Cover-Story

CAD-CAM REPORT
"New Virtual Test Lab Concept reduces Development Effort"

more: ISSUE 6 /2011 » »

Simulation of
flow performance maps for compressors and fans

Fully coupled simulation of
coolant flow (upper)
exhaust gas flow (middle) and
structural temperatures (lower)
for an EGR module

Flow simulation of a complete automotive coolant circuit

The InDesA Virtual Test Facility Center

Virtual performance prediction, functional testing and confirmation for automotive accessory units and modules

"The potential to reduce effort and resources for the development of automotive accessory units by integrating virtual test rigs for performance and functional testing is recognized but still widely unused. Cost and time intensive conventional prototype testing will be substituted as virtual test rigs become available and competitive – InDesA has now launched its first set of productive virtual test rigs"

for virtual prediction of component performance maps

• Coolant Pump (→ flow rate vs. pressure rise, efficiency, cavitation)
• Cooling Fan (→ flow rate vs. pressure rise; efficiency)
• Compressor (→ flow rate vs. pressure rise, efficiency, pump and surge line)
• Heat Exchanger (→ heat transfer maps, pressure losses, flow leakage)

for virtual testing of flow and thermal related functionalities

• Coolant circuit (→ flow distribution, system filling, and degas behavior)
• Frontend cooling module with HXs and fan (→ heat transfer, temperatures)
• Cooling of electronic components/e-motors (→ heat flux rates, temperatures)
• Cooling of battery packs (→ heat flux rates, temperatures)

"InDesA's computer hardware and software is optimized for the use of CD-adapco's multi physics simulation software STAR-CCM+, a highly reliable program for sophisticated flow and heat transfer analysis, which powers the virtual test facilities. As demonstrated for various industrial applications, the virtual test rig is capable to outperform conventional hardware based test rigs with respect to run time and operational costs.

In addition the virtual concept is more environment friendly as energy consuming heating of fluids or gases for conventional heat exchanger testing is obsolete. Finally, exact repeatability of virtual tests is ensured and hence comparability of results for different prototype stages is guaranteed."

Simply upload the CAD data of your component as native CAD file or as STEP format onto our ftp server. We build the 3D CFD/CHT model and work out the test procedure and results analysis according to your objectives. Call us for further information at +49 89 5527978-10.

InDesA GmbH will strictly follow an obligation of confidentiality and discretion for all matters related to process, methods and products.
InDesA GmbH is willing to sign your company's non-disclosure agreement before any transfer of information or data.

please see also our contribution to the STAR European Conference 2011 "The InDesA Virtual Test Facility Environment"

» » download contribution