Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is becoming increasingly popular worldwide with the burgeoning demand for efficient designs and processes. This branch of fluid mechanics has immense practical utility, whether in the aero industry to reduce the drag of airplanes or in oil plants to manage fluid flow through massive pipeline networks. Between 2016 and 2020, the CFD market grew by 10.73% in the four years.
Benefits and popularities of CFD aside, its adaptability in real life is different: Many businesses find it challenging to incorporate CFD into their functioning. Hardware and expertise restrictions and even myths may deter firms from benefiting from this amazing technology.
In some cases, firms may choose to go straight to CFD consultants to outsource their requirements. While that’s a practical and beneficial decision, we at Mechartes believe you must know CFD truths before hiring a consultant.
This article will answer who CFD consultants are and how CFD simulations can make your task easier.
Who Is a CFD Consultant?
A CFD consultant is a firm or individual who helps integrate CFD simulations and software into different projects. They are usually highly experienced with CFD applications in various sectors and can provide helpful insights based on your requirements.
CDF consultants like Mechartes elucidate the underlying transport phenomena in chemical and biological processes, such as heat, momentum, and mass transfer for different projects.
Moreover, CFD consultants also provide step-by-step guidance to ensure that your simulations and utility are completed optimally. Thanks to this, many firms take the help of CFD consultants to complete complex and vital projects.
However, even with the help of consultants, there are many misconceptions and myths about CFD that make people hesitant to enter this space.
The Truth Behind CFD: 4 Factors You Must Know
Some facts about CFD that you must know are as follows:
CFD simulations are quick
While older CFD software and processes took much longer to give an outcome, this has changed drastically. Thanks to recent developments in both hardware and software, large systems can compute and perform simulations much more smoothly and swiftly. Thus, CFD simulations are no more a task that takes multiple months.
Instead, the current average time for a CFD simulation is between 2-6 weeks depending on the specific project. This time frame involves everything from the initial meshing and CAD modeling to the results processing.
So, this misconception that CDF is time-consuming and slow is outdated and incorrect.
Read more: How We Prepare a Hassle-Free CFD Consultant Quotation for Our Clients
Software simulations are more comprehensive than manual simulations
Many people believe that physical measurements and techniques can outperform CFD when undertaking fluid-related calculations. This perception is not entirely incorrect, but it is also not entirely correct. Both physical measurements and simulations are needed to reach accurate results.
Essentially, physical measurements should be used to verify parameters from CFD simulations to ascertain their accuracy and results.
That being said, if you’re to choose one over the other, in most applicable industries, CFD simulations tend to be more comprehensive and accurate in their calculations.
CFD is affordable
Due to CFD parameters and software complexity, a common misconception is that CFD is very costly. However, this is not the case. Instead, CFD-related costs are divided into computational costs and person-hours, directly proportional to your specific project.
This means that the more complex and sizeable your requirement is, the more computations and person-hours will be needed, which will increase the cost.
Thus, smaller businesses can often complete CFD simulations within reasonable financial spending.
CFD simulations are dependable
Most CFD software functions on the Navier-Stokes equations. While these are correct, solving them is not possible. Thus, CFD software requires user input to simplify the process and make the simulation possible. These inputs consist of various values such as the model, simplifications, etc.
Due to this, a CFD simulation’s accuracy is dependent on the inputs made by the user. If the inputs are accurate, the simulation will be dependable and correct. On the other hand, incorrect inputs will lead to a technically sound outcome but incorrect for the user.
What Should You Do?
Having the right perceptions about CFD can help you make the right decisions for your projects. For example, misconceptions such as CFD being unreliable are entirely false and can cause firms to miss out on the benefits of this technology for their projects.
That being said, while CFD is efficient and trustworthy, the entire process of performing CFD simulations can be quite complex. This is where hiring a CFD consultant for your project is advisable to ensure that you get optimal results with minimal wastage.
So, if you have a CFD project and need a consultant, we at Mechartes can help you out. Our team of experienced CFD consultants can help you with in-depth analysis and professional insights to simplify your CFD requirements. For more details, contact us today!