COSMOSFloWorks TEC demo script

What is the Using COSMOSFloWorks, we are going to simulate the behavior beverage as it is cooled by a thermoelectric cooler. design intent?

Image

What is it? Goal of Script

A thermoelectric cooler, used to chill beverages, similar to those found in the cup holders of a number of cars. To determine projected temperatures of the cooling beverage using COSMOSFloWorks.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 1

Introduction Thermoelectric coolers (TECs) generate a temperature differential from a current. This is known as the Peltier Effect. To specify the properties of a new type of TEC in COSMOS FloWorks, you must input

the maximum DC current, imax the maximum heat Qmax transferred at imax from the cold face to the hot face at zero temperature difference between these faces the maximum temperature difference Tmax between the hot and cold faces at the zero heat transferred from the cold face to the hot face the voltage Vmax corresponding to imax.

These properties are often specified by the manufacturer of the TEC. These are example specifications provided by http://www.ferrotec.com.

This is a simplified diagram of a TEC provided by http://www.peltier-info.com.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 2

This is another diagram of a TEC provided by http://www.peltier-info.com. In this diagram, youll note that the energy expended from the battery actually generates heat while the current is moving it away from the cold side and toward the hot side. Since the TEC merely moves heat from one location to another while actually generating heat of its own, a heat sink is necessary to allow it to function correctly.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 3

Start By Opening an existing Part Select cooler.SLDASM from the directory \TEC\

If prompted, add all materials to your engineering database.

Note: If you see this message while opening the assembly, click OK and then Cancel.

Select Tools > Add Ins from the main pull down menu.

Select COSMOSFloWorks 2008 and click OK.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 4

Analyze the TEC The objective of this study is to determine the temperature of the beverage throughout time. Start a new FloWorks project. FloWorks> Project> Wizard

Select Create new to create a new configuration. Click Next>

Solidworks Confidential

Page 5

Select SI units. Change the temperature units to degrees C. Click Next>

Select External Study and then check Heat conduction in solids. Check Time dependant, set the Total analysis time to 600 seconds and the Output time step to 10 seconds. Check the Gravity box and ensure that gravity is set to -9.81 m/s^2 in the y direction. Then, click Next>

From the Gasses tree double click Air. From the Liquids tree double click Water. Click Next>

Selecting Air first ensures that it will be the default fluid. Meaning that anything not specified as water will be air.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 6

Select Insulator as the default solid and click Next>

Click Next> to accept the default wall conditions.

Click Next> to accept the default initial conditions.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 7

Ensure that Result resolution is set to 3 and click Finish.

Apply Goals and Boundary Conditions

Click to open the FloWorks tab.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 8

RMC the study no fan (1) and select customize tree

Ensure that Fluid Sub Domains, Solid Materials and Thermoelectric Coolers, are selected.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 9

Open the input data tree.

RMC Fluid Subdomains and select Insert Fluid Subdomain.

Select Face<1>@Can-1, the largest face on the interior of the can, to apply the fluid subdomain to. Then change the fluid type to Liquids and ensure that Water is selected. Click OK.

Rename the Fluid Subdomain Water. Change the value of T under Thermodynamic Parameters to 25.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 10

In the FloWorks tree, RMC Solid Materials and select Insert Solid Material

Select Thermoelectric_element1 @cooler and make it Ceramic Porcelain. Click OK.

You can use the feature manager tree to the right of the Solid Material window to make selecting the part that you want easier

Solidworks Confidential

Page 11

RMC Solid Materials and select Insert Solid Material

Select cupholder-1 @cooler and make it 6061 alloy. Click OK.

RMC Solid Materials and select Insert Solid Material

Select Can-1 @cooler and make it 6061 alloy. Click OK.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 12

RMC Solid Materials and select Insert Solid Material

Select heat_sink-1 @cooler and make it 6061 alloy. Click OK.

RMC Radiative Surfaces and click Insert Radiative Surface

Select Outside cylindrical face of the can and the bottom chamfer. Also select inside face of the Cupholder facing the can.

Under Type choose Aluminum, commercial sheet from drop down menu

Solidworks Confidential

Page 13

RMC Thermoelectric Coolers and click Insert Thermoelectric Cooler

Select Thermoelectric_element1@cooler for the component to apply the cooler.

Select the bottom face of the Thermoelectric_element as the Hot Face.

Under Parameters, set the current to 2 amps and ensure that Single Stage TEC is selected. Click OK.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 14

RMC Goals and select Insert Global Goals

Set the parameter to Heat Flux, select Average value and ensure that Use for convergence control is selected. Click OK

Solidworks Confidential

Page 15

RMC Goals and select Insert Global Goals

Choose Temperature of Fluid as the parameter and select Average value. Ensure that Use for convergence control is selected. Click OK.

Run the analysis

Solidworks Confidential

Page 16

Plot Results Insert a Cutplot RMC Results and select load. Load the results file 1.fld from result directory

RMC Cutplots and select insert

Select the Front Plain, and then ensure that Contours is selected.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 17

Click View Settings and select Temperature in the Parameter field. Change the minimum temperature to 5C and the maximum temperature to 50C. Change the Number of colors to 32. Click OK.

Click OK.

The cutplot should look something like this.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 18

Animate a Cutplot RMC animations and select Insert

Use the Animation Wizard by clicking on its icon.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 19

Click Next> to accept the default animation time of 10s.

Click Next> to continue.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 20

Select Scenario and click Next>.

Select Proportional distribution to ensure that the time passing in the animation is proportional to the time passing in the simulation.

RMC on the bar directly to the left of the time 00:00 and directly across from Cut Plot 1. Select Insert Control Point.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 21

A teal diamond shape outlined in red should appear where you clicked. Another should follow your mouse. Drag it onto the bar directly to the left of the time 00:10, where all of the other diamond shaped points stop.

Change the name of the animation from Animation 1.avi to any given name. Now you can click the green play button to see the animation on screen or the red record button to save the animation.

Solidworks Confidential

Page 22

Solidworks Confidential

Page 23