Airflow simulation is fluid dynamics science that can be used widely in academic disciplines starting from engineering and finishing with architectural and environmental sciences to predict air currents in specific conditions.
The basic parts of the simulation of airflow
Fundamentals of airflow simulation
Airflow simulation is achieved through utilization of fundamental principles of fluid dynamics; they explain the nature of fluid substances such as air and its interaction with objects made of solid substances. These equations’ approximations consider velocity, pressure, density and viscosity to determine the characteristics of air in different situations.
Preprocessing and boundary conditions
Moreover, before performing an airflow simulation, the user should generate a geometrical model that is digitized in one way or another. The model is then broken down into a mesh or a network of cells where the geometrical characteristics of the elements in the mesh are made to vary gradually to get more refined in the areas where sharper analysis is needed. The user also defines the constraints like flow and temperature properties at the inlet and the outlet, the nature of the wall, and the presence of any physical/heat barriers, including any obstruction present in the problem area/volume.
Turbulence modeling
Airflow can be smooth or turbulent, a parameter indicating the relative significance of the inertial and viscous forces in the fluid. Turbulence in this context can be described as the fluid or gas flow that is not in a steady and orderly pattern as it is disorderly, irregular, and unpredictable. Know about each of the models, identifying the areas where each performs well or poorly and thus provides insights into which model is more suited for a specific property or accuracy requirement.
Post processing and visualization
Data is processed through post processing tools when the fluent application for the airflow simulation is over. These tools also help the user to capture the airflow pattern, distribution, temperature contour as well as any other parameter that might be useful in analyzing functional efficiency. Another advantage of post processing is that one can extract quantitative information like the forces of drag, heat transfer coefficients, and velocity flow.
Applications of airflow simulation
In constructing buildings and architectures, it is used to establish the movement of air in the built environment and constructions to moderate and control the temperature of the built building and constructions to lessen the impact of climate change and also measure impact of wind pressure on buildings. In the case of the automotive and aerospace industries, airflow simulation is as important for a car or an airplane designer and its efficiency as it is for an engine.
Validation and verification
The chosen models should be validated and verified to optimize the reliability of the flow simulation outcomes used in the design process. A validation process includes using experimental data within the simulations or other real world measurements to check the developed model’s accuracy. On the other hand, verification mainly aims to prove that the numerical methods and algorithms implemented in the simulation are implemented correctly and yield accurate results.
Summary
Airflow simulation is an industry standard in today’s areas of engineering and environment science and by mentioning this, it would be utterly preposterous to argue that as computers continue to become faster and as more methodologies are being developed, this tool is undoubtedly harbors quite a deal of prospect to become the guide of the emerging industry.
