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PC_104465403-Newcomer
3-Newcomer
February 17, 2026
Question

Radial (Centrifugal) Fan in Creo Flow Analysis

  • February 17, 2026
  • 2 replies
  • 109 views

I am using creo flow analysis (creo 11.0.4) with the base license. 

I would like to simulate a free standing centrifugal (radial) fan in a simple air channel. 

How do I simulate that?

I can create a fluid volume and at the locus of the fan I create a circular interface. I can now choose "fan" for that interface and add a local function as a dp-curve. So far so good. However, creo considers that fan automatically as axial fan and, therefore, the fluid flows straight through this interface. I could add swirl (radial and tangential velocity) to the fan, but I have to add these values in m/s (and I don't know these). Furthermore, I can not select the rotation direction. I saw that alternatively I could choose "rotating wall" as boundary condition if I have a solid that represents the fan blades but I could not manage to create a fan with that. I am also not interested in the flow right through/in the fan but rather through the whole channel. What is the difference between "rotating wall (boundary condition)" and "fan (interface)"?

Many thanks for the help.

Philip

Do I need a plus or premium license to simulate a 

2 replies

V
vnamboodheriCommunity Manager
Community Manager
February 23, 2026

Hi @PC_10446540,

Thank you for your question. 

Your post has not yet received any response. I am replying to raise awareness. Hopefully, another community member will be able to help.
Also, feel free to add any additional information you think might be relevant. It sometimes helps to have screenshots to better understand what you are trying to do.

 

Best Regards,

Vivek N
Community Moderation Team

    C
    cfdgeek13-Aquamarine
    13-Aquamarine
    February 24, 2026

    Hi!

     

    A good resource for the setup of any simulation with rotating components would be the Mixing Tank tutorial be found in the Creo Online Help Center: https://support.ptc.com/help/creo/creo_pma/r11.0/usascii/index.html#page/tutorials_pma/Mixing_Tank_Overview.html#wwID0EFJEV

     

    The Fan condition you'd found other Interfaces is great for system level modelling where the fan can be replaced with a simpler fan curve calculation saving on simulation complexity and time.

     

    Modelling rotating or translating geometry does require the Moving/Sliding mesh capability found in the Plus package.

      V
      vnamboodheriCommunity Manager
      Community Manager
      February 25, 2026

      Hello @PC_10446540, 

       

      It looks like you have a response from a community expert. If it helped you solve your question please mark the reply as the Accepted Solution. 
      Of course, if you have more to share on your issue, please let the Community know so other community members can continue to help you.

      Thanks,
      Vivek N.
      Community Moderation Team.

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