Fluid-solid thermal interaction
Resolve coupled conduction and convection through solids and fluids, including interface continuity, contact assumptions and thermal resistance paths.
THERMAL & CONJUGATE HEAT TRANSFER CFD
Predict temperatures, heat paths and cooling performance with defensible CFD.
Abecator supports thermal-fluid simulations where fluid flow and heat transfer must be understood together: conjugate heat transfer, cooling passages, thermal management, heat exchangers, wall heat flux and temperature-driven design decisions.
ENGINEERING PROBLEMS
When temperature is the result that matters.
Thermal CFD is often limited by assumptions at interfaces, material data, boundary conditions and heat paths—not by solver settings alone.
Cooling flow performance
Evaluate flow distribution, pressure loss, local heat transfer, wall temperatures and cooling effectiveness in passages, jackets or channels.
Temperature control & heat rejection
Assess how operating conditions, airflow, coolant distribution and material paths influence component or system temperatures.
Heat exchangers & coupled streams
Review pressure drop, flow maldistribution, heat-transfer area utilization, thermal effectiveness and local thermal bottlenecks.
TYPICAL CFD SCOPE
Build the thermal model around the heat balance.
The useful scope depends on the engineering decision. Typical work can include complete model setup or focused review of an existing case.
01
Define heat sources & sinks
Power, heat flux, volumetric heating, ambient conditions, coolant temperatures, radiation relevance and operating envelope.
02
Resolve the heat path
Material conductivity, contact assumptions, solid thicknesses, fluid-side convection and interface treatment.
03
Check the flow field
Flow distribution, recirculation, pressure loss, turbulence, wall treatment and local cooling coverage.
04
Close the energy balance
Verify heat input, heat removed, temperature extrema, convergence and sensitivity before interpreting design differences.
WHAT GETS CHECKED
Thermal credibility requires more than a converged temperature plot.
Common review points include the energy balance, mesh near heated/cooled walls, solid resolution, property data and whether boundary assumptions dominate the answer.
A✓
Energy conservation
Heat generated, conducted, convected and rejected should form a consistent engineering balance.
B✓
Near-wall resolution & y+
Wall treatment and prism-layer design must support the intended heat-transfer prediction.
C✓
Material & interface assumptions
Thermal conductivity, contact resistance, thin layers and interface definitions can control temperature results.
D✓
Operating-condition sensitivity
Flow rate, inlet temperature, heat load and external conditions are checked against the actual design question.
POSSIBLE DELIVERABLES
Outputs matched to the thermal decision.
Depending on scope, support can range from review comments to a developed simulation workflow and engineering interpretation.
Thermal CFD methodology
Recommended physics, properties, thermal boundaries, interfaces, mesh strategy, monitoring and verification plan.
Temperature & heat-flow interpretation
Hot spots, wall heat flux, cooling effectiveness, thermal resistances, flow distribution and design-sensitive conclusions.
Independent technical review
Challenge assumptions, mesh, convergence, energy balance and whether the evidence is strong enough for the intended decision.
Repeatable analysis process
For recurring studies, define a consistent setup and reporting approach that reduces manual variation.
SOFTWARE & METHODS
Application-driven rather than software-driven.
Typical workflows may involve STAR-CCM+, OpenFOAM, steady or transient RANS, conjugate heat transfer, temperature-dependent properties and engineering heat-balance checks.
HAVE A THERMAL CFD PROBLEM?
Start with the heat load, operating conditions and decision the model must support.
Use the project inquiry to describe the system, current model status and what temperature or heat-transfer question needs to be answered.
CHECK BEFORE YOU ESCALATE
Useful thermal checks before a consulting review.
A simple energy balance and a structured CHT diagnostic can often identify whether the dominant uncertainty is a load, material, interface, boundary or flow-side resistance.