours once the work is paid for. Confidentiality and ownership