The ANSYS/FLOTRAN Product

Computational Fluid Dynamics Software

More and more companies around the world are realizing the benefits of using FLOTRAN computational fluid dynamics (CFD) capabilities in the design of products, ranging from automobiles, airplanes and heavy machinery to computer terminals, heating and ventilation systems, and electronic components. The ANSYS/FLOTRAN program is a powerful engineering tool for solving fluid-flow and heat transfer design challenges. Employing the latest ANSYS pre-and postprocessors and a Motif-based graphical user interface, the ANSYS/FLOTRAN program provides robust and productive finite element analysis solutions for fluid-flow and heat transfer problems in both 2-D and 3-D. Users have the option of using FLOTRAN CFD capabilities separately or fully integrated with the wide range of analysis capabilities available in the ANSYS program, providing access to coupled solution and design optimization techniques. Separately or as part of the ANSYS program, FLOTRAN CFD is a productive tool that will help minimize elaborate and costly prototyping and experimental tests.

DESCRIPTION

FLOTRAN CFD utilizes the finite element method for fluid-flow analysis applications. CFD analyses are used to determine the flow characteristics of a fluid medium, such as pressure drop, velocity, distribution, direction of flow, lift and drag forces, and heating or cooling effects. The benefit of employing the finite element method for CFD analysis rests in the potential for communicating with other finite element-based analysis codes, such as ANSYS, in conducting coupled-field analyses (e.g., CFD/stress or CFD/thermal).

The program solves a variety of fluid-flow problems, including:

Laminar Flow - For analyses in which the velocity field is very ordered and smooth, such as with highly viscous, slow moving fluids.
Turbulent Flow - For analyses in which the velocities are high enough and the viscosity is low enough to cause turbulent fluctuations in the velocities.
Thermal/Fluid/Structural - For analyzing the temperature distribution throughout the flow field. Three types of thermal/fluid analyses are available: conjugate heat transfer, in which the energy equation is solved in a domain with both fluid and solid regions; natural convection, in which the flow is generated solely from density gradients brought about by temperature variations; and forced convection, in which there are externally applied flow forces.
Compressible Flow - For analyses in which changes in density due to strong pressure gradients significantly influence the nature of the flow fleld, such as high velocity gas flows. Subsonic, transonic and supersonic compressible flow capabilities are included.
Incompressible Flow - For analyses of incompressible laminar and turbulent flows. A fluid is considered to be incompressible if density is constant or if little energy is expended by the fluid in compressing the flow.

USER BENEFITS

Ease of use - An intuitive graphical user interface helps users navigate through an analysis.
Speed - A choice of three solvers enables users to optimize computational efficiency by selecting the appropriate solver for a particular type of CFD analysis, permitting shorter design cycles, fewer prototypes, and faster times to market.
Finite element flexibility - The finite element method transcends the difficulties presented by other methods (e.g., finite difference and finite volume methods) because of the need to model the complex geometries that are typical of fluid-flow and heat transfer analyses.
Accuracy - In addition to its powerful capabilities, FLOTRAN CFD is backed by the industry-leading quality assurance practices of ANSYS Inc., and unparalleled support and training services in locations worldwide.
Competitive edge - Improved product quality and increased engineering productivity result from using the program. Maintain your competitive edge by evaluating design alternatives, finding ways to extend a product's life, and minimizing redesign.

IMPORTANT FEATURES

Steady-state or transient solution algorithms
Equal order approximation for velocity and pressure
Cartesian, cylindrical, axisymmetric, and polar coordinates
Rotating coordinate systems
Flow field boundary conditions (velocities, pressures, and turbulence quantities)
Thermal boundary conditions (heat flux, volumetric heat source, temperature, specified heat transfer coefficient)
Periodic boundary conditions
Distributed flow resistances
Porous media
Forced, free, or mixed convection
Conduction
Conjugate heat transfer
Monotone streamline upwind approximation for advection terms.

REPRESENTATIVE APPLICATIONS

FLOTRAN CFD has been used to solve a wide range of fluid behavior applications, including:

Electronics
- Electronic cooling (i.e., computer terminals)
- Conjugate heat transfer of an IC package
- Heat transfer in electronic chips
- Heat transfer in an electronic fin array
- Disk flow

Environmental
- Gaseous plume dispersion
- Aqueous effluent dispersion
- Wind loads on buildings and structures

Automotive
- Intake manifolds
- Exhaust manifolds
- Radiators

Aerospace
- Airfoils
- Intake design

Power
- Thermal stratification
- Pressurized thermal shock
- Natural convection cooling
- Fluid bed reactor analysis
- Valve analysis

HVAC
- Flow inside buildings
- Flow in ducts
- Flow in pipes
- Heat exchanger analysis

Turbo Machinery
- Torque converter flow analysis
- Flow through vaned and vaneless diffusers
- Labyrinth seal flow
- Blade cooling analysis
- Flow in pump, compressor, turbine, or impeller passages.

COMPUTERS SUPPORTED

FLOTRAN CFD is available on all major hardware platforms, enabling analysis on PCs, workstations and supercomputers.

TECHNICAL SUPPORT

FLOTRAN CFD is developed and distributed by ANSYS, Inc. and is backed by unparalleled support and training services worldwide. Local support, training, and licensing of FLOTRAN CFD are provided by ANSYS Support Distributors, who are located in all major markets around the globe. A technically qualified full-time customer support staff is available at ASD locations via telephone hotline. Regularly scheduled seminars are available in your own geographic area to address both introductory and advanced topics.

MAKE THE POWER OF FLOTRAN CFD WORK FOR YOU

The engineering challenges of today demand a robust CFD analysis code that provides efficient, accurate results at an affordable price. ANSYS/FLOTRAN, by far, represents your best CFD value. The program's ease of use, speed, flexibility and accuracy will help you solve design problems today and into the future. The ability to expand the power of FLOTRAN CFD with the broad range of analysis capabilities available in the ANSYS general-purpose FEA program can open up new horizons of potential through design optimization and coupled-field analysis capabilities. Call your ANSYS Support Distributor today and seize this opportunity to discover the benefits of utilizing CFD capabilities to meet the engineering design challenges of the global marketplace.

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