Introduction

There are four options to submit cases of type 'Standard design'. Two fully generative optimizations (on a detailed or conceptual level) and two estimation-based optimizations (CFD reinforced estimation and correlation-based estimation). This article will go more into detail about the first of the estimation methods, the CFD reinforced estimation.

CFD reinforced estimation

As explained in this article, a thermal-hydraulic network estimation provides an easy way to get an idea about the thermal behavior of a case in a matter of minutes. The only drawback to this approach is that such results are only approximative when compared to the results of a CFD simulation.

For standard designs only, there are two submission options which are based on a thermal-hydraulic network estimation. When you press the 'Submit as a correlation-based estimation'-button, a thermal-hydraulic network is generated based on correlations, as described in the referenced article above.
Alternatively, you can submit your case by pressing the 'Submit as a CFD reinforced estimation'-button. Now, a single CFD simulation of your case setup will be performed, to get more accurate values for the thermal resistances between and the mass flows within the various regions. Secondly, the results of this CFD simulation are used to determine the thermal resistance and flow parameters within the thermal-hydraulic network estimation. Next, the standard design optimization will commence, and a new thermal-hydraulic network will be generated for each heat sink type that ColdStream tests. These thermal-hydraulic networks can be viewed by navigating to the 'Thermal network'-tab of the case in question (only the most optimal will be published).

The advantage of a CFD-reinforced estimation over a correlation-based estimation is hence that the thermal-hydraulic networks will be more accurate. This is because all the thermal resistance and flow data generated in the preceding CFD simulation (which corresponds to your specific case setup and is very accurate) is being used in the thermal-hydraulic network calculations, to improve the results.

	Thermal hydraulic network parameter	Accuracy	Run time
Correlation based estimation	Based on correlation	Least accurate option	Very fast
CFD reinforced estimation	Based on CFD simulation	Improved accuracy	Slightly slower