High-fidelity CFD up to 200× faster than finite-volume CFD

Delft University of Technology uses Simcenter M-Star to demonstrate that high-fidelity, time-accurate CFD for industrial bioreactors can be performed dramatically faster than conventional finite-volume approaches. Using Lattice-Boltzmann large-eddy simulation (LB-LES), Simcenter M-Star reproduced key hydrodynamic and mixing behavior observed in experimental and finite-volume simulations, while reducing computational time by up to 200× in benchmark cases. The study also applied Simcenter M-Star to a 54 m³ industrial penicillin bioreactor, resolving dynamic flow, substrate gradients, and microbial lifelines without the meshing and extensive computational requirements associated with conventional finite-volume CFD.