CFX-TASCflow Version 2.12 Offers New Cavitation Model, Many Other Benefits

Waterloo, Ontario (October 17, 2002) - The latest version of CFX-TASCflow, the leading computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software for mechanical engineering, offers a new improved cavitation model, solves problems four times as large as the previous release, provides significant usability improvements and support of new 64-bit systems including Itanium. The new cavitation model, which is based on the volume of fluids (VOF) approach, provides solutions for many common application areas such as hydraulic flows in pumps, turbines, inducers and fuel injection systems. The new release supports 64-bit architectures such as HP UX 11, Solaris 8, and AIX 5I, making it possible to access more memory and solve problems of eight to ten million nodes in size in serial mode; more in parallel mode. "CFX-TASCflow Version 2.12 further advances CFX's leading position in the turbomachinery industry and helps demonstrate why leading companies such as Siemens, Sulzer Innotec, Dresser-Rand and many others depend on our software as their primary design tool," said Dr. Michael Raw, Vice-President CFX Product Development. "We are continuing to expand the capabilities in our CFX system of software, ensuring that our CFD tools and services are uniquely qualified for solving real-world industrial problems."

CFX-TASCflow is used by more designers than any other in the demanding turbomachinery sector and has a well-proven track record in this field. Its powerful features, such as a generalized grid interface that connects dissimilar, non-matching grids and multiple frame of reference and sliding meshes that model time-averaged, full-transient rotor/stator interactions, provide the ability to model nearly every type of turbine. For example, Siemens Power Generation, Mülheim an der Ruhr, Germany, used the software to develop design rules for highly-efficient steam turbine blades that have been employed subsequently to design the world's most efficient steam turbine to date, with 48.5% gross efficiency, for the VEAG power plant in Boxberg, Germany. "CFX played an important role in the development process by allowing us to predict flows and pressures inside the turbine with a minimum amount of model turbine tests", said Mathias Deckers, Manager of Steam Turbine Blading Technology.

Cavitation occurs when local low-pressure regions cause water bubbles to form. The process liquid actually boils at a relatively low temperature because the reduction in pressure has reduced its boiling point. When these vapor bubbles collapse, they generate strong forces that can cause noise and vibration, reduce operating efficiency and even damage the equipment. The new VOF model provides users with an ability to model the effects of free stream absolute temperature, bubble radius, evaporation constant, condensation constant, vapor source stream relaxation, liquid/mixture density blend factor, liquid/mixture viscosity blend factor, noncondensable dissolved gas mass fraction and a range of material properties. The constant enthalpy of vaporization (CEV) cavitation model that was offered in earlier versions also continues to be available.

The new release also includes a wide range usability features. One of the most important is a new boundary condition command language that makes it much easier to integrate CFX-TASCflow into automated optimization programs. A real-gas property visualization tool has been implemented that can be used to verify the contents of property tables in an RGP files. A results probe panel provides instant feedback of pre-selected field variable values at the chosen coordinates within the current geometry.

CFX is a leading supplier of CFD software and services to the chemical, manufacturing and power generation industries. With sales, support and consulting offices around the world, the company's mission is to improve customers' efficiency and profitability by delivering outstanding CFD solutions and support.

For more information, contact Chris Reeves, CFX Marketing Coordinator North America, AEA Technology Engineering Software, 554 Parkside Drive, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 5Z4. Tel: 519-886-8435, Fax: (519) 886-7580. Email: chris.reeves@cfx.aeat.com, World Wide Web: www.cfx.aeat.com.