CFD software for combustion applications

A large number of CFD software packages are available on the market with have good capabilities for CFD modelling of industrial combustion applications. These CFD software packages can be classified as open source (which are not necessarily free of charge) or proprietary with a perpetual or recurring licence fee.
Dacolt has experience in CFD modelling with a number of these packages:

• Open Source software: Code_Saturne, OPENFOAM® and Kiva
• Proprietary software: ANSYS® FLUENT®, AVL FIRE and Star-CD from CD-adapco

Choosing the right CFD software package

When conducting CFD studies for industrial customers, Dacolt adopts the preferred CFD package of the customer. If the customer has no preference, Dacolt often uses ANSYS® FLUENT® , being an 'Enhanced Solution Partner' of ANSYS, Inc. in the field of reactive flow CFD simulations. However, in both cases a first requirement is of course that the envisaged software package contains a combustion model which is able to account for the physics of the problem considered.

One key element in choosing a software package for CFD simulations of internal combustion engines is the moving mesh handling. Some methods require multiple pre-generated meshes, which induces a considerable overhead in the CFD process. One of the advantages of ANSYS® FLUENT® is the fully automated mesh handling, requiring only a single mesh.

For longer-term decisions and benchmarks for the CFD software to choose in an industrial CFD process, Dacolt strongly believes that the decision-making process should be based on best fitness-for-purpose, cost-effectiveness and longer-term usage outlook. Dacolt can advise industrial CFD users in their choice of CFD software package.

Contact us for more information on CFD software.