Ansys CFX

Ansys CFX® is a high‑performance computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package for simulating complex fluid flow and heat transfer, especially in turbomachinery applications such as pumps, fans, compressors and turbines. It uses a finite volume method to discretize the governing equations of fluid flow and solves them numerically to predict the behavior of fluids in complex geometries.

What is CFX?

Ansys CFX (often referred to simply as CFX) is Ansys’ dedicated CFD solver for industrial flow problems, enabling engineers to model steady and transient flows, turbulence, multiphase phenomena and combustion in complex 3D geometries. As specialised computational fluid dynamics CFD software, it discretises the governing equations of fluid motion and solves them numerically, giving reliable insight into pressures, velocities, temperatures and forces throughout your domain.

With CFX, you can set up end‑to‑end simulation workflows that connect CAD, meshing, CFD solving and post‑processing in a single environment, or integrate it with other Ansys tools for multiphysics studies. This makes Ansys CFX an ideal choice for organisations that need production‑ready CFD software embedded in their product development process, not just for one‑off analyses.

Visualizing and Analyzing Simulation

With Ansys CFX®, users can model a variety of fluid flow scenarios, including turbulent flows, multiphase flows, and combustion processes. It also includes advanced features for heat transfer simulations, such as conjugate heat transfer and radiation heat transfer. Ansys CFX® can be used in a wide range of industries, including aerospace, automotive, energy, and biomedical engineering.

The software offers a user-friendly interface and powerful post-processing tools for visualizing and analyzing simulation results. It also supports customization through its scripting capabilities, allowing users to automate repetitive tasks and develop their own simulation workflows.

Key Features

Solve a variety of fluid-related problems with high levels of accuracy and unmatched speed

Blade design and optimization
Aeromechanics
Industry leading turbulence modeling
Nuclear Wall boiling
Advanced material modeling

Together, these key features make Ansys CFX® a powerful choice for demanding turbomachinery and other general CFD applications, helping engineers move from first concept to validated design with fewer prototypes and faster turnaround times.

Benefits

Accurate Predictions

Ansys CFX® uses advanced numerical methods and models to accurately simulate complex fluid dynamics, multiphase, reliable predictions of pressure and heat transfer phenomena.

Faster Design Iterations

CFD simulations with Ansys CFX® can help engineers quickly test and optimize design concepts without the need for expensive physical testing.

Cost Savings

Reducing reliance on physical prototypes and late‑stage testing lowers material, manufacturing and test costs, while better up‑front insight helps avoid expensive redesigns and field issues.

Wide Range of Applications

Ansys CFX® can be used in a variety of industries, such as aerospace, automotive, energy, and biomedical engineering, making it a versatile tool for many different applications.

Improved Product Reliability

High‑fidelity fluid and thermal simulations help you identify hot spots, cavitation, flow‑induced vibration and other critical issues early, improving product durability, safety, and regulatory compliance.

Case Study

ARC Utilizes Ansys Simulation to Increase Efficiency in the Development of 3D-printed Rocket Engines

With the importance of quick investigation into design performance, engineering simulation is an integral part of ARC’s operational environment and the space/defense industry

Find out how ARC used simulation to create truly innovative and optimal designs for the industry.

Learn more

What are the Differences Between CFX and Fluent?

Ansys CFX and Ansys Fluent are both general‑purpose CFD solvers from Ansys, but they use different numerical approaches and are often chosen for different types of problems. Fluent uses a cell‑centred scheme and supports 2D meshes, polyhedral elements and advanced mesh adaptation, while CFX uses a vertex‑centred approach and is typically applied with 3D tetrahedral or hexahedral meshes.

In practice, Ansys CFX is widely regarded as a strong choice for turbomachinery and rotating‑machinery applications, where its robustness and specialised workflows have been proven over many years. Fluent is often preferred for high‑speed aerodynamics, complex multi‑physics and very large or highly complex meshes, and benefits from broader GPU acceleration and frequent feature updates.

If you need help deciding whether Ansys CFX or Ansys Fluent is the better fit for your CFD workflow, our team can review your requirements and recommend the most efficient setup for your applications.

Speak to an Expert

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Michael Lykke Heiredal

Senior Technical Account Manager

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Senior specialist, CFD working on digitalization and simulation strategy focusing on developing simulation methodology for CFD, democratization, model development and model validation, simulation driven development, model based system engineering etc.