First-pass CFD package provides early indications

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Feb 27, 2004

FloWizard is a novel highly automated "first-pass" flow simulation tool designed to quickly validate product design concepts in the earliest stages of the development process.

FloWizard is a novel highly automated "first-pass" flow simulation tool designed to quickly validate product design concepts in the earliest stages of the development process.

This powerful, yet easy-to-use tool allows engineers with a fundamental understanding of fluid dynamics to gain access to the power of fluid flow and heat transfer modelling to make informed design decisions.

FloWizard is also fully customisable, and features peer-to-peer collaboration as a standard feature, allowing advanced users to collaborate with new users for support and the review of results.

By simulating a product's fluid flow characteristics earlier in the design process, companies using FloWizard can realise several benefits, including: fewer physical prototypes required, saving significant time and cost; improved decision support information during the early stages of the design process; improved overall design engineering efficiency and productivity; identification of optimum designs earlier in the design cycle; customers receive prototypes sooner, and with higher quality; and functionally superior products reach the market more quickly.

"FloWizard automates many of the standard modelling procedures, making it very easy to use", says Dr Ferit Boysan, President of Fluent.

"The door is now open for widespread deployment of CFD as a decision-support tool throughout the entire design process.

And its collaboration abilities help CFD analysts ensure that simulations are conducted properly and results are analysed correctly", he adds.

Sharing the same solution engine as Fluent version 6, FloWizard provides complete compatibility with the world's leading CFD tool for virtual prototyping, providing virtually unlimited headroom as a company's flow modelling needs and complexity grow.

Key features of FloWizard include: an intuitive "user-centred" interface that guides designers through fundamental fluid flow analysis using well understood terminology and procedures that are easy to use and remember; automated processes for flow volume extractions, defeaturing, boundary condition application, solution setup, and postprocessing; and automated postprocessing including path-line animations, guided visualisation contours and vectors on easily swept planes.

Automated summary reports include minimum, maximum and average pressures, temperatures and velocities at inlets, outlets, walls and throughout domains, pressure drops between all inlets and outlets, heat transfer coefficients on walls, net mass and heat flow rates.

The package also provides: full binary file compatibility with the entire Fluent 6 product set including the Gambit 2.1 preprocessing toolset; CAD connectivity, including support for Catia, Unigraphics, ProEngineer, SolidWorks, Solid Edge, as well many others via industry standard file formats; a highly customisable user interface with "out-of-box" functionality that is perfect for occasional or nonspecialist CFD users; and built-in collaboration for the virtual design team.

FloWizard is currently in beta test with leading customers worldwide.

Shipments are expected to begin the second quarter.