Three self training/refreshing programmes 1- StudentFluent has a limit of 20000 cells, costs $110, valid for one year and comes with a nice set of tutorials/grids 2- Star CCM has a limt of 16000 cells, costs nothing and no time limit on its use and comes with a nice set of tutorials/grids 3- Ansys educational programme (Flotran and stress) has a limit of 12000 cells, costs $300 and no time limit. What is your opinion, and what is your message to the vendors Appreciate your comments

When I was at uni we used star-cd for pretty much nothing unlimited cell count etc, probably worth contacting cda and finding out what deal they do. I contacted all three when I started my phd and cd were the only company that would even give me the time of day.

use either Star CCM or Fluent. But the number of cells is good enough only for 2D problems. You will not be able to do any proper 3D analysis with that. If you are in an University, then both of them have very cheap deals for unlimited number of cells. But then your university has to buy it.

Ansys if Ok in my opinion. The only benefit is that you can also do some FEM analysis of Solids, etc along with fluid flow using Flotran. Both Fluent and Star are way ahead of Flotran in terms of fluid flow analysis.

There will be no node limit for educational and industrial version of CFDESIGN. Moreover, its training material are wonderful and u can use for annually or permanently. I think it may be very econimical as compared to others.