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Services / Thermal analysis
Thermal engineering: electronics cooling, compartments, industrial furnaces and buildings
Conduction, convection and radiation solved together in 3D, for electronics, aircraft compartments, industrial furnaces and buildings. Conjugate heat transfer, cooling, heat exchangers, ventilation and insulation, with analytical models as a check of the CFD.
Electronics cooling, hot-air leaks in aircraft compartments, refractory temperatures in furnaces and comfort in buildings, each result checked against a requirement or a limit.
Thermal analysis track record
- Radiation includedRadiation always competes with convection, at low velocities and at high temperatures. It is part of the model.
- Conjugate heat transferSolid, fluid and radiation in a single model.
- Cross-checkAnalytical models in Excel and Python are used as a sanity check of the CFD++.
- Electronics, compartments and furnacesChips and boards, aircraft compartments with hot-air ducts, refractories and furnace walls.
- Comfort and insulationGlobal and local comfort, and optimum thickness of thermal insulation.
Complete studies, from the heat load to the thermal solution
We prefer whole projects to isolated simulations: ATS responsible for the analysis, the solution and the report.
Electronics cooling
Temperature of boards, chips and equipment, with heat pipes, liquid cooling, conduction, convection and radiation, against the limits of the components.
Compartments
Aircraft compartments and bays: ventilation, hot-air leaks from ducts, overheat detector position and temperature limits of the equipment.
Industrial furnaces
Refractory and wall temperatures, cooling air distribution and heat transfer in the load, in pelletizing and other industrial furnaces. See pelletizing furnace analysis.
Buildings and comfort
Temperature, air distribution and insulation in buildings, hangars and cabins, against comfort and process limits. See building analysis.
Need only a part? We define the scope with you.
What you receive
Temperature fields
Temperature on the parts and in the fluid, in 3D.
Conjugate heat transfer
Heat conducted in the solid, convected by the fluid and radiated.
Heat exchangers
Analysis of heat exchangers and of their effect on the system.
Comfort and ventilation
Global and local thermal comfort, and the distribution of the ventilation flow.
Insulation
Optimum thickness of thermal insulation.
Analytical check and report
Analytical models of the same problem, and a report with the method and the results.
How ATS studies heat transfer
What heat transfer is
Heat transfer, according to the ICTAC definition of 2006, is the transfer of thermal energy between bodies at different temperatures, by conduction, convection and radiation.
Radiation
Radiation competes with convection. At low velocities it is of the same order (about 5 to 6 W/m²K near ambient, with emissivity of 0.8 to 0.9) and at high temperatures it can dominate. Ignoring it gives the wrong temperature.
Conjugate heat transfer
The solid and the fluid are solved together in CFD++, so the heat that leaves the part is the heat that enters the fluid.
Analytical check
We build analytical models in Excel and Python of the same problem, as a sanity check of the CFD++ result.
Tools, and where each one fits
Tools serve the engineering work. We say what each one does in the project.
| Tool | Role in the project | Status |
|---|---|---|
| CFD++ | Fluid flow, heat transfer, combustion and particles in 3D. ATS is the exclusive CFD++ representative in Brazil. | Licensed |
| Tecplot 360 EX | Post-processing and automation macros, including erosion rate calculation. | Licensed |
| Excel, Python | Analytical models of the same problem, to check the CFD++ result. | In use |
Evidence you can check
Work for the aircraft industry, mining and industry.
Project work
| Project | What we did | Tools and tests | Result or venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mectron: radio thermal analysisProject | Thermal analysis of a radio with a high-power dissipating chip, using heat pipes to even out the temperature across the board. | Analytical and CFD models, validated, including radiation. | Design approved. Maximum operating temperature of the main chip calculated. |
| Akaer / TA: radar and equipment coolingProject | New supplementary liquid cooling system for the radar and equipment of a surveillance aircraft (STC based on the Global 6000), as part of the ECS redesign. | Design, simulation, lab, ground and flight tests. | Certification reports ready for submission. |
| Samarco: refractory temperaturesProject | Refractory bricks eroding and breaking with temperature, and a pellet bed with poor cooling air distribution. | 3D CFD++ of the cooling zone, the manifold and the cars. | Wall temperature compared with the limits of the bricks. Bricks redistributed along the furnace. Places most exposed to erosion by FeO particles located. |
| UNIP: aircraft cabin, thermal comfortProject | Temperature and ventilation of the cabin, with an empty seat next to the passenger. | CFD++. | Temperature field and air flow around the passenger. |
| Vale: mining ore-processing buildingProject | Thermal comfort in four buildings with acoustic insulation. | CFD++ and the limits of NR-15, Annex 3. | Best cost and benefit solution. See building analysis. |
| Hoss (for Embraer): air flow for a production processProject | A hangar with tight temperature and humidity control. | CFD++. | Air distribution checked against the requirement. |
| Aircraft landing-gear machining shedProject | Shed temperature, with the gradient along the height. | CFD++. | Approved against the Embraer requirements. |
Examples
Select an image to see each example.
Radio with heat pipes
Radio with a high-power chip and heat pipes: 3D model and temperature on the board.
Request a technical proposalHow an engagement runs
Diagnosis and goal
We define the problem, the operating conditions and the target with your team.
Model
The geometry of the equipment is prepared and the physics that apply are chosen.
Analysis
Numerical calculation based on the applicable physical principles.
Checks and validation
Results are checked for consistency and compared with tests, plant data or the literature.
Solution and report
Design of the solution, specification of the test when needed, and the report.
Follow-up
Support in the field test or in operation, and revisions.
Related services
Questions engineers ask before they hire us
Do you include radiation?
Yes. It competes with convection: it matters at low velocities and in natural convection, where it is of the same order as convection, and at high temperatures, where it can dominate.
How do you check a CFD result?
With analytical models in Excel and Python, as a sanity check, and with tests or plant data when they exist.
How do you check electronics cooling?
Against the temperature limits of the components, with conduction in the board, heat pipes or liquid cooling, convection and radiation, and an analytical model of the same problem.
How do you predict refractory and furnace wall temperatures?
With 3D CFD++ of the flow, the combustion and the heat transfer, radiation included, and the wall temperature compared with the limits of the refractory.
Do you study thermal comfort?
Yes, global and local, in buildings and in aircraft cabins.
Can you size the insulation?
Yes. We study the optimum thickness of the thermal insulation.
Is our data kept confidential?
Yes. We work under NDA, and your design data and reports stay with you.
Tell us about the thermal problem
Send the geometry, the materials, the temperatures and the requirement.
sales@aerothermalsolutions.co+55 11 3854-4224An ATS engineer replies. We work under NDA.