CFD Perth
Fluid simulation in Perth
Element Mechanical Design runs computational fluid dynamics for industrial equipment, electronics enclosures and process systems across WA. We model how air, liquid and heat move through and around your equipment under real operating conditions so you make design decisions with data, not assumptions.
If you can’t see inside it, you’re guessing
Airflow through an enclosure. Heat building in an electronics cabinet. Pressure drop across a manifold. Fluid distribution through a heat exchanger. These are not things you can calculate reliabley from first principles for a complex geometry. You either simulate them or you find out the hard way that your design has a problem.
We simulate them.
Our CFD service covers internal and external flow, heat transfer, multiphase flow and pressure systems. And we deliver results your engineering team can act on. Not CFD for the sake of a colourful picture. CFD that answers the specific question your project needs answered before manufacture begins.
The physics doesn’t change when you build the part. If the simulation says there’s a hotspot at that corner, the hotspot is at that corner. The only question is whether you find it before or after it’s built.
Daniel Berti, Mechanical Engineering Team Leader
Types of computational fluid dynamics simulations we run
Internal airflow and ventilation
We model airflow through enclosures, cabinets, ducts, HVAC systems and industrial ventilation arrangements. We identify dead zones, recirculation regions and flow imbalances — and we optimise inlet, outlet and baffle geometry to achieve the flow distribution you need.
Electronic thermal management
We simulate heat dissipation from PCBs, power electronics and heat sinks inside enclosures. We calculate component junction temperatures, identify components at thermal risk and evaluate the performance of cooling strategies including natural convection, forced air and liquid cooling.
Heat transfer and thermal simulation
We model conductive, convective and radiative heat transfer through mechanical assemblies, process equipment and structural components. We calculate temperature distributions, thermal gradients and surface heat flux under steady-state and transient operating conditions.
Pressure drop and flow distribution
We model flow through pipes, manifolds, valves, fittings and process vessels. We calculate pressure drop, identify flow maldistribution and optimise geometry to achieve balanced flow across parallel paths or uniform distribution in headers.
External aerodynamics and wind loading
We model airflow around structures, vehicles and equipment exposed to wind. We calculate drag, lift, surface pressure distributions and wind-induced loads on structural elements. This feeds directly into wind load analysis for structures in cyclonic regions. See Cyclonic Wind Loading.
Multiphase and mixing flows
We model flows involving two or more fluid phases — liquid-gas separation, mixing of process streams, free-surface flows and spray systems. We calculate phase distribution, mixing efficiency and separation performance.
Solver capability and platform selection
We run ANSYS Fluent as our primary CFD platform — the industry-standard solver used in aerospace, automotive, mining and industrial applications worldwide. We also use OpenFOAM for high-volume parametric studies, SolidWorks Flow Simulation for tightly integrated CAD workflows and Star-CCM+ for complex multiphase and rotating machinery applications.
Platform selection depends on the analysis type, geometry complexity and the turnaround required. We match the solver to the problem rather than applying one tool to every case.
Our solver capability includes:
- Steady-state and transient simulations
- Mesh generation for complex industrial geometry including thin-walled structures and tight clearances
- High-performance computing for large-scale models requiring fast turnaround
- Parametric studies across multiple geometry variants for design optimisation
Why choose Element Mechanical Design for CFD in Perth
Local engineers who understand WA conditions WA ambient temperatures, cyclonic wind regions, dusty mining environments and isolated site infrastructure all create specific engineering constraints. We model your equipment in the conditions it will actually operate in.
Connected to CAD, FEA and certification Your CFD runs on the geometry we built. Thermal results feed directly into FEA for thermal stress analysis. Wind loading from CFD feeds into structural design and certification. The chain stays inside one team.
Industrial focus We run CFD for industrial equipment, mining plant and electronics enclosures — not building services HVAC. Our experience is in the applications our WA clients actually need.
Results that drive decisions Every CFD engagement produces specific, actionable recommendations. We do not deliver a velocity contour plot and leave interpretation to you.
Perth-based, no interstate delays Local CFD consulting in Perth is limited. You work directly with the engineer running your simulation, and your project does not sit behind eastern-states workload.
How a CFD engagement works at Element Mechanical Design
- Briefing — We review your geometry, fluid type, operating conditions, boundary conditions and the specific performance question the simulation needs to answer.
- Geometry preparation — We import or build the fluid domain geometry, identify simplifications required for efficient meshing and confirm the scope before analysis begins.
- Mesh and setup — We generate the computational mesh, set boundary conditions, turbulence model and solver settings appropriate to the flow regime.
- Simulation run — We run the analysis, check residual convergence and review results for physical plausibility before interpreting them.
- Results review — We present findings with you. If the results identify a problem, we recommend specific geometry or operational changes.
- Design iteration — We update the geometry and rerun to confirm that design changes resolve the identified issues.
- Report issue — We issue the completed simulation report covering methodology, boundary conditions, results and recommendations.
CFD capabilities and software
| Software | ANSYS Fluent, OpenFOAM, SolidWorks Flow Simulation, Star-CCM+ |
| Analysis types | Laminar and turbulent flow, conjugate heat transfer, multiphase flow, compressible flow, natural and forced convection |
| Turbulence models | k-ε, k-ω SST, Spalart-Allmaras, LES for transient applications |
| Deliverables | Flow velocity maps, pressure contours, temperature distributions, streamlines, performance metrics, design recommendations |
| Coupled analysis | CFD-FEA thermal coupling for thermal stress analysis |
| Integrated with | CAD, FEA, Cyclonic Wind Loading — geometry from the same model, results feed downstream |
Frequently Asked Questions — DEM Perth
About CFD generally
Computational fluid dynamics is a simulation method that numerically solves the governing equations of fluid flow — the Navier-Stokes equations — across a discretised model of your geometry. It calculates velocity, pressure, temperature and other flow properties at every point in the domain under your specified operating conditions. CFD is the standard method for predicting flow behaviour in complex geometries where hand calculations are unreliable and physical testing is expensive or impractical.
You need CFD when the geometry is complex enough that simplified analytical methods give you an answer you cannot trust. Pressure drop through a manifold with multiple branches, heat distribution in an electronics enclosure with mixed convection, airflow around a structure with irregular geometry — these all require CFD. Hand calculations work well for simple pipe flow or basic heat transfer. They do not work well for the complex industrial geometry that makes up most real engineering problems.
CFD solves fluid flow and heat transfer problems — it tells you how air, liquid and heat move through and around your geometry. FEA solves structural mechanics problems — it tells you how your structure responds to applied loads and temperatures. The two methods complement each other: CFD calculates the thermal field, FEA calculates the resulting thermal stresses. We run both and couple them when the application requires it. See Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
Software and technical questions
Our primary platform is ANSYS Fluent. We also run OpenFOAM, SolidWorks Flow Simulation and Star-CCM+ depending on the application. Fluent is our default for general industrial and thermal CFD work. OpenFOAM suits high-volume parametric studies. SolidWorks Flow Simulation integrates directly with our CAD workflow for tightly coupled design iterations. Star-CCM+ handles complex rotating machinery and multiphase applications.
CFD accuracy depends on the quality of the inputs — geometry, boundary conditions, fluid properties and turbulence model selection — and the experience of the engineer setting up the simulation. A well-constructed CFD model with appropriate turbulence modelling and a validated mesh gives results within a few percent of physical test data for most industrial applications. We document our modelling assumptions and flag where uncertainty in the boundary conditions affects confidence in the result.
We need accurate 3D geometry of the fluid domain — either a CAD model we build or files in STEP, IGES or native SolidWorks/Inventor format. Geometry quality directly affects mesh quality and simulation accuracy. We build the CAD model as part of the engagement if you do not have one. See Computer Aided Design (CAD).
Applications and industry questions
Yes. Electronics thermal management is one of our most common CFD applications. We model PCB heat dissipation, component junction temperatures, heat sink performance and enclosure airflow under natural and forced convection. We design to actual WA ambient temperatures rather than standard 25°C assumptions, which matters significantly for mining and industrial electronics operating outdoors in WA summers.
Yes. We run CFD for slurry pipelines, cyclone separators, process vessel internals, industrial ventilation and dust extraction systems. WA processing plants present specific challenges — abrasive slurries, high ambient temperatures and isolated sites with limited cooling options. We model your equipment in those conditions.
Yes. External aerodynamic CFD calculates wind pressure distributions on exposed structures far more accurately than the code-prescribed pressure coefficients in AS 1170.2. For irregular geometry or structures in proximity to other buildings or terrain features, CFD wind analysis provides a more defensible and often less conservative basis for structural wind loads. The pressure results feed directly into structural analysis. See Cyclonic Wind Loading and Structural Design.
Project and process questions
A single-domain steady-state analysis, like an electronics enclosure thermal check or a pipe system pressure drop, takes three to five days. A multi-domain conjugate heat transfer model or an external aerodynamics study with multiple wind directions takes two to four weeks. Transient simulations and parametric design studies take longer depending on the number of variants. We give you an honest timeline at briefing.
Yes, and we recommend it. Running CFD on concept geometry to eliminate poor options early costs significantly less than validating a nearly-finished design and finding it does not work. Simplified concept geometry is often sufficient to identify the dominant flow paths and thermal problems. We refine the simulation as the design matures.
Yes. Temperature distributions from CFD become thermal load inputs to FEA on the same geometry. We run coupled CFD-FEA analyses for components where differential thermal expansion drives structural stress such as exhaust systems, heat exchangers, heated process vessels and power electronics under cyclic loading. See Finite Element Analysis (FEA).
Need CFD simulation in Perth?
Send us your geometry, your operating conditions and the specific question your project needs answered. We will come back with a scope and a quote. Usually within one business day.