Daikin Adopts “RICOS Lightning” to Optimize Compressor Design Efficiency

Daikin Industries, Ltd. (Representative Director, President and COO: Naofumi Takenaka, hereinafter “Daikin”) has implemented “RICOS Lightning,” an AI-CAE solution provided by RICOS ltd. (Headquartered in Chiyoda, Tokyo; CEO: Yu Ihara, hereinafter “RICOS”), to enhance the efficiency of compressor design.
Prior to this adoption, Daikin collaborated with RICOS last year to evaluate the acceleration of simulations. The findings from these tests were presented at the 38th CFD Symposium. Based on these successful results, Daikin has now decided to officially implement “RICOS Lightning.”

■Daikin’s Presentation: 38th CFD Symposium
Sakurai et al., “High-Speed and High-Accuracy Prediction of Refrigerant Flow Inside Air Conditioning Compressors Using IsoGCN”
https://pub.confit.atlas.jp/ja/event/cfd38/presentation/OS4-2-3-01

■Announcement of Daikin and RICOS’ Verification Project
https://www.ricos.ltd/news/daikin-initiates-verification20240201/

■RICOS Lightning
“RICOS Lightning” is an AI-CAE solution that predicts simulation results using AI algorithms. By replacing time-consuming simulation calculations with AI-driven predictions, it significantly reduces computational time. Additionally, its AI algorithm can output physical variables such as flow, pressure, and temperature in three-dimensional space, enabling detailed analysis in the design process.

■RICOS original AI algorithm used in RICOS Lightning – ‘IsoGCN’
The AI algorithm “IsoGCN,” developed by RICOS, enables high-speed and high-accuracy simulation result predictions.
Designed specifically for simulation data, IsoGCN offers four key advantages:

1. Acceleration – Reduces computational workload, enabling fundamental simulation speed enhancements.
2. 3D Data Recognition – Accurately captures complex 3D geometries, making it ideal for real-world product design.
3. Extrapolation for New Shapes – Incorporates methods from fluid, thermal, and structural analysis to provide reliable predictions even for entirely new product designs.
4. User-Friendly Operation – Eliminates the need for complex meshing processes, making it accessible to non-experts such as designers and engineers.

This technology has successfully reduced simulation times from several days to just minutes while maintaining high accuracy. Real-time simulation results also bring the industry closer to real-time product design. RICOS Lightning has already been applied in areas such as aerodynamic analysis for automobiles, thermal analysis of electronic components, and gas thermal-fluid simulations.

Through its innovative solutions, RICOS aims to empower manufacturing industries worldwide with advanced scientific computing, ultimately enabling the instant design of optimized products.