Radiation heat transfer with FEMLAB

[WhyNot]

I want to simulate radiation heat transfer between two surfaces which are in the vacuum using FemLab3.1. However, the heat transfer module only consider conduction and convection. Some additional examples I found incorporate radiation (with surace-to-surface option) but they need a conduction term and I don't know how joint them for using in multiphysics mode (and exploit 3D characteristics).

 

[PerennialII]

Hi WhyNot !

I'm wondering whether you can solve your problem via an "innovative" definition of heat fluxes (perhaps parametrized properly etc. functional dependencies) or whether you need to apply the coupling variables in your problem - the coupling variables of Femlab enables you to build complex coupled systems which for one will in all likelihood do the job in this case if other means don't. So do you want to use the other surface just as a "ambient heat sink" for radiation or couple the radiation heat transfers for example over a period of time and such in your problem? The first is simpler, the 2nd can be done using the coupling variables technique.

 

[ravenprp]

FemLab3.1 is a powerful tool for simulating heat transfer, but as you have mentioned, it does not have a specific module for radiation heat transfer. However, there are ways to incorporate radiation in your simulation using the existing conduction and convection modules.

One option is to use the surface-to-surface radiation option that you have found in some additional examples. This allows you to specify the radiation properties of the two surfaces and calculate the heat transfer between them. However, as you have mentioned, this method still requires a conduction term in order to work properly.

To incorporate both conduction and radiation in your simulation, you can use the multiphysics mode in FemLab3.1. This mode allows you to combine different physics modules, such as conduction and radiation, in a single simulation. By defining the appropriate boundary conditions and material properties, you can accurately simulate radiation heat transfer between two surfaces in a vacuum.

Additionally, you can also exploit the 3D characteristics of your simulation by using the 3D geometry and meshing capabilities of FemLab3.1. This will allow you to accurately model the geometry and capture any complex 3D effects in your simulation.

In conclusion, while FemLab3.1 may not have a specific module for radiation heat transfer, it still offers the flexibility to incorporate radiation in your simulation through the surface-to-surface option and the multiphysics mode. By utilizing these features and exploiting the 3D characteristics of your simulation, you can accurately simulate radiation heat transfer between two surfaces in a vacuum.