Activity 4: Create a new simulation model and thermal study

The size of the fins needs to be increased to reduce the temperature at the outer edge of the fins down below 70 C. Since you are experimenting with different designs, you don't want to change the production model just yet. Changes you make on a simulation model do not affect the production model.

In this activity, you

• Create a new simulation model

• Remove model components that have no influence on the simulation

• Increase the width of the fins by 80 mm on each side

• Increase the length of the fins by 65 mm on each end

• Create a new thermal study and set the mesh size to 10 mm

• Change the model material to aluminum.

  

  New simulation model (left). Simulation model simplified, with extended fins (right).

Prerequisites

• Activity 3 is complete.

Steps

1. Create a New Simulation Model.

   1. Click (Simulation workspace > Setup tab > Simplify panel > Simplify), to access the Simplify environment.
   2. Click (Simulation workspace > Simplify Solid tab > Create panel > New Simulation Model), to create a new simulation model.

      Simulation Model 2 appears in the Browser, active and expanded.

      
      
      

2. Remove the fittings and the water volume components, to reduce analysis time and provide a valid comparison with model 1.

   1. In the Browser, expand Model Components.
   2. Right-click the Water:1 component, and select Remove.
      Note: Remove deletes the part from the simulation model. The only way to bring back a part is to delete the Remove command from the Timeline or create a new simulation model.
   3. Repeat step b to remove the Fittings:1 component.
   4. Click Home View next to the ViewCube to return the model to its original size and orientation.
      
      

3. Increase the width of the fins by 80 mm on each side.

   1. In the Browser click next to Pipe to hide it.
   2. Click the TOP face of the ViewCube to adjust the orientation of the fins.
   3. Click (Simulation workspace > Simplify Solid tab > Create panel > Extrude) to open the Extrude dialog.
   4. Left-click to the left and above the model and drag a window selection over the edges on the left side of the model.
      Note: It is important to pull the selection window to the right to select only those profiles that are entirely contained within the selection window.
      
      
      
   5. In the Extrude dialog, make the Distance 80 mm.
   6. Confirm that 14 profiles are selected, and the Operation is Join, then click OK to accept the commands and close the dialog.
   7. Repeat steps c. to f. to extend the other side of the fins by 80 mm.
      
      

4. Increase the length of the fins by 65 mm on each end.

   1. Click (Simulation workspace > Simplify Solid tab > Create panel > Extrude) to open the Extrude dialog.
   2. Left-click to the left and above the model and drag a window selection to the right over the top end of the model.
      
      
   3. In the Extrude dialog, make the Distance 65 mm.
   4. Confirm that 14 profiles are selected, and the Operation is Join, then click OK to accept the commands and close the dialog.
   5. Repeat steps a. to d. to extend the bottom end of the fins by 65 mm.
      
      
   6. Click (Simulation workspace > Simplify Solid tab > Finish Simplify panel > Finish Simplify) to return to the Setup tab.
      Note: The New Study dialog opens automatically.

5. Create a new Thermal analysis study, and set the mesh size to 10 mm.

   1. In the New Studies dialog box, select Thermal.
   2. In the upper right corner of the large thumbnail image, click the Settings icon to access the Settings dialog.
      
      
   3. Select Mesh from the left frame of the dialog to display the mesh settings.
   4. Click Absolute Size and type 10 mm in the input field.
      Note: By using the Absolute mesh size you ensure that your results are based on a comparable mesh size.
   5. Click Back to apply the changes.
   6. In the New Study dialog, click Create Study to create the study and close the dialog.

6. Change the material for the Radiator model to Aluminum.

   1. Click (Simulation workspace > Setup tab > Materials panel > Study Materials) to open the Study Materials dialog.
   2. In the Study Materials dialog, click Select All in the bottom-left corner to select all components.
   3. Change the Study Materials for one of the drop-down menus to Aluminum.
   4. Click OK to close the Study Materials dialog.
   5. In the Browser, expand Model Components.
   6. Click next to Pipe to make it visible.
   7. Click Home view above the ViewCube to return the model to its original size and orientation.

Activity 4 summary

In this activity, you

• Created a new simulation model
• Removed model components that have no influence on the simulation
• Increased the width of the fins by 80 mm on each side
• Increased the length of the fins by 65 mm on each end
• Created a new thermal study and set the mesh size to 10 mm
• Changed the model material to aluminum.