What Are the Different Applications of CFD Engineering?

 

Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is an important stream of Computer-Aided Engineering (CAE). It is a science concerned with analysing fluid flows such as liquid and gas, using methods of data structures and numerical solutions.

Let us get some insight into the applications of CFD and how you can qualify as a CFD engineer.

 

The Applications of CFD Engineering in Different Fields

The dynamics of CFD can be applied to various engineering domains such as automobile, aerospace, mechanical, chemical, hydrodynamics, etc. Let us understand some of its pertinent applications in detail:

 

1. Turbomachinery

Improving the performance of devices such as turbochargers and turbopumps can be challenging for a manufacturer. It would require them to navigate areas like operating range, operating costs, reliability, etc. Turbomachinery CFD simulation can help overcome these issues optimally. Emissions can also be lowered with CFD simulation.

 

2. Electronics Cooling Simulation

GPUs, CPUs and other related chips gradually break down if they overheat and need to be kept cool to maintain the desired performance. Devices such as phones, toys, etc., may fail due to overheating if they are launched in the market without simulation or testing. With the help of CFD simulation, the most suitable position of these components can be figured out to prevent them from overheating. 

 

3. Heat Transfer and Thermal Management

Heat transfer and thermal management is a drill used to measure heat flow through a solid design; pipes used to transfer hot liquid are an excellent example. A thermal management test using CFD simulation is unavoidable to maintain the safety of these designs. 

 

4. Rotating Machinery Simulation

The cyclic-shaped load on structures such as turbines, pumps, compressors, etc., must be monitored carefully for any unstable rotor vibration. This can be easily done using CFD simulation. 

 

5. CFD Analysis for Cavitation

Components such as fuel injectors, turbines, valves, etc., are vulnerable to the formation of vapour bubbles, known as cavitation, that hamper their overall performance. Cavitation also causes unwanted noise and vibration. The right set of designs is the cure against cavitation.

Physical stress testing finds it difficult to detect cavitation as measuring vibration and noise does not necessarily detect the damage. CFD analyses and simulations, on the other hand, can be used to fix the problem.

 

6. CFD Simulation in Aerodynamics

Aerodynamics is a process used to observe the flow of air around moving objects and is helpful in industries such as aircraft, automobiles, etc. CFD simulation is of great use to reduce air friction as it helps test minor design changes without investing in prototypes.

 

7. CFD Simulation for Batteries

Unlike the aerospace industry, where airflow is essential, batteries don't seem to be a playing field for CFD. However, CFD software can be used to address rapid discharging-related problems, safety-related issues, performance enhancement, etc. It saves a lot of time as compared to physical testing. 

 

How to Qualify as a CFD Engineer?

With such a wide scope, a career as a CFD engineer may prove to be lucrative. If you are looking to join this field, you can consider having an engineering degree from ABET (Accreditation Board for Engineering and Technology) or other such universities of similar accreditation. 

Additionally, you can boost your resume with knowledge of industry-relevant tools and technologies. Skill-Lync's Post Graduate Program in Computational Fluid Dynamics can help you develop an expertise in tools such as ANSYS Fluent, SpaceClaim, CFD Post, CONVERGE, ParaView, MATLAB, OpenFOAM, Octave, etc. This 32-week program will help you build a professional portfolio, giving you practical industry experience and an edge over your competition. 

If you're wondering how much a CFD simulation engineer earns in India, the answer would first depend on your experience. On average, a CFD engineer earns Rs. 5.4 lakhs per annum in India. 

 

Conclusion

The erstwhile physical testing model has been very time-consuming and expensive. It gave rise to issues such as lack of certainty of product success, wastage of allocated budget and wastage of time, all of which led to the emergence of rival products with similar features. 

CFD simulation has attempted to overcome the majority of the traditional issues by allowing design engineers to perform the same tests at a lower cost and under virtually the same conditions. The growing importance of CFD has made it one of the most desirable skills in a candidate's resume. The next question that can pop up in your mind is how can one become a master in CFD?

You may consider a PG Program in Computational Fluid Dynamics by Skill-Lync. The online program is run by industry experts who will impart knowledge and guidance on 28 comprehensive projects.