Flownex

Flownex is a systems CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) code that enables users to perform detail design, analysis and optimization of a wide range of thermal-fluid systems ranging from simple pipe networks to complex systems such as gas turbine engines or combined cycle power plants.

“Systems CFD” refers to the approach where component models with different levels of complexity ranging from analytical models or lumped models to 1D, 2D or even 3D CFD models are linked together in a network to represent a complex system.

Flownex’s solution algorithm resembles that of a conventional CFD code. The system is discretized into a number of spatial or conceptual control volumes to which a set of conservation equations are applied and then solved.

Distinguishing features of Flownex are:

• Its ability to deal with both steady-state and dynamic problems,
• Its ability to deal with both single phase and two-phase fluids,
• Its ability to deal with very large networks and
• Its speed of execution.

Applications 

Typical applications where Flownex has added great value:

• Design and optimization of air, gas, fuel, water, oil and steam distribution networks.
• Design and performance prediction of high-temperature gas-cooled nuclear power plants.
• Design of gas, steam or combined cycle power plants.
• Turbo engine performance prediction, including the effect of leak flows and cooling flows.
• Turbo engine combustion chamber design and optimization.
• Aircraft air-standard refrigeration system performance prediction.
• Design of a complete aircraft air conditioning systems including the balancing of the air distribution network.
• Compressor and turbine performance prediction and power matching.
• Design of compressed air networks including compressor stations and valves.
• Analysis of hydraulic systems.
• Heat exchanger transient analysis.
• Analysis of heat exchanger networks.
• Pipeline design including valves and compressor or pumping stations.
• Control and optimization of power plants and compressed air systems.
• Utility water and chilled water distribution networks.
• Design of mining ventilation networks.
• Analysis of heating and cooling equipment.
• Simulation of refrigeration systems.
• Manifold design.
• Aircraft cabin depressurization studies.
• Water hammer analysis.