PHOENICS was developed by firm CHAM which was founded in 1974 by professor D.B.Spalding. At that time he teached in Imperial College, London.

PHOENICS was the world's first general-purpose CFD code. It was launched commercially in 1981 as a Fortran-Input code. PHOENICS arose from the ashes of a large number of special computer codes which were created by CHAM in the period between 1974 and 1980. Now PHOENICS arms more than 1000 users worldwide.

More detailed information concerning opportunities and distinctive features of PHOENICS can be found on CHAM's web-server.

For the first time I acquainted with PHOENICS in the summer of 1995. At that time I was a V course student of Moscow State Institute of Steel and Alloys (MISA). The acquaintance was started with arrival to us, department of Heat Transfer and Heat Power of Metallurgical Manufacture, the general director of joint Russian-English enterprise CHAM-MEI Dr. Sergei V.Zhubrin. At that time he also was principal lecturer of Moscow Power Institute (�EI). That joint enterprise was, as a matter of fact, a representation of CHAM in Russia and, naturally, was concerned with promotion of its product in our country.

After bringing to us the initial information about the software and demonstration of its opportunities Dr. S.V.Zhubrin delivered Shareware version of PHOENICS-1.4. to us. That version was not demonstration one only, but also represented by itself the rather serious tool of mathematical modeling. It should be noted that till now I treat it with large respect, and not only because I made the diploma work with its help. But about it a bit later.

And then, in 1995, the only commercial version of PHOENICS was the version 2.1.3. which was offered to us on a reduced price in framework of academic delivery.

It is necessary to note that neither department's chairman V.A.Krivandin nor the leading teachers of the department concerned with problems of mathematical modeling have shown a spark of interest to the software. The possible explanation is that it is easier to write own special code than study, can be good, general, but another's software. The interest was shown by professor of department Boris S. Mastryukov only, who was at that time the dean of our Faculty of Energy and Ecology. It is who invited S.V.Zhubrin in the institute.

I attended a demonstration of the software not casually, as I was taken in the group of professor B.S.Mastryukov which worked at ecological problems including mathematical modeling in ecology. The group, in which I have accepted, also included senior teacher E.V.Gusev and senior teacher L.A.Miroshkina (for the moment senior lecturer). The group planned to use PHOENICS for mathematical modeling of gas emissions dispersion in built-up areas. I was put the target to study and to understand PHOENICS. Terms were not put, but it was clear that it was necessary to understand it as soon as possible. So all began.

For the analysis at that time the only accessible version of the software was PHOENICS Shareware 1.4. I began to study it in August, 1995. I shall not tell that I have studied it completely but basic principles and skills of work with it I mastered. By the way, I till now consider Shareware 1.4. and early versions of Shareware 1.5. are the best and the functional software of the given class which I ever saw. Neither last versions of Shareware 1.5. nor Shareware 1.5. Virtual Reality [appeared later (last one in 1999)] have such wide range of opportunities as Shareware 1.4. and the early versions of Shareware 1.5., though last ones work only under DOS.

Studying the program I started, certainly, with standard PHOENICS Input library examples. As starting point I took examples describing laminar fluid flow in a pipe and a rectangular canal. After this everyone who began acquaintance with PHOENICS, I always recommended to practice these examples for a start.

It is hard to overestimate importance of Input library in PHOENICS. Library example "flow around a chimney" was put in a basis of my diploma work "Modelling of dispersion of harmful impurity from chimney stacks in the surface layer of the atmosphere" which was made in spring of 1996 and was defended in June of the same year. However, library is library, but without the effective help of S.V.Zhubrin the work would not move in a groove. I am grateful to him very much for that support rendered in difficult time for me.

Now, when 5 years passed after defense of the diploma work, I look back at that work with satisfaction. It is not only because it put a base for the further researches but also because it itself is of certain value. But I did not recognize this fact at once. It happened after 1,5-2 years after work defense when I deepened the knowledge in the field of meteorology and atmospheric boundary layer physics. Immediately after defense I related to that work, softly speaking, coldly.

It shold be noted that the diploma work was made by means of Shareware 1.4. We received complete commercial version of PHOENICS 2.1.3. in the beginning of spring 1996. At that time I was busy with already launched calculations with Shareware 1.4. So, I did not start study the advanced PHOENICS version at once. I could thoroughly work at one in autumn of 1996 only, after I entered to the post-graduate course. At that time E.V.Gusev left the group of professor B.S.Mastryukov that actually resulted the fact I remained the only one in the institute who worked with PHOENICS directly.

Concerning once again of the diploma work it is necessary to tell that it was devoted to solution of a problem of gas emissions dispersion from two industrial stacks and from a road in a hypothetical inhabited area. Owing to this hypothetical one value of the obtained results is slightly reduced. For the real built-up area the similar problem was solved later, in the autumn of 1997, within the framework of project devoted to estimation of intoxication consequences in case of possible failure on Moscow meat-packing plant "Mikoms". Failure was connected with spillage of liquid ammonia. We worked at that project together with E.Dovgoruck for whom that work was a diploma one. Her task was to code a program in DELPHI 2 converting physical fields of the dangerous factors of the influence in fields of lesion probability, obtaining, thus, fields of damage, potential danger and risk. Details of that large project were published on CHAM's web-server.

The realization of that project was preceded by the whole year of theoretical researches, learning of the literature, definition of the general concept and contents of Ph.D. thesis in which that project had to enter as a part. It should be noted that that project became the important mark in my history, as it finally defined changing of orientation in PHOENICS using from ecological tasks to problems of industrial safety and prediction of emergencies consequences. Besides, in performing that project I used new model of gas and vapours dispersion in the atmospheric boundary layer which afterward, in modified kind, was inserted in the Ph.D. thesis. Then for the first time I felt the power of PHOENICS 2.1.3.

However, really I recognized its broadest opportunities only after acquaintance with the module of physical and mathematical adjustment GROUND. It was when I tried to code in GROUND myself using examples of existing PHOENICS subroutines, I perceived sincere admiration and respect to its founders for work enclosed in this product. Now I can tell exactly that the program costs those money for which it is sold. My mistake was that I inexcusably late started to study of the GROUND module. It resulted to necessity to put superefforts in last, before Ph.D. defense, years (1998-1999) to be in time to term of post-graduate course finish. The basic works performed with the help of GROUND module of PHOENICS 2.1.3. fell on that period of time. These works were included in all chapters of my Ph.D. thesis. Due to time lack during building of my Ph.D. thesis all results obtained at that period could not be reflected in the printed publications in a proper way. It explains motive of appearance of the brief reviews of those projects in these web-pages.

The last project performed with the help of PHOENICS 2.1.3. was simulation of dispersion and drift of petroleum vapours in framework of the safety and risk analysis of the petroleum terminal in Novorossiysk, Russia (Caspian Pipeline Consortium - CPC). Project was finished in August, 2000. Then, after one week, due to objective and subjective reasons, I moved to another main job. But I continue to keep in touch with the Institute on themes connected with PHOENICS.

I cannot help writing of the warmest words to address of professor B.S.Mastryukov who was during all that time my scientific supervisor, driving force of all PHOENICS-projects which ever I worked at. It is hard to overestimate his fatherly care and attention. Due to his wise policy I succeeded to achieve, can be modest, but nevertheless some successes.

So, more than 6 years passed by from the moment of PHOENICS appearance under the roof of MISA. What are results? The group of the professor B.S.Mastryukov, including me, became a member of PHOENICS-using Consultants Club which is based on CHAM's web-server. Now in the institute two groups of the PHOENICS users are working. First, the group of professor B.S.Mastryukov on Safety of Vital Activity department of MISA. It uses PHOENICS within the framework of problems of industrial safety and prediction of emergencies consequences. Secondly, the group of principal lecturer Dr. I.A.Levitzky on Heat Transfer and Ecology of Metallurgical Manufacture department which specializes on problems of heat transfer and fluid flow related to furnaces. Each group has the local successes: each year some students make their diploma works with using of PHOENICS. However, now in all-institute scientific life PHOENICS does not occupy the place which could occupy if one takes into account its potential. Besides, the initiative and leading role of professor B.S.Mastryukov's group which it had in 1998-1999, at least, among Moscow PHOENICS users, were lost. I believe that the only way which will allow to return the lost positions will be early or late chosen. This way consists in creation of the all-institute center on PHOENICS using in the diversified problems of metallurgy and adjacent sciences. Such center should involve in work the most talented and capable students and post-graduate students from all faculties and departments of the institute. Thus, it will be capable to solve most difficult and urgent problems.

Summing up my personal work with family of PHOENICS programs I can tell that it was possible to do more. For the clear reasons it is difficult for me to estimate my results in a scientific aspect objectively. I cannot brag breadth of soluble problems scope, however, in a engineering aspect I consider that I succeeded the main things. I succeeded to take possession of methodology of work with PHOENICS. I succeeded to learn slightly "feel" it.

Thank to PHOENICS I acquainted with a plenty of interesting people. I opened up business relations with various firms and organizations.

August 28, 2001