Chapter 16 - Computational fluid dynamics in pharmaceutical formulation development

Abstract

“Computational fluid dynamics (CFD)” initiates to utilize the equations leading to the motion of fluids for various complex situations, helping both insight as well as quantitative predictions. A key component of CFD simulations is the grid structure. The grid is a mesh of points that discretes the computational domain into smaller elements. The accuracy of the CFD simulation depends on the grid qualities. In general, there are two major types of grid structures: (1) structured grids and (2) unstructured grids. The advancement of CFD was possible due to the development of high-speed computers, which has allowed the solutions easily that usually necessitate the repetitive manipulation of thousands, or even millions, of numbers—a job that is humanly unattainable. This led to the advancement of CFD. Hence, improvements in computer hardware, especially in terms of storage and processing speed, are closely tied to advancements in CFD and its uses to solve problems of increasing complexity and details. This chapter overviews the basics, modeling approaches, and applications of CFD in pharmaceutical formulation development.