Design services embrace CFD analysis

A PDD product story

Edited by the Engineeringtalk editorial team Oct 21, 2005

PDD reckons it is one of the first agencies of its kind to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as a conceptual tool to underpin its technical creativity.

PDD, the UK's leading international product innovation consultancy, is one of the first agencies of its kind to use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) as a conceptual tool to underpin its technical creativity.

CFD is a highly sophisticated computer-based simulation and analysis tool, which has the ability to analyse fluidic behaviour, such as pressures and flow characteristics, thermal effects, particle dispersion, chemical reactions, gas and liquid flow mixing or interaction with solids.

Traditionally, CFD has been used in engineering by companies that model and analyse fluid flow, typically in heavy industries such as aerospace, automotive and petrochemical.

In these applications, its role is predominantly performance or efficiency related.

By contrast PDD develops new products for consumer, medical and commercial markets.

These are often based around innovative but user-focused functionality, performance or features.

This activity demands rapid and thorough exploration of competing concepts well before detailed engineering analysis.

PDD has integrated CFD early into its process, just as it did years ago with finite element analysis (FEA), as a predictive feasibility tool to help explore and screen adventurous concepts before they are physically available for test.

Already, PDD has used CFD in the design and optimisation of a new, combined impeller/flow-meter pump design and is currently using it to help research and accelerate the design of a wide variety of products including radiators, respiratory products, signage, liquid dispensing systems, intravenous pumps and the latest generation and high-power telecomms handsets.

On the latter point alone Graham Lacy, PDD's Development Director notes: "Handsets would never normally have required the application of CFD, but ever greater bandwidth, battery power and miniaturisation means it if is not used, there is every likelihood that your latest technology will be - quite literally - too hot to handle".

Closer to end users still, PDD will also use CFD as a tool to improve consumer experience.

For example, CFD can be used to improve mouthwash or breath freshener spray by understanding and optimising the distribution of particles inside the mouth and the sensations that result.

PDD has adopted the market-leading fluid dynamics software, CFX from simulation software house Ansys.

CFX has over 20 years of proven track record worldwide across a diverse spectrum of industries including aerospace, automotive, chemical, bio-medical and marine.

On PDD's use of CFD technology, Julian Swan, Senior Project Manager, commented: "We are seeing increasing potential for the use of CFD technology as a key tool within the design and innovation process".

"Not only in terms of its ability to help our clients develop products and services more rapidly and cost-effectively, but also in its ability to help us model a whole new range of emerging and exciting technologies that are not quickly or easily tested".