Integration of TRIZ and CFD to New Product Development Process

This paper facilitates the integration of TRIZ and CFD techniques to resolve design challenges and drive innovation in flow handling equipment new product development processes. A new methodology is proposed based on an integrated product lifecycle suited for flow handling equipment product development processes. The methodology accomplishes novel design solutions by designing geometrical flow paths using recommendations from TRIZ and testing same using CFD until the desired design outcome is achieved. The efficacy of this new methodology is tested through a pilot study. Flow problem areas in a valve were visualised and tested using CFD, while TRIZ was used in detecting useful recommended solutions to the identified problems. The result of the pilot process was a novel hybrid control valve design. The new method presented in this paper can be used to manage the entire NPD process, thereby proffering innovative solutions to flow handling equipment new product development.