To analyze a system using CFD, the geometry of the system must first be established using Computer-Aided Design (CAD) tools, and the fluid field is extracted. The volume occupied by the fluid field is then broken down into a mesh of distinct cells, and the physical modeling is defined. It is important to note that the size of the mesh selected can affect the model, too small and the model will take a long time to calculate, too large and the model may be less accurate than it would be with a smaller mesh. The user must also enter the boundary conditions, which are a series of assumptions, such as slip-free walls where velocity is zero, inlet conditions, outlet conditions, the use of insulation in walls, and other conditions which can affect flow and temperature. The computer uses the information which is known about the fluid and the system to develop a mathematical model of the calculated physical properties of the system at any given point in the system or time. The model describes the changes to all the physical properties of the systems fluid flow and heat transfer.
As the simulation is transient hence we can observe the process as described in the case study above in a video .