Can CFD handle PCM Phase Change Material?

[Anonymous]

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

[matt.bemis · Accepted solution]

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,

[Anonymous]

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

Regards, Dan

[Jon.Wilde]

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

[Anonymous]

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

[Jon.Wilde]

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

[Anonymous]

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

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

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?

[Anonymous]

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