Steel tank exposed to sunlight
 

Greetings everyone!

I'm a new user of ANSYS 16. The task at hand is the thermal simulation of a steel tank, containing caustic soda, exposed to sunlight. To be more precise, i want to predict if the temperature rises above a specific threshold. I already know how to use Transient thermal and Flow CFX, to a certain degree. What i don't know is how to approach this problem as a whole. Should i create a Transient thermal and a Flow CFX system and then combine them some how? Any pointers, advice or even tutorials would help me greatly.

Thank you in advance.

Since it has been quite some time, i' d really like any help you can throw my way. A similar tutorial, a general pointer, a hint...just about anything would do! How do i thermally simulate a tank containing a liquid?

I am quite certain that you wouldn't need Transient Thermal module and this could all be modeled in CFX provided that structural deformation of the tank is not considered in simulation and only the temperature gradient i.e. Heat Transfer is the prime objective. Nevertheless, once you have temperature gradient result at the tank domain from CFX, that would be transferable to transient thermal or at least it would become the first step towards modeling the FSI system .. the way i can comprehend, two domains (3 domains in case the tank is not full i guess) i.e. solid: tank and fluid: caustic soda could be enough towards a crude heat transfer simulation start point...

Thank you for you reply. I think you put me on the right track. After spending some time tinkering with CFX, it turns out that if you create a multibody geometry and define solid and liquid domains, all necessary interfaces are automatically created. Thusly, all i need now is to find a way and impose my desirable boundary conditions (solar load, convection with environmental air e.t.c.). I suppose i'll have to direct my remaining questions to the CFX subforum.

Thanks again!

Thanks and glad it worked for you..
Sure, there is plenty of active & passive support in the CFX forum here.. best of luck.