Learning Forum

[FelipeFDR]

Hello, guys!

For my project, I have a simple body (a cube - 20x20x20mm) and I gotta compare the heating time between one made of copper with other one made of iron. The top surface is at 150 degrees, and the bottom suface is refrigerated by water at 30 degrees (convection). 
I did it on the steady-state thermal, and I could see the difference between the two materials and how the copper conducts the heat better than the iron through the solid. But I gotta know how long each cube takes to reach the equilibrium. Is that possible? 

 

Thanks!

[Rob]

You can monitor various variables with time, and plot the results. What measure would you use to determine thermal equilibrium?

[FelipeFDR]

Like the following analysis, for example... it's a cube of copper.
I set the top surface at 150 degrees and the bottom surface convection at 30 degrees.
I gotta know how long it took to the bottom surface reach at 126,05 degrees. Can I get this info somehow?

 

For my project, I gotta show (and prove with Ansys) that copper conducts heat better than the steel and how the copper one does it faster.

Thanks!

[Rob]

So monitor the temperature of the bottom surface against time. 

[peteroznewman]

Change the analysis from Steady State Thermal to Transient Thermal so that you have a real time scale.

At time=0  I think you mean the Initial Condition is the entire body of the cube is at a temperature of 150 degrees C and that the bottom surface with the 30 C convective cooling is taking heat away from the cube over time while the top surface is maintained at 150 C, is that correct?

To be complete in the description, the sides of the cube are insulated. What value were you given for the Convective Heat Transfer Film Coefficient?

[FelipeFDR]

Ty so much, Peter, it worked for me! I haven't thought of trying the transient one (which now sounds so obv hahaha). I used 5,000 W/(m²K) fir the Coefficient.