[Solved] Thermal Cooling Simulation with Oil

Junta_20361

Hi everyone,
I need to do a thermal cooling simulation for a transformer.

The simple model is shown as below image:

Normally, we run the simulation with water/air.

However, the fluid used in this case is OIL.
So can AcuSolve make the simulation with Oil?
If yes, Is there any special setting has to be made?
 

Furthermore, how should i define the interface b/w air and Oil (or water) in this case?
Should i use multi-phase (level set/ Euler) or free surface or any other treatment?

 

Thank you very much!

ydigit

Yes this is definitely possible with AcuSolve. 

Adding a  multiphase approach would increase the run time and also force you to run transient. 

 

The easiest 'trick' would be to also model the air volume in CAD and then define a new 'solid' material with properties of air. This 'solid' air will take into account heat transfer between oil and air.  You could also run steady state with this approach. 

acupro

Another option would be not to model the air above at all, just assume some convective heat transfer using a convective heat transfer coefficient with a corresponding reference temperature on the external surfaces of the oil/housing/transformer.

Junta_20361

Altair Forum User said:

Yes this is definitely possible with AcuSolve. 

Adding a  multiphase approach would increase the run time and also force you to run transient. 

 

The easiest 'trick' would be to also model the air volume in CAD and then define a new 'solid' material with properties of air. This 'solid' air will take into account heat transfer between oil and air.  You could also run steady state with this approach. 

 

Altair Forum User said:

Another option would be not to model the air above at all, just assume some convective heat transfer using a convective heat transfer coefficient with a corresponding reference temperature on the external surfaces of the oil/housing/transformer.

Hi Ydigit and Acupro,

Thanks a lot for your answer.
I will try with your ideas.
Thanks again /emoticons/default_biggrin.png' srcset='/emoticons/biggrin@2x.png 2x' title=':D' width='20' />

Junta_20361

hi Ydigit and acupro,
I have another questions regarding to your solutions,
What is the type of the 'interface' between Oil and Air if i create a solid-air or assign convective HTC?
Should it be 'slip'?

Thank you!

acupro

If you're just doing single-phase flow, I would probably use slip on the surface attached to the fluid volume.  Then you still may need to add Element Boundary Condition of type heat-flux to assign the convective HTC.

Junta_20361

Altair Forum User said:

If you're just doing single-phase flow, I would probably use slip on the surface attached to the fluid volume.  Then you still may need to add Element Boundary Condition of type heat-flux to assign the convective HTC.

Thanks Acupro,

I got it!