The Heat Transfer Module uses the radiosity method to model surface-to-surface radiation on diffuse surfaces, mixed diffuse-specular surfaces, and semitransparent layers. The layered material functionality is included in the AC/DC Module and the Structural Mechanics Module, making it possible to include multiphysics couplings like electromagnetic heating or thermal expansion on layered materials. Additionally, tools are included to visualize results in thin, layered structures as if they were originally modeled as 3D solids specifically, surface plots, slice plots, and through thickness plot are supported. When employing the layered material technology, there are preprocessing tools for detailed layered material definition, load/save of layered structure configurations from/to a file, and layer preview features. In particular, heat sources and sinks can be defined on layers or at layer interfaces, and heat flux and surface-to-surface radiation can be defined on both sides of the shells. Layered material features support similar heat loads to the regular domain model. Finally, the general model provides a highly accurate and universal model, as it embeds the complete heat equations. This model computes the temperature difference between the two layer sides. Conversely, the thermally thick layer model can represent poorly conducting materials that act as a thermal resistance in the shell's perpendicular direction. This functionality is available for thin layers, shells, thin films, and fractures.įor individual layers, the thermally thin layer model is used for highly conductive materials in situations where the layer contribution to the heat transfer is primarily in its tangential directions and where the temperature difference between the layer sides is negligible. Natural convection can be easily accounted for when the gravity forces are enabled for nonisothermal flow simulations.įor modeling heat transfer in thin layers, the Heat Transfer Module provides specialized layer models and layered material technology to easily define complex configurations and investigate heat transfer in layers that are geometrically much smaller than the rest of a model. The temperature transition at the fluid-solid interface is automatically handled using continuity, wall functions, or automatic wall treatment, depending on the flow model. The realizable k-ε, k-ω, shear stress transport (SST), v2-f, and Spalart-Allmaras turbulence models are available when combined with the CFD Module. Turbulence can be modeled using Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) models such as the k-ε, low-Reynolds k-ε, algebraic yPlus, or LVEL turbulence models. It is possible to account for the influence of pressure work and viscous dissipation on temperature distribution. These capabilities can be used to model heat exchangers, electronics cooling, and energy savings, to name a few examples.īoth laminar and turbulent flow are supported and can be modeled with natural and forced convection. The Heat Transfer Module contains features for modeling conjugate heat transfer and nonisothermal flow effects.