Heat Transfer
FloEFD is extremely effective at predicting temperature fields in and around a product 3-dimensional design.
Simulate and understand
Temperature fields are often determined by a series of complex physical processes such as heat conduction, heat convection, conjugated heat transfer between fluids, surrounding solid materials, radiation and many more. All these physical processes are simulated quickly within a FloEFD model, enabling the design engineer to better understand temperature distribution in the fluid and solid areas of their product.
Explore "what-if" scenarios
FloEFD also allows a user to investigate other flow field parameters in "what-if" scenarios to better understand the reasons for a particular temperature distribution, and why the temperature may be higher or lower than allowed by the technical specification.
Decrease time-to-market
Using FloEFD in the early stages of the design process will help eliminate the need for multiple prototypes; it will help increase reliability, save time, save money and get a product to market faster.
Mentor Graphics Concurrent CFD analysis software FloEFD, wins 2010 Design News Golden Mousetrap award for Best Product. Read more
Read more
Try FloEFD
The 60 day trial software includes heat transfer, pressure drop, exhaust manifold, mixing armature and roof-mounted figure simulation models.
Success Stories
Fico
Fico, a member of the Besi Group, used FloEFD Pro engineering fluid dynamics analysis software to obtain a 40x performance enhancement in their new laser cutting system.
View Success Story
AEG Design Tools
The power tool manufacturer creates more efficient engine designs in far less time with FloEFD™ computational fluid dynamics software.
View Success Story
Heat Transfer Examples:Heat Exchanger Efficiency Prediction
Heat Exchanger Efficiency Prediction
The efficiency of the heat transfer process within heat exchangers play a major role in the reduction of a system’s energy loss. FloEFD's well-proven and reliable thermal simulation functionality includes full conjugated heat transfer between solid and fluid regions, this includes heat conduction, convection and radiation.
Preparing a model for analysis is very easy with FloEFD. Unlike traditional CFD programs that require a user to create additional solid parts to represent the fluid (empty) regions, FloEFD automatically differentiates between the two for internal and external flows and automatically represents the fluid domain. This helps make the software both quick and easy to use, allowing the engineer to concentrate on optimizing the design.
Heat Transfer Examples:Injection Molding Device Cooling
Injection Molding Device Cooling
The need for increased quality and productivity in the injection molding industry requires refined die cooling strategies which are both physically efficient and cost effective to produce. The efficiency of cooling channels surrounding injection molding dies is a critical factor in the manufacture of these tooling units.
HOFMANN Innovation Group AG chose FloEFD as the ideal analysis tool to help their engineers optimize and verify the cooling performance of their molds prior to going for manufacture. The integration with their native CAD package enables their engineers to quickly make adjustments to the die’s design geometry and then to explore, analyze and develop further ‘what-if’ scenarios.
Heat Transfer Examples:Sterilization in Food Processing
Sterilization in Food Processing
The increasing need to design and build food processing lines that are both easy to clean and yet allow for the quick change of ‘feedstock’, requires a resourceful approach if a manufacture is to meet production targets as well as strict hygiene requirements. Some food processing lines may also require a production line that are heated to specific temperatures to help extend shelf life of produce or for septic reasons.
FloEFD’s ability to combine both heat transfer and fluid flow analysis in a visual way helps inform the engineer of possible issues. This together with its built-in reporting functionality that outputs to both Microsoft Word and Excel make this the perfect analysis tool for engineers to design and optimize food processing lines.
Heat Transfer Examples:Windscreen De-icing
Windscreen De-icing
Windscreen de-icing, as well as being a comfort feature is a major safety necessity across all forms of transportation. It is important to supply and distribute hot air for window de-icing in an efficient and optimized way as a key part of the overall thermal and air conditioning system of a vehicle. FloEFD is the ideal tool to analyze an engineer’s design and the physical functions related to this challenge. Challenges such as the geometrical shape and position of air ducts, flow rate strategy, heating strategy and more.
FloEFD, as well as being used to optimize the current de-icing system, can best be used at the initial design stage where – due to FloEFD’s CAD integration and speed of use, an engineer can test ‘what-if’ scenarios in an effort to optimize a system within given specifications.
Heat Transfer Examples:Solar Towers
Solar Towers
Solar towers, although still in the experimental stage, may in the near future provide one option for converting alternative energy into electricity. FloEFD comes with all necessary physical and geometrical modeling functions to simulate the function of a solar tower as a basis for further research and optimization of the technology.
Preparing a model for analysis is very easy with FloEFD. Unlike traditional CFD programs that require users to create additional solid parts to represent the fluid (empty) regions, FloEFD automatically differentiates between the two for internal and external flows and automatically represents the fluid domain.
Heat Transfer Examples:Automotive Head and Tail Lamps
Automotive Head and Tail Lamps
The automotive headlight and tail lamp industry is a developing market in terms of new ideas and new technology. The adaption of innovative electronics such as LED light sources and novel cooling strategies makes for a competitive business, where ‘time-to-market’ is vital if a company is to beat its competition .
Modern headlights and tail lamps can cause major thermal challenges, defining the quality of light, high unit temperatures and product life duration to name a few. It is vital therefore that thermal simulation be carried out before a unit goes to manufacture if a company is to save both time and money on product failures and design re-spins.
Heat Transfer Examples:Laser Systems
Laser Systems
Laser systems are widely used for various manufacturing processes such as laser cutting, measuring, quality control, etc. Such devices require careful thermal management solutions to ensure their continued reliable operation. FloEFD analysis software can help explore the thermal characteristics in and around a laser system as a basis for design improvements.
Fico, a member of the Besi Group, used Engineering Fluid Dynamics analysis software FloEFD Pro to obtain an amazing 40x performance enhancement in their new laser cutting system. The company successfully optimized airflow in their new equipment to deal with the dust created as a result of the cutting process. As a result, system maintenance intervals increased from 15 minutes to 11 hours in record time. “In the past this process would have consisted of trial and error and would certainly have taken a lot longer than 90 days” explained Peter Venema, engineer. “When we proved that we had a reliable model, we were able to speed up the process significantly.”
Heat Transfer Examples:Solar Heating
Solar Heating
Devices exposed to intensive sun light require special thermal management measures to ensure that the maximum temperatures allowed are not exceeded. To address such challenges FloEFD provides - as standard, a solar radiation function. This function includes various parameters such as geographical position of an object, day of the year, time of the day, cloud cover factor etc, to accurately simulate the solar heat loading on the object for thermal studies. .
FloEFD users can set a component to be transparent for solar radiation only (as well as for thermal radiation only). The absorption factor of a wall (i.e. a portion of incoming radiative heat absorbed by the wall) can be specified differently for solar and thermal radiation. This function permits a more accurate simulation when solar radiation forms part of the model definition
Heat Transfer Examples:Engine Cooling Jackets
Engine Cooling Jackets
Simulation of the thermal behavior in and around engine cooling jackets and cylinder heads is one of the classic applications for coupled fluid flow and heat transfer analysis. FloEFD is especially well suited for such applications.
FloEFD’s functionality can be seamlessly integrated with major MCAD packages that are commonly used throughout the automotive industry. Engineering Fluid Dynamics analysis software was specifically created for the MCAD fraternity. It includes as standard a comprehensive range of conjugated heat transfer simulation models, helping to make it an exceptionally easy to use package when used with complex CAD geometry such as engine cooling jackets.
Heat Transfer Examples:Brake Design
Brake Design
Brake technology is rapidly developing to meet the increased requirements of modern automobile technology and increasing stringent safety rules and regulations. The thermal characterization and thermal design of brake disks and caliper units is a major field for research and development.
FloEFD is the ideal analysis tool for these types of projects to help an engineer gain a comprehensive understanding of the thermal performance of braking systems heat dissipation, friction areas etc, etc. Because FloEFD can be integrated in to a user’s native CAD system, the engineer can quickly optimize their design to achieve the required specifications.
Heat Transfer Examples:Oil Cooler Design
Oil Cooler Design
Oil coolers are geometrically very complex heat exchange devices. FloEFD offers built-in functionality to effectively tackle thermal simulations within intricate mechanical structures such as oil coolers; this includes such functions as periodic boundary conditions or the very efficient thin-wall technology for optimized computational grids.
Because FloEFD integrates with a user’s native CAD system, its ease of use and computational speed allows the engineer the time to explore alternative optimal design configurations for air-flow and heat transfer set-ups using ‘what-if’ scenarios. This helps the engineer to visualize and better understand the reasons for a particular temperature distribution, and why the results may be higher or lower than the allowed technical specifications.