topic Re: Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material? in CFD Forum

Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

Anonymous — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 17:12:26 GMT

Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

For example, a solid block of bismuth is heated for a few hours until it just begins to melt. During this time the temperature of the bismuth rises steadily. As the bismuth continues being heated for another few hours it all melts (changes from a solid to liquid). During this time the temperature remains constant. Further heating of the bismuth after it all as changed to liquid will cause the temperature to rise continually.

If the answer is YES, in which release did this capability become available? 2015? 2016?

Thanks, Dan

Re: Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

matt.bemis — Wed, 15 Mar 2017 21:46:33 GMT

Hi @Anonymous,

Thanks for reaching out to us on the forums. Autodesk CFD can't do phase change. I am not sure if that functionality will be introduce in the future.

Hope I could help!

Thanks,

Re: Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 11:48:33 GMT

Thanks for replying. I submitted a request on the CFD Ideas page.

Regards, Dan

Re: Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

Jon.Wilde — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 12:28:49 GMT

Hey,

As a thought, could we not try to model this with a variable specific heat? Check out the link here, it might work for you I think.

Hope that helps,

Jon

Re: Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 13:27:58 GMT

Thanks but unfortunately that won't work. It's more than just a change in specific heat. Even though the temperature remains the same during the phase change there is a lot of energy (heat) that goes into changing the material from solid to liquid. The amount of heat needed is dependent upon the materials latent heat of fusion which in the "ice" example you gave me is unaccounted for (or at least I couldn't find it).

Regards, Dan

Re: Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

Jon.Wilde — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 13:49:57 GMT

It was a long shot and would have definitely needed some customisation from yourself 🙂

Re: Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

Anonymous — Thu, 16 Mar 2017 15:03:09 GMT

I just noticed that Simulation Mechanical 2014 seems to have Phase Change Material capability (see below). If that's true I wonder why Simulation CFD doesn't? Unfortunately I need CFD because I need the thermal radiation capability which Simulation Mechanical does not have.

Regards, Dan

Re: Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 20:16:19 GMT

Hello, sir.

I am simulating the PCM melting process by using Autodesk cfd. As far as I know, after being heated for some time, solid state PCM will sink down towards the bottom due to the density difference of liquid PCM and Solid PCM.

Can Autodesk CFD handle this phenomenon?

Re: Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

Anonymous — Mon, 27 Mar 2017 20:19:18 GMT

Hello, sir.

Can Autodesk CFD handle this phenomenon?

Re: Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

Anonymous — Thu, 30 Mar 2017 13:05:30 GMT

wex415

I don't work for Autodesk so I don't know the answer to your question. In my particular design the eutectic material completely fills a sealed container so it retains its shape whether it is a solid or a liquid.

Regards, Dan