Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with OpenFOAM®.

Hochschule Niederrhein. Your way.
About the certificate course

Many problems in technical systems can be traced back to poor mass and heat transport. Counter these problems and learn to optimally plan and design your processes and products in terms of flow and heat technology or improve existing systems with the help of CFD. The freely available CFD software OpenFOAM® is a powerful simulation tool that offers companies as well as research facilities a real alternative to commercial solutions. We thus open up a completely new field for fluid dynamic calculation possibilities and process optimization, usable for practically all industrial processes.

Course objectives

The continuing education will provide you with the necessary knowledge to independently perform numerical fluid dynamics simulations with Open FOAM®. Upon successful completion of the degree, you will have a basic understanding of the mathematical and physical principles underlying fluid dynamics.
Upon successful degree completion, you will be able to:

  • Install and configure the Linux operating system and master the use of the command line.
  • Obtain, install and use OpenFOAM® as well as other software used (exclusively freely licensed).
  • To evaluate practical orientation problems from the point of view of physical and geometric conditions, to abstract them and to implement them in the virtual environment.
  • Evaluate raw computational data, visualize it in a meaningful way, and extract key metrics.
  • Effectively perform parameter studies by automating simulations.
Target group

Operating, planning, research and development engineers as well as all industrial employees whose work involves the handling of material and energy flows. Developers of products with a demand for fluid-dynamic properties.

Teaching and learning education

Classic seminar with special emphasis on practical solution finding. The handling of the tools used becomes routine through corresponding exercise tasks. This promotes a sustainable learning process and facilitates transfer to your own company.

The curriculum and further information can be found in the flyer and in the download area.

In-house training
Individually tailored to your requirements

I. Day 1

Computational Fluid Dynamics I
What is fluid flow? Derivation of the Navier-Stokes equations (NSG). Special cases of the NSG. What is numerics?
Linux and the shell
What is Linux? Installation of Ubuntu on the computer.
OpenFOAM®
Organization and structure of OpenFOAM® (OF).
Working on the server
Digging tunnels. Assigning jobs to the server.
Computational Fluid Dynamics II
Finite Volume Method (FVM).
Turbulence and solutions in CFD
OpenFOAM® meets Engineer
Typical CFD problems and current developments.
The first simulations from the idea to the presentation.
Preprocessing I
Abstract problem analysis. Weighing up costs and benefits. Grid generation.
Solving I
Selection of a suitable solver. SIMPE and PISO. Costs of a calculation.
Postprocessing I
Presentation of the results with ParaVIEW®.

Follow-up of the contents, exercises

II. day 2

Computational Fluid Dynamics III
Error orders. Quality criteria. Verification/Validation.
Preprocessing II
Design of complex geometries with CAD. Mesh generation with the OF application snappyHexMesh. Topological modifications of the mesh. Boundary conditions.
Solving II
Schematic of a discretization. Linear matrix solver. Temporal discretization. Parallel calculations.
Postprocessing II
Virtual sampling points. Extraction of parameters. GUI-free evaluation.
Automation
Shell scripting and control structures. Parameterization options. Efficient handling of resources.
Own working environment
Creation of own tools, applications and structures without a higher programming language. Presentation of the in-house environment.


Follow-up of what has been learned, exercises

III. day 3

Practical simulation examples
Multiphase flows, heat transport, dynamic grids, adaptive grids.
Preprocessing III
Grid generation with cfMesh, gMesh, and other free software. Complex boundary conditions.
Solving III
Understanding OF programming. Modify existing solvers. Implement user-specific solvers. Add passive scalar transport and dynamicMesh. Alternative approaches
Foaming with cost-efficient hardware. Alternative packages based on FOAM.
Hands on
Carry out sophisticated, realistic simulation studies.
Examination in the form of a presentation followed by questioning/discussion.

Follow-up on what has been learned, exercises

  • Dates: Nine days of attendance upon request at weiterbildung(at)hsnr.de.
  • Registration deadline: --
  • Number of participants: approx. 12 persons
  • Location: Campus Krefeld West
  • Participation fee: 4.100,00 € | Alumni (5% discount) 3.895,00 €,catering included
  • Participation requirements: University degree with at least one year of professional experience or other professional degree with at least three years of one-year professional experience. Solid knowledge of mathematics and basic physics are required. Experience working with Linux is beneficial but not required.
  • Scope (workload): 150 h, of which 72 h attendance, 5 ECTS.
  • Degree: University certificate/certificate of attendance

Three questions for your lecturer, Prof. Dr.-Ing Heyko Jürgen Schulz:

Why is continuing education on the subject of computational fluid dynamics currently of interest to many professionals?
In today's industry, computer-aided engineering is indispensable. It is a cost-effective and powerful tool that can give a company a competitive edge and save time-consuming operational trials. However, independent, unsupervised entry into this comparatively complex subject can be a difficult and very time-consuming hurdle to overcome. Continuing education is often the only way to get started in CFD.

What are you particularly looking forward to in this university certificate course?
Exchange with experts from different industries, interesting, realistic application examples. Generating interest in a topic we are passionate about. Transferring innovative findings into applicable solutions.

And what can participants look forward to?
A balanced mix of theory and practice. A gentle introduction to a challenging, complex topic. Practical application from simple examples to multifaceted tasks. At the end, the participants are rewarded for their efforts with fun and knowledge gained through successful simulations.

Chemical Engineering ILOC Institute Council

Your contact person:

Ulrike Schoppmeyer
Center for continuing education Participant management | Acquisition
Consulting
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