Steady state cool analyses provide an accurate way to analyze the cycle-averaged temperature distribution for a given cycle. The results are then used to optimize the design of your mold and ensure the production of a quality part.
The steady-state cool simulation analyzes both the temperature of the part and the temperature of the mold, calculating a cycle-averaged temperature distribution in the mold, in order to optimize various aspects of the design of the part, including cooling time, cycle time, part design, and mold design.
- Midplane
- When a Midplane Cool analysis is performed, the solver calculates heat loss in the x and y directions, and makes no estimate in the z-direction. The calculation uses a semi-infinite slab calculation in the part to calculate the fluxes and temperature distribution. These fluxes are then used as boundary conditions for the boundary element solution that calculates the surface temperatures of the mold.
- Dual Domain
- When a Dual Domain Cool analysis is performed, the solver calculates heat loss in the x and y directions, and makes an estimate of the heat loss in the z-direction. The calculation uses a semi-infinite slab calculation in the part to calculate the fluxes and temperature distribution. These fluxes are then used as boundary conditions for the boundary element solution that calculates the surface temperatures of the mold.
- 3D
- When a 3D Cool analysis is performed, the solver obtains a full three-dimensional transient finite-element solution for the temperatures of the part, which is used for the calculation of the heat flux into the mold. For Dual Domain and 3D analyses, there are two different solutions, Cool and Cool (FEM), available for calculating the temperature in the mold.
Note: When switching between the Cool and Cool (FEM) solvers, the mold mesh will be deleted and must be regenerated each time.
- Cool - The heat fluxes from the part are used as boundary conditions for the steady-state boundary element solution that calculates the surface temperatures of the mold. The boundary element method (BEM) determines the temperature on all surfaces of the mold, that is the outer surface, the part and the cooling channel surfaces, then uses the boundary element integrals to calculate the internal temperatures of the mold. This provides an accurate representation of the temperature and enables you to optimize the placement, quantity and operating conditions of cooling channels in the mold. This option provides a similar solution in the mold as the Cool (FEM) option, when the conduction solver is selected in the part.
Note: To run a Cool analysis it is not necessary to model a mold; only the cooling circuits are required.
- Cool (FEM) - The heat fluxes from the part are used as boundary conditions for the steady-state finite-element solution that calculates the temperature through the depth of the mold. This provides the temperature at every node through the mold, and enables you to optimize the placement, quantity and operating conditions of cooling channels in the mold.
Note: To run a Cool (FEM) analysis, it is necessary to model a mold to surround part and cooling circuits.
For Dual Domain mesh types, the conduction solver is used for calculating the temperature distribution in the part. For 3D mesh types, there are two solvers to choose from:
- Conduction solver - this is a fast solver, that only considers heat conduction. This solver provides a similar result to Cool (BEM), in a shorter timeframe.
- Flow solver - this solver solves the entire flow solution in the part, passes the data across for calculation of the mold temperature distribution, then takes the temperature information from the mold and recalculates the entire flow solution in the part. This process is reiterated many times over, until the results converge. This solver is slower than either the conduction solver, or Cool (BEM), but the results can be used to capture shear heating effects from flow, that are caused by heat fluxes from the part into the mold.