Aero Concept Engineering

Aero Concept Engineering, also called ACE, is a French engineering company that works on aerodynamics and fluid flow. It is based at the Magny-Cours technology park in France. The team came from car racing and says it has more than 25 years of experience.

In aviation, ACE engineers have worked for many years on certified aircraft, ultralights, drones and airships. They study these designs with CFD, which is computer simulation of airflow, or in a wind tunnel. Aviation is one of nine sectors the company serves. The others are automotive, heavy trucks and off-road machines, rail, buildings, defence, sport and records, research and industry.

ACE runs its own wind tunnel. It is a closed circuit tunnel with a 250 kW drive and speeds from 7 to 40 metres per second. The closed test section is 4.75 metres long, 2.3 metres wide and 2.05 metres high. The tunnel can be set up with or without a moving floor and with or without a turntable. Customers use it for aeronautics, cars, research, sport and wind energy.

ACE also designs and builds scale models for wind tunnel tests, in its own tunnel or in other tunnels. It builds in measuring systems, control, modular parts and quick changes. Its design office also offers surface design and help with CAD work, so shapes can be improved to reach performance goals.

CFD studies are another core service. ACE has used the open source OpenFOAM software since 2008 and says its experts have nearly 50 years of combined experience in fluid simulation. The company also gives advice on aerodynamics, fluid mechanics and heat, for example on engine cooling, stability and aerodynamic balance.

ACE has taught OpenFOAM courses since 2011. The courses help users cut licence costs and start CFD on a sound base. The company also builds software packages from a client's study brief. A CFD program called ACE of Aircraft is aimed at aviation and is presented as fast, simple and affordable.

The company counts about 16,000 hours of wind tunnel work and 45,000 CFD calculations. Its sport unit, aeroptimum.fr, works on sport and record projects.

Services

• Wind tunnel tests
• CFD studies
• Wind tunnel model design and build
• Aerodynamics consulting
• Surface design
• OpenFOAM training
• CFD software packages
• ACE of Aircraft CFD software