Simulation Electrical Heating Forehearth by Plate Electrodes
Figure 1: CAD created in NOGRID's COMPASS
Figure 2: Electrical potential in the GUI
Figure 3: Electrical current density
Figure 4: Electrical power density
Figure 5: Fluid velocity field including velocity vectors
Figure 6: Temperature distribution including electrical current field vectors
Figure 7: Animation temperature distribution over time
If you need to perform a thermal analysis of an electrically heated channel flow using plate electrodes (such as in the simulation of forehearth heating) NOGRID points is the ideal solution. Based on a geometric model that can either be imported from your existing CAD system or created using our integrated CAD preprocessor COMPASS, you can generate a computer model of a specific geometry in a very short time compared to mesh-based methods. This allows you to quickly analyze the thermal behavior of your specific geometry in advance, enabling better design decisions and see its thermal characteristics in advance.
NOGRID's approach to simulating electrical heating forehearth
In this application, fluid within a tube or closed channel is heated by two opposing plate electrodes. The plate electrodes themeslves are not modeled as solid bodies; instead, the electrical potential is applied directly to the outer surfaces (shell) of the plate electrodes.
The resulting temperature distribution in the fluid is determined by the electrical resistance of the medium, which in turn depends on the flow rate as well as the size and positioning of the plate electrodes.
To solve the electrical potential u in both fluids and solids, NOGRID points uses the following equation:
u electrical potential u = u (x, y, z)
σ electrical heat conductivity
q source term
In the field of electrostatics, the electrical potential does not change with time and the valid differential equation for the electrical potential u is the Poisson equation
Conduction in solids and liquids is described by Ohm's law, which states that current is proportional to the applied electric field. The current density (current per unit area) j in an area is directly proportional to the electric field E and the proportionality factor is the electric conductivity σ:
The electric field E can be calculated directly from the electric potential u by
In this simulation, the Navier-Stokes equations, the temperature equation, and the Poission equation for electrical potential are computed. The temperature distribution within the flow is influenced by the magnitude of the electrical current, the arrangement of the plate electrodes and the temperature-dependent electrical resistance of the fluid.
For example, if the fluid's the viscosity depends on the temperature, the temperature distribution naturally has a direct influence on the flow in the channel. Additionally, if the fluid's electrical conductivity is also temperature-dependent, the distribution of electrical power will, in turn, be affected by the flow.
NOGRID points provides valuable insight into flow behavior by visualizing mass, momentum and heat transfer in both single-phase and multiphase systems. The software also delivers integral quantities that can be used to evaluate and analyze heat exchange efficiency.
Capabilities of NOGRID points CFD software
NOGRID unites abilities to handle free surface flow and moving parts in the domain and allows the simulation of any conceivable geometry and operation modes such as
- computation is in full 3D solving complete Navier-Stokes-Equations
- easy and intuitive setup also for FSI (Fluid-Structure-Interaction) cases
- free definable material properties by equations or curves
- coupled solutions for electrical heating and fluid mechanic cases
- open or closed domains including inflow and outflow areas (non-batch mode)
- moving of parts and flexible thermal contact behaviour
Nogrid's strengths
Easy and fast modelling: Build geometry, mesh boundary, setup the case and start computation
What is CFD from NOGRID?
CFD solves the fundamental equations that define the fluid flow process. With CFD software from NOGRID every engineer makes better decisions by predicting, analyzing and controlling fluid flow, heat and mass transfer or chemical reaction. By using NOGRID software for flow modeling you receive information on essential flow characteristics as for example flow distribution. Using it additional to testing and experimentation NOGRID software helps to improve the evaluation of your design – resulting in better construction and operation parameters, increasing planning security and money savings due to faster time to the marketplace for your product or process.
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