Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)
CFD is a set of numerical methods used to simulate the physical behaviour of one or more fluids. It makes it possible to visualise, anticipate and optimise complex phenomena that are invisible to the naked eye, with the precision that is essential for industrial design and innovation.
Our expertise at work
CFD is an essential pillar for innovating, optimising and understanding complex flows in many fields. It provides access to valuable data, supports innovation and reduces costs. CFD is an indispensable asset for research and industry.
Permanent and transient flows
External or internal
RANS, DES or LES approach
Multiphase
Phase change
CFD: Simulation, Validation and Optimisation
Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is a key tool in research and industry. It enables complex flows to be modelled while reducing development costs and timescales. By accessing data that is often inaccessible through experimentation, it optimises energy and environmental performance. It is versatile, applying to a wide range of fields, from aerodynamics to medicine, and effectively complements physical testing to validate and refine models. CFD is now a strategic tool for analysing, optimising and solving complex problems.
Implementing a CFD simulation requires in-depth expertise at every stage:
Choice of mesh type of elements, size, quality, influencing the robustness of the calculation.
Modelled physics boundary conditions, turbulence models adapted to the phenomenon.
Solver and digital settings algorithms, discretisation schemes, etc.
Post-processing analysis of temperature fields, speed, pressure drops, etc.
Our expertise enables us to working with geometries complexities regularly encountered in the industry
Thanks to our expertise and advanced simulation tools, we are able to handle highly complex industrial geometries while guaranteeing the accuracy and robustness needed to meet the challenges of the industry. Our resources enable us to simulate both stationary and transient phenomena, on domains of any size.
01
More than 1 billion cells for steady-state simulations
100
100 million cells for transient calculations
250
Several hundred fluid or solid domains
A expertise recognised by our customers
From industry leaders to innovative start-ups, our customers share common requirements: reliability, precision and expertise.
Fréderic. R
CEA
Based on a solid scientific foundation and rigorous methodologies, the G-MET team produces relevant numerical simulations. The team is also very pleasant to work with, responsive and attentive.
Concrete cases for a variety of industrial challenges
Whether it's a question of mechanical components, equipment subject to extreme stress or energy optimisation, each study is designed to meet a specific need in terms of performance, safety or innovation.
Blowout simulation
This video illustrates an example of a flow application
for industry and research
nuclear reactor (ITER). The aim of this simulation was to calculate the
water drainage transition in a cooling circuit.
This is a large-scale simulation, with the mesh size
being around 52 million cells. The simulation is carried out
with an internal two-phase solver developed by G-MET
Engineering. In addition, data storage accounted for more than
40 To
Mixers
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a valuable tool for analysing and optimising the flows generated by mixers in the chemical industry. These rotating systems, which are essential for stirring tanks, create complex and turbulent flows, and a detailed understanding of these is crucial to ensuring that mixtures are homogenised efficiently. CFD enables these flows to be modelled accurately, taking into account the interactions between the mixer blades and the fluid, as well as turbulence and shear phenomena. Thanks to these simulations, it is possible to assess mixing efficiency, identify areas of stagnation or recirculation, and optimise the design of mixers to improve their energy and operational performance.
Hydrodynamic bearing
Bearings are one of the most widely used mechanical components. However, cavitation is a complex physical phenomenon and can be a major problem. Cavitation can cause surface erosion and degrade the bearing, leading to potential failure.
CFD can provide information on the cause of cavitation. In addition, the study of the flow in the bearing, taking into account the phase change, can be carried out by numerical simulation, taking into account 3D effects.
Open water propeller
Full-scale propeller tests can be complex. CFD is a relevant tool for calculating propeller characteristics in open water. Choosing the right propeller design is crucial because it has a direct impact on the propulsive performance of the vessel (or underwater craft). In addition, to evaluate performance curves, the propeller is traditionally placed in a tank at a fixed rotation speed, and then different forward speeds are tested. In this way, the thrust coefficient, torque coefficient and efficiency can be determined from the open-water calculations. These curves can be used directly to perform self-propulsion calculations by feeding the propeller disc models.
Flexible coupling
Loads and wave impacts can be assessed using CFD. In addition, the calculated pressure fields can be used by mechanics to assess forces and carry out structural dimensioning.
This demonstrative example illustrates the case of waves interacting with an offshore structure (jacket). The waves are generated using the standard OpenFOAM library (5th order stokes). The simulation is run with the marineFoam solver using the BICS scheme (Queuty et al). Pressure and density discontinuities are managed using the Ghost Fluid method.
Wave propagation
Loads and wave impacts can be assessed using CFD. In addition, the calculated pressure fields can be used by mechanics to assess forces and carry out structural dimensioning.
This demonstrative example illustrates the case of waves interacting with an offshore structure (jacket). The waves are generated using the standard OpenFOAM library (5th order stokes). The simulation is run with the marineFoam solver using the BICS scheme (Queuty et al). Pressure and density discontinuities are managed using the Ghost Fluid method.
Vortex Induced Vibrations
CFD can be used to assess the phenomena of vortex-induced vibrations (VIV), which occur when slender structures such as subsea pipelines or tube bundles are subjected to fluid flows. These vibrations, caused by the periodic detachment of vortices, can result in significant mechanical stresses, which can lead to structural failure (fatigue). CFD is used to model the interactions between the fluid and the structure, capturing the details of the vortices and the fluctuating forces they generate. Thanks to these simulations, it is possible to predict vibration frequencies and amplitudes, identify critical flow conditions, and design mitigation solutions, such as vortex suppression devices or modifications to the structure's geometry.
Wind turbine simulation
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is now widely used in the design and optimisation of wind turbines. CFD is an effective tool for optimising and assisting engineers in all phases of product development. For example, different blade shapes or designs can be tested and compared in terms of cp (lambda) performance. Secondly, CFD can also help to better understand and assess the potential of a wind farm, as well as understanding the interactions between wind turbines.
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