PITTSBURGH, PA, Apr 3, 2025 – Ansys has announced new results from the commercial Fluent CFD simulation run on AMD Instinct MI250X GPUs. Leveraging the power of the frontier exascale supercomputer, powered by AMD EPYC CPUs and Instinct GPUs, Ansys and energy company Baker Hughes scaled Fluent to 1,024 GPUs, offering insights into aerothermal physics at considerable operating pressures. By combining physical testing with virtual simulations, Ansys helps streamline design processes and optimizes development costs.
Traditional CFD methods require lengthy development time and significant costs to validate designs in extreme conditions. Exascale supercomputing increases computational speed, enabling rapid design iterations and reducing time to market. Advanced hardware with multiphysics simulation software supports the development of turbine engines, power systems, mechanical drives, and related applications.
Baker Hughes uses Ansys Fluent to support the design of its next-gen gas turbines and other turbomachinery equipment to improve energy conversion and reduce carbon footprints. Using the Frontier exascale supercomputer maintained by the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Baker Hughes and Ansys ran a 2.2-billion-cell axial turbine stator simulation to identify critical flow and turbulence structures during the development phase.
Compared to methods that utilize over 3,700 CPU cores, Baker Hughes and Ansys reduced the simulation run time from 38.5 hours to 1.5 hours using 1,024 AMD Instinct MI250X GPUs. This scaling supports faster design updates and improves prediction accuracy for developing sustainable technologies.
The improvements in the Fluent GPU solver offer benefits for small and medium-sized businesses (SMB) using smaller GPU systems. Improved efficiency and scalability enable SMBs to run detailed simulations without accessing exascale resources.
“By scaling high-fidelity CFD simulation software to unprecedented levels with the power of AMD Instinct GPUs, this collaboration demonstrates how cutting-edge supercomputing can solve some of the toughest engineering challenges, enabling breakthroughs in efficiency, sustainability, and innovation,” said Brad McCredie, senior vice president, data center engineering, AMD.
“Ansys works with top-tier hardware partners like AMD to deliver robust infrastructure, empowering our customers to run complex simulations with minimal constraints,” said Shane Emswiler, senior vice president of products at Ansys. “Our advanced GPU-enabled solvers can boost simulation speeds, allow for very high-fidelity simulation, and enhance scalability – helping our customers develop superior products in much shorter timelines.”
Source: Ansys
About Ansys
Ansys, founded in 1970, specializes in engineering simulation software. It offers a comprehensive suite of tools for structural analysis, fluid dynamics, electromagnetic field simulation, and more, enabling industries to design and test products virtually. Ansys software has enabled innovators across industries to push boundaries by using the predictive power of simulation. Serving sectors such as aerospace and defense, automotive, energy, industrial equipment, materials and chemicals, consumer products, healthcare, and construction, Ansys supports innovation across diverse fields. As of 2023, the company reported annual revenues exceeding $2.3 billion and employed over 6,200 people worldwide. Headquartered in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, Ansys continues to advance engineering simulation technologies, empowering organizations to enhance product development processes.
About Baker Hughes
Baker Hughes is an energy technology company that provides integrated solutions for energy and industrial customers worldwide. With a history spanning over 100 years since its founding in 1907, the company specializes in advanced technologies and services for oilfield operations, energy transition, and industrial applications. Its offerings include equipment and services for drilling, evaluation, production, pipeline operations, and digital solutions for asset performance and emissions reduction. Baker Hughes serves industries such as oil and gas, power generation, chemicals, renewables, and industrial manufacturing. Headquartered in Houston, TX, and also operating from London, the company is committed to driving efficiency, sustainability, and innovation in energy systems. As of 2023, Baker Hughes reported an annual revenue of approximately $25.5 billion. With a strong focus on decarbonization and digital transformation, the company continues to support clients across the globe in advancing cleaner, more innovative energy solutions while maintaining operational excellence.
About Oak Ridge National Laboratory
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is the U.S. Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, focused on delivering scientific discoveries and technological innovations in materials science, nuclear science, energy production, cybersecurity, and artificial intelligence. Established in 1943 as part of the Manhattan Project, ORNL has over 80 years of expertise and is headquartered in Oak Ridge, TN. It serves industries such as energy, defense, transportation, healthcare, and advanced manufacturing. ORNL offers research facilities and houses the Frontier supercomputer. The lab plays a critical role in advancing clean energy solutions, national security technologies, and next-generation materials development. Its operating budget exceeds $2 billion annually, funded primarily through federal agencies. ORNL collaborates globally with industry, academia, and government to accelerate innovation and solve complex scientific and engineering challenges.