December 20, 2002, Lebanon, NH, USA Fluent Inc., the world leader in flow modeling software, announces the newest version of its Airpak software. Airpak 2.1 is an easy-to-use airflow modeling design tool that allows for the accurate modeling of airflow, heat transfer, contaminant transport, and thermal comfort in ventilation systems, as well as external building flows. Airpak can also reduce risk for new designs and improve the efficiency of current designs while saving time and money.

"Airflow modeling is becoming an essential tool in building design," says Airpak Product Manager Dr. Walter Schwarz, "and our customers who have selected Airpak as their airflow modeling tool-of-choice have gained a competitive advantage over their competitors in design as well as enhanced their communication with customers concerning ventilation design performance."

Sunlight and shadows

Airpak 2.1 provides a solar shading model, which accounts for the local date, time, and geographic position to compute the solar intensity and angle. This direct solar radiation information is combined with the user-specified characterization of the solar radiation entering the building.

3D object importing

The emerging Industry Foundation Classes (IFC) standards, developed by the International Alliance for Interoperability (IAI), provide a way for users of building design software tools to communicate more easily and accurately using 3D object-oriented CAD files. IFC 2.0 CAD files are now automatically converted to the appropriate 3D Airpak objects. In addition, Airpak 2.1 supports DWG surface import.

Automated zoom-in capability

Simulations of large spaces can be used to supply boundary conditions for more limited simulations of a particular area.

Automatic underrelaxation factor adjustment for quicker convergence

Airpak 2.1 includes an option to automatically change the solution underrelaxation factor settings based on the convergence history of the simulation, therefore, effectively leapfrogging from model building to visualizing the results without having to monitor and tightly control the solution process.

ADPI post-processing enhancements

Airpak 2.1 adds a new Air Diffusion Performance Index (ADPI) reporting option to calculate ventilation performance in the occupied zone.

Pricing and availability

Airpak is available on UNIX, NT, and Linux platforms. Airpak license fees are determined by the number of processes that a user requires. License fees include unlimited technical support. Visit Airpak's worldwide office page for a listing of worldwide offices and distributors.

Corporate background

Fluent Inc. is the world leader in the rapidly growing field of computerized design and simulation software. Its software is used to predict fluid flow, heat and mass transfer, chemical reaction, and related phenomena. Fluent's software products and services help engineers with detailed product development, design optimization, scale-up, and retrofitting. The software significantly reduces engineering costs, while improving the final design of products in applications ranging from the 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, with offices in Belgium, England, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan and Sweden. Its CFD software is also available around the world through joint ventures, partnerships, and distributors in Korea, Australia, Brazil, China, Taiwan, the Czech Republic, Middle East, and most European countries.

Airpak is a trademark of Fluent Inc., and is a joint development of Fluent Inc. and ICEM-CFD Engineering.

For more information, contact:

Paul Whalen Fluent Inc. 10 Cavendish Court Lebanon, NH 03766 (603) 643-2600 Ext. 666 pww@fluent.com