Learning Forum

[bl3nd555]

I am working on a project in Ansys where I need to create a composite model (let’s say square-shaped coupon) which an additional conductive material (or strip) on top that will be induced with electricity. There will be some layer of ice on top of the model that will need to be melted. The goal of this project is to figure out how much power is required to induce into the conductive material in order to achieve the fastest melting and optimal power usage. I was surfing YouTube and forums but only could find Electricity produced through heating and if I find something appropriate it is from 6 years ago and in an older version of Ansys ( currently using Ansys r1 2021).

I would greatly appreciate the help you would offer to guide me on this!

[Chandra Sekaran]

Please checkout the section on thermal-electric analysis at the below link where it talks about coupled thermal-electric analysis and includes Joule heating effect.
https://ansyshelp.ansys.com/account/secured?returnurl=/Views/Secured/corp/v221/en/wb_sim/ds_therm_elec_analysis_type.html?q=Joule%20heating

[Bill Bulat]

If your objective is to simulate the production of Joule heating in the conductive media by electromagnetically inducing eddy currents in it with an AC energized coil (this is sometimes called RF induction heating), you will probably need to perform an AC (harmonic response) electromagnetic analysis. Magnetostatic analyses are natively supported in Mechanical, but not harmonic response analyses with electrically conductive media. Including those in Mechanical will require command objects. This technology is supported in the MAPDL solver through SOLID236/SOLID237 element types.
Best Bill

[bl3nd555]

Sorry I don't think I have an access to that link.
Instead of a coil the top material will be a pattern (currently though as a box-snake pattern) which will be placed on top of the carbon fiber reinforced plastic stack (likely there will be insulation between them such as fiber glass). I am just having issue modeling a simple Induction Heating, and I am not sure if I am setting up the currents wrong or using the right feature for this problem.
I was wondering if I can create a model in a way that I can vary the current going into a strip to observe the temperature changes in the surroundings including the ice/ or we can cancel the ice for simplicity for now. Just focus on the strip that I can specify a current on and it heats up throughout (like a toaster). Do I run transient thermal analysis? To simplify the problem completely the first step would be to model a straight bar (wire), apply current, apply material, and observe temperature change - wasn't successful to complete this step smoothly without the errors.

I would love a step by step tutorial if it is possible!
I deeply appreciate your time and consideration!