CFD, what is the potential!!!

Applications of CFD

CFD is the abbreviation of computational fluid dynamics. A google search of CFD and you will realise that it is nothing but a tool which combines Maths and Physics, and applies it to solve engineering problems. It has found large scale applications in various fields like Aerospace engg, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering etc. In 1900's, man used life sized pilot plants to design planes, choppers, cars, manufacturing units etc. Just imagine how much money would have been invested/wasted in doing that. Also this is not a very efficient method as the data has to be extrapolated to get the data for real life sized models (which is not very reliable).

With CFD, all these problems are solved. CFD is a tool by which you can simulate literally any living/non-living entity in the whole universe. Right from the Space Aircraft to the satellites to the cars that run on the road to the reactors that forms the core of chemical engineering plants, CFD has been successfully used in all these fields.
Here, in this post I would like to list out some very very interesting uses of CFD (this list does not include the regular uses of CFD).

Modeling Commercial Aquaculture Systems:

Many factors influence marine aquaculture: tidal fluctuations, water temperature, food concentration and stocking density, among others. Success in this industry depends on balancing what you can control with what you can’t, and putting years of experience behind day-to-day decisions. Nowadays CFD is used to help identify productive sites and plan management strategies, especially considering sustainability: computer modeling targeted to aquaculture.
(Source: www.flow3d.com)

SPACE Rentry capsule
Flying at Mach Number near 5 ( 1 Mach - Ratio of speed of vehicle and Speed of sound in the same physical conditions), it near impossible to replicate the same physical conditions in a pilot plant. CFD has been an very effective tool to solve this problem. All space organizations in the world like NASA, European space Research, National Space organization, Japan(JAXA) etc have used this tool to design their spacecraft.
(Source: www.sandi.co.in, will be up soon)

Needle-Free Drug Injections
A novel, needle-less, powdered drug delivery system is currently being developed. It makes use of biolistics technology, where tiny particles are injected through cell walls by a high-powered gun. The technology provides a unique capability; it effectively delivers vaccines in micro-particle form through the skin, into an epidermal layer.

Space Shuttles
Man has not even explored moon, but most of the organizations like NASA, JAXA etc are already in the process of designing space shuttles that can fly at an speed of Mach 5(that's roughly 1500m/s!!!). Imagine all these can be done sitting right in front of a computer.
Fuel Cells, Civil Engineering, Nanotechnology, Motor Design etc.

Applications of CFD are growing by the day. Hope this blog was informative enough. If you want any information feel free to contact me.

Cheers,

Shanky

P.S. The best part of this blog is, research in most of the uses of CFD listed here happens in my lab. I am lucky enough to get an opportunity to simulate Space Reentry capsules, Space Shuttles etc. :D :D

Also if you are interested in knowing more about this software do contact me at shankar.ganapathy@sandi.co.in