Fluent Releases Version 5.5 of Its FLUENT Software
FLUENT and GT-Power Team Up
GT-Power is one-dimensional gas dynamics and engine simulation software developed by Gamma Technologies, Inc. (Westmont, IL). It is commonly used in the automotive industry for engine simulation. FLUENT 5.5 offers an option for users to couple their FLUENT simulations with their GT-Power simulations. This makes it easy for engineers to integrate their CFD flow modeling of components with the big picture, system-level simulation in GT-Power. Technological wizardry built into this coupling also makes the process fast and computationally economical. Currently, the coupling can take place in several areas of the simulation: velocity inlet, mass flow inlet, pressure inlet, and pressure outlet. To take advantage of the GT-Power/FLUENT coupling, users need a specialized license and the GT-Power library, specifically built for this coupling, from Gamma Technologies. Initially, this capability will be available on selected platforms only, with additional platforms planned for the near future.
The technical framework used for the GT-Power coupling gives FLUENT an easy platform on which to build future couplings with other one-dimensional analysis packages.
Improved Accuracy, Speed, and Flexibility
According to FLUENT Product Market Manager, Nicole Diana, FLUENT 5.5 offers across-the-board improvements. "We now have a new optional algorithm for particle-path integration, which improves the accuracy of particle tracking. In addition, you can now model up to 50 species transport equations, which is critical for our users who are modeling finite-rate chemistry involving detailed reaction mechanisms. We've also added parallelization to the popular thin-plate conduction model, to speed up the process and help our users with large and complicated geometries," she says.
For monitoring and postprocessing FLUENT results, a key new feature is access to residuals for all solution variables, which is useful not only for diagnosing solution convergence, but also for troubleshooting non-convergence and divergence.
It's now possible to import meshes in CFD General Notation System (CGNS) format into FLUENT and export data and results to CGNS format as well. Two additional new formats are available for exporting data: ANSYS and Abaqus. Also, several improvements have been made to NASTRAN and PATRAN data export.
Pricing and Availability
FLUENT 5.5 is available now for UNIX, NT, and PC platforms. Annual license fees are inclusive of software and unlimited technical support.
About Fluent
Fluent Inc. is a world leader in the rapidly growing field of computerized design and simulation software. Fluent's software is used to predict fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, chemical reaction, and related phenomena. Fluent's software products and services help engineers in leading corporations worldwide with detailed product development, design optimization, trouble shooting, scale-up and retrofitting. Fluent's software significantly reduces engineering cost, while improving the final design of products in applications ranging from design of electronic components and systems to automotive engineering, and from combustion system design to process plant troubleshooting.
Fluent's corporate headquarters are located in Lebanon, New Hampshire, USA. Fluent's Automotive Industry Business Team is located in Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA. Fluent's European headquarters are located in Sheffield, England, with local offices in France, Germany, Italy, Sweden, and Belgium. Fluent's Asia Pacific headquarters are located in Tokyo, Japan. Fluent's CFD software is also available around the world through joint ventures, partnerships, and distributors in Korea, Australia, Brazil, China, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, and most European countries.
Fluent is a subsidiary of Aavid Thermal Technologies Inc. Additional information on Fluent's products can be obtained on the World Wide Web at www.fluent.com or by e-mailing info@fluent.com. More information on Aavid Thermal Technologies is available at www.aavid.com.
About Gamma Technologies, Inc.
Gamma Technologies, Inc. (GTI), headquartered in Westmont, Illinois, USA, develops and commercially licenses computer-aided engineering (CAE) software tools. These tools are specifically designed for the engine, powertrain, and vehicle industries. GTI also provides user support and training and carries out general consulting projects using its proprietary CAE tools.
GTI's staff has extensive experience in the development of such software, with a 17-year history of supporting users worldwide. GTI is growing rapidly in size, and in its number of customers. In fact, in 1999 GTI became the No. 1 supplier of engine simulation software worldwide. Additional information on GTI can be obtained on the World Wide Web at www.gtisoft.com.
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Fluent Inc., 10 Cavendish Court, Lebanon, NH 03766. Tel: 800-445-4454; Fax: 603-643-3967.