PowerTHERM Overview

PowerTHERM is a heat transfer analysis program that predicts surface temperatures and heat fluxes generated by heat radiation, conduction and convection. Convection is calculated by PowerFLOW and coupled to PowerTHERM via an integrated coupling interface enabling two-way data exchange. The coupled simulation is easily set up in PowerCASE as part of a regular PowerFLOW simulation. The result is a complete flow and heat transfer simulation allowing the user to not only efficiently and accurately predict thermal results but also analyze and optimize products for safety, performance, and costs. Common examples might be designing a heat shield, or positioning heat sensitive components in the underhood of a vehicle.

Coupled PowerFLOW (top) and PowerTHERM (middle) simulations automatically map surface property distributions (bottom).

Major Features

• Accurate and complete thermal analysis of
  • Multi-bounce radiation
  • Conduction
  • Convection
• Models for 1-D advection and natural environments
• Steady and unsteady adaptive solution algorithms
• Efficient parallel processing
• Integration in PowerCASE via coupling interface
• Two-way coupling with PowerFLOW
  • Integrated coupled process
  • Simultaneous flow and surface temperature distributions

 
Benefits

• Simplified process
• Comprehensive analysis of fluid and surface data
• Faster product development
• Supports decision in early design stages
• Reduction of physical testing
• Increased productivity

Coupled PowerFLOW (left) and PowerTHERM (right) automatically map surface distributions.

PowerFLOW results (bottom right) and PowerTHERM results (upper left) combine to provide engineers the opportunity to simulate and analyze accurate aero/thermal results on even the most complex geometry.