CONSULTING & CFD

CFD MODELING TECHNIQUES

Heat transfer

Heat transfer models include the three main mecanisms of interest in engineering: conduction, convection and radiation. This way, it is possible to study any process where heat transfer occurs in the form of combined mecanisms, analyzing implications and influence in the thermic design. In this respect, there are some examples: i) flame expansion analysis in fires, ii) thermic treatments applied in manufacturing of metallic components (stress stabilization) or iii) thermic treatments in components made of fiber and polymers (curation).

Multiphase flows

The use of the CFD tool enables the simulation of all kind of multiphase flows, from small scales (drops, microbubbles) to free surface phenomena. Utilization of these models facilitates the study of problems in which more than one fluid is present. This way, it is possible to analyze, among others, mixture processes, dispersion of contaminants, drops and bubbles formation, cavitation, flows in channels with free surface and waves, etc.

Chemical and biological reactors

The aeration and stirring operations are essential in the inside hydrodynamics of cultivation reactors both at laboratory (research and development) and industrial productive processes. The optimization of these processes in terms of homogenization and stability, reducing the shear phenomena, energy consumption and effective gas transfer, is other of the CFD tool application.

Waterworks

Traditionallly, Civil Engineering (channels, dams, pumping stations, locks, ports, etc.) have been planned and executed according to calculation and design guidances which had been established and contrasted for a long time in the Schools of Engineering. Sometimes, building and testing scaled models, allowed to ratify/modify the plans before the final construction at real scale.

The Numeric Simulation offers new possibilities for designing and detecting problems in a stage previous to scaled models, which has time/cost saving as a consequence.

Specific models

Any process, in which there are fluids involved, may be analyzed with the CFD technique. It is especially useful for the initial design of prototypes in which changes in the geometry may result in the improvement of parameters such as pressure, speed, flow, temperature, etc. Once the simulation provides a satisfactory result, the next steps of experimentation and later scaling at industrial level are approached with high probability of achieving success.

Aeroelasticity

The CFD tool is also indicated for an analysis previous to mechanic calculations in which tensions in the constitutive components of the structure are obtained in a realistic way. The wide variety of contour conditions that may be imposed to the analyzed flow also permits to study a number of cases both in stationary and transitory regimes.

Experimental tests

Once CFD simulations have been contrasted with prototypes or experimental designs and correlation between results achieved through both ways have been validated, the technique is applied again for the so called “precise optimization” or if necessary for further scaling of bigger dimensions.

Tecnical consultancy

Two-dimensional numerical simulation of the flow originated by two paddles in a microalgae cultivation raceway.

As it may be seen, it is a very complex movement, with a gyratory element that modifies the free surface between the water (blue) and the air (light blue).

Efficiency in the paddles depends on the number of blades, the angle of incidence and also the tank geometry in the impulsion zone.

Numerical simulations, together with experimental tests using scaled models, allow the substantial improvement of the impulsion systems in cultivation tanks, which contribute to an important saving in operation costs.