Learning Forum

[Bastian Bruck]

Hello, im trying to simulate a solar water collector, but im having problems heating the water in the fluid region. My model consist of 3 volumes. The top one is the air pocket where the sun rays comes throught and heats up the copper volume which heats up the fluid region.  In the simulation i use the rosseland solar model

The fluid should heat up, but it doesnt, it aactually heats up just decimals, and ive tried everything. Ive applied a sharing topolgy type of mesh, where everything should be conected and not non-conformal.

As you can see, the copper is pretty hot, almost 400 kelvin, but the water stays cold, the inlet water velocity is 0.02m/s, and the tube diameter is like 5 cm.

This is the outlet water temperature. Can someone help me solve this issue??

[Rob]

Which radiation model are you using? The solar load model will add heat into the domain, but only to the walls. 

[Bastian Bruck]

im using the rosseland model. Ive seen people doing simulations on a solar air heater, and heats up the walls and fluid it self, i dont know why mine hasnt work yet. i dont know what should i change in my model.

 

[Rob]

Have you set the fluid  absorbtion coefficients? Check the tutorials in Fluent's Help and also the various courses in Learning on here. 

[Bastian Bruck]

i havent found a solar collector like im making it. i need to heat up this fluid, how would you do it?, also i havent found any example like this in the ansys fluent guide or help tutorials, need help.

[Rob]

You won't. What you may well find are tutorials that cover aspects of your work - you then use the useful bits to guide your work.