Altair Flow Simulator 2026.1: Advanced Fluid & Thermal Network Analysis Software

Altair Flow Simulator 2026.1 is a powerful software tool for designing and analyzing fluid and thermal systems using a 1D network modeling approach . It enables simultaneous modeling of fluid flow and heat transfer within a unified environment, which is essential for engineers dealing with complex systems such as gas turbine engines, wind turbines, and automotive thermal management. The software’s network-based approach, extensive library of pre-configured elements, and Python customization capabilities make it a versatile solution for multi-disciplinary system analysis.

Flow Simulator is recognized for its ability to handle complex networks with mixed accuracy requirements, supporting simulations for a wide range of applications including:

  • Gas Turbine Secondary Air Systems: Cooling flows, cavity pressurization, bearing compartment flows 

  • Engine Thermal Management: Heat transfer in combustion chambers, turbine casings, and exhaust systems 

  • Fuel & Oil Systems: Hydraulic networks, fuel injection systems, and lubrication circuits 

  • Heat Exchangers: Sizing and performance analysis for various exchanger types 

  • Power Generation: Combined cycle steam systems, cooling tower networks, and condenser modeling 

🏭 Primary Users

This professional fluid and thermal simulation software is designed for:

  • Thermal & Fluid Systems Engineers designing and analyzing complex fluid and thermal networks for turbomachinery, power generation, and automotive applications

  • Aerospace & Gas Turbine Engineers modeling secondary air systems, cooling flows, and thermal management in jet engines and gas turbines 

  • Automotive & EV Engineers performing thermal management simulations for battery cooling, powertrain, and cabin climate control 

  • Energy & Power Generation Specialists analyzing steam cycles, cooling systems, and heat rejection networks for power plants 

  • Multi-Disciplinary System Integrators conducting co-simulations with other simulation tools and 3D CFD for system-level analysis 

⚡ Key Features & Capabilities

 

🆕 New in Version 2026.1

  • Enhanced User Interface: Modernized graphical interface for creating and editing networks (details available in release notes).

  • Performance Optimizations: Improved solver speed and stability for large, complex networks.

  • Expanded Element Library: Additional pre-configured elements for specific applications.

  • Improved Co-Simulation: Enhanced integration with other Altair tools and external solvers .

  • Scripting & Automation: Extended Python and Fortran capabilities for custom element creation .

🧩 Core Capabilities

Network Modeling:

  • Steady-State & Transient Simulation: Analyze system behavior under both steady and time-varying conditions .

  • Mixed-Fidelity Approach: Combine high-fidelity 1D models with system-level approximations for efficient analysis .

  • Extensive Element Library: Includes pipes, orifices, valves, pumps, compressors, heat exchangers, and more .

  • Custom Element Creation: Define user-specific elements using Python or Fortran for maximum flexibility .

  • Control System Simulation: Model control systems and operational cycles .

Integration & Co-Simulation:

  • CAD Integration: Connect and overlay networks with 3D CAD models for enhanced visualization .

  • Co-Simulation with 3D CFD: Coupling with other simulation tools like FluxMotor for multi-physics analysis .

  • Optimization Module: Perform optimization studies using algorithms such as Monte Carlo .

Visualization & Reporting:

  • Graphical Network Editor: Modern, user-friendly interface for building and editing networks .

  • Customizable Output: Export results in various formats (Excel, text) for detailed reporting .

  • 3D Visualization: Overlay network models with CAD geometry for intuitive understanding