Bringing Computational
Fluid Dynamics to Excel
Fluid Dynamics to Excel
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BFlow
BFlow is a library of commands that extends the capabilities of Microsoft Excel. With it,
you can create Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models in Excel. These models
can be used to simulate fluid flow, heat transfer, mass transfer and more.
There are many products available for doing CFD modeling. At the high end, there
are dedicated CFD software package, like Fluent, Star-CD, and CFD-ACE. These
tools represent the state of the art in CFD and it is truly amazing what you can do with
them. (See their websites for examples). Unfortunately, they are quite expensive,
generally costing more than $10k per year.
Another class of tools are general purpose partial differential equation solvers, such as
Comsol Multiphysics (formerly Femlab ) and FlexPDE. These can numerically solve a
wide range of problems, including fluids problems. Because of their general nature,
then tend not to be as efficient for fluid problems, but are still great tools. See my
FlexPDE page for some examples.
There are also some function libraries available for creating models. DiffPack is a
commercial product that is fully object oriented and based on the Finite Element
Method. FeatFlow, UG and Overture are examples of free libraries. They are rather
large and complex and geared toward the linux/unix world.
BFlow is a more modest function library that adds to the capability already available in
the Visual Basic for Applications editor in Excel. You create a CFD model in the same
way you create an Excel macro program. The model can read information off of your
worksheets and write results back to the worksheet. It can also create plots.
BFlow uses the finite volume model, along with the SIMPLE algorithm to solve the
Navier Stokes equations. It is restricted to 2d problems, with structured, stair-stepped
meshes.
Features
System Requirements
To Learn More
BFlow is a library of commands that extends the capabilities of Microsoft Excel. With it,
you can create Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models in Excel. These models
can be used to simulate fluid flow, heat transfer, mass transfer and more.
There are many products available for doing CFD modeling. At the high end, there
are dedicated CFD software package, like Fluent, Star-CD, and CFD-ACE. These
tools represent the state of the art in CFD and it is truly amazing what you can do with
them. (See their websites for examples). Unfortunately, they are quite expensive,
generally costing more than $10k per year.
Another class of tools are general purpose partial differential equation solvers, such as
Comsol Multiphysics (formerly Femlab ) and FlexPDE. These can numerically solve a
wide range of problems, including fluids problems. Because of their general nature,
then tend not to be as efficient for fluid problems, but are still great tools. See my
FlexPDE page for some examples.
There are also some function libraries available for creating models. DiffPack is a
commercial product that is fully object oriented and based on the Finite Element
Method. FeatFlow, UG and Overture are examples of free libraries. They are rather
large and complex and geared toward the linux/unix world.
BFlow is a more modest function library that adds to the capability already available in
the Visual Basic for Applications editor in Excel. You create a CFD model in the same
way you create an Excel macro program. The model can read information off of your
worksheets and write results back to the worksheet. It can also create plots.
BFlow uses the finite volume model, along with the SIMPLE algorithm to solve the
Navier Stokes equations. It is restricted to 2d problems, with structured, stair-stepped
meshes.
Features
- Generate Excel-based CFD models
- Auto-meshing, but only 2d, stair-stepped meshes
- Finite Volume Method
- SIMPLE algorithm for incompressible flow models
- Transient or steady state analysis
- Conjugate heat transfer problems
- Source terms, material properties can be arbitrary algebraic expressions
- Supports anisotropic materials
- Algebraic Multigrid solver
- Generates contour and vector plots
- User defined fields for solving additional PDEs
- Reacting flows and Chemical Vapor Deposition (with user defined fields)
System Requirements
- Windows 98, NT, 2000, XP or later
- Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2003 or later
To Learn More
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