Learning Forum

[obschti]

Hey,

in my current project I want to do a steady state thermal analysis of an installation space. There are components in the middle of the installation space that are heatet to a fixed temperature and at the border of the system there are just some plates that simulate the environment with a fixed temperature (room temperature). In the real system there is air between the plates and the components in the middle. Does Ansys simulate the air automaticly or do I have to add this manuelly? How can I do this?

Are there general rules how meshing for thermal issues is best or is it just dependent on the single geometrys?

Thanks!

[peteroznewman]

In geometry, create a solid body for the air. There are tools to help create that in SpaceClaim and DesignModeler. The air body has cavities in it that are filled by the components in the middle. Use Shared Topology to have the air mesh connected to the component mesh.

Bring that geometry into Fluent where you will setup boundary conditions and other inputs so that the solver will converge on the natural convection that will develop in the solution.  There are many posts on this site for how to setup for that.

[obschti]

Hi peteroznewman,

thank you for your answer.

Not all the components in the middle have the same temperature. There is a heat source with a constant temperature and the components temperatures depend on heat conduction, their material characteristics,... Do you have a tutorial where heat conduction and convection both appear in one case?

Thanks!

[peteroznewman]

There are many tutorials on YouTube.  Open a browser, go to YouTube.com then in the YouTube search bar, type Fluent Natural Convection Tutorial.  Some of the videos will include solids that will have conduction.