Application of CFD into an automotive torque converter

A Torque converter is a type of hydro-mechanical device, vastly utilized in the automatic transmission of vehicles and other machines. It is a critical component of the transmission system, having a direct impact on the fuel economy and vehicle´s performance. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has been employed by many authors and engineers to better understand the complex behavior of fluids inside of torque converters, in a way that it provides design improvements and increases model accuracy. This article presents a methodology that applies CFD as a tool in the design process of automobile torque converters. Therefore, this paper performs an extensive review of CFD associated with torque converters, and the principal concepts are stated and used to have a better understanding of the system’s dynamic behavior. Additionally, this article details some of the work done to develop an automotive torque converter model using the commercial software ANSYS CFX.