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COMSOL Multiphysics® 5.6 Release Highlights

Liquid & Gas Properties Module

COMSOL Multiphysics® version 5.6 introduces the new Liquid & Gas Properties Module, which provides tools for computing thermodynamics properties, including density, viscosity, thermal conductivity, heat capacity, ratio of specific heat, speed of sound, and more, for liquid and gas mixtures of arbitrary chemical composition. The module is helpful for CFD, heat transfer, and acoustics simulations in the absence of chemical reactions. The liquid and gas properties are calculated based on a large variety of thermodynamic property models and thermodynamic models for liquid mixtures; gas mixtures; and gas–liquid mixtures, so-called flash calculations.

Thermodynamic Systems

The Liquid & Gas Properties Module allows for the computation of a large variety of properties for gases and liquids in a thermodynamic system. In order to compute properties of gases and liquids, the module uses a number of different models. For gases, models such as ideal gas, Peng–Robinson, and Soave–Redlich–Kwong are available (to mention a few). For liquids, it includes, for example, Chao–Seader (Grayson–Streed), Wilson, NRTL, UNIFAC VLE, and extended regular solution models.

The COMSOL Multiphysics version 5.6 UI with a heat pipe model in the Graphics window and the thermodynamic property settings shown with the gas viscosity options expanded.
Thermodynamic properties for a vapor–liquid system, using the Water (IAPWS) thermodynamic model. In addition, each property may use a specific property model suitable for that type of gas or liquid.

New Tutorial Models and Applications

COMSOL Multiphysics® version 5.6 brings several new tutorial models and applications.

Engine Coolant

A model showing the velocity field in engine coolant in a rainbow color table.
Velocity field in engine coolant subjected to temperature gradients. The properties of the liquid can be computed for different temperatures and compositions.

Application Library Title:
engine_coolant

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Heat Pipe

A heat pipe model showing the temperature in a heat camera color table and the flow field in a rainbow color table.
Temperature and flow field in a heat pipe. The model defines the mass and heat transfer problem in combination with the evaporation and condensation of the working fluid.

Application Library Title:
heat_pipe

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Phase Envelope

A 1D plot of the chloroform-methanol phase envelope with the dew point shown as a blue line and bubble point as a green dotted line.
Phase envelope for a nonideal chloroform/methanol mixture. First, a temperature–composition diagram is constructed, highlighting an azeotrope of the mixture. Additionally, an enthalpy–composition diagram is generated.

Application Library Title:
phase_envelope

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Pressure Reciprocity Calibration Coupler

An acoustic calibration coupler model.
When high-fidelity measurement microphones are calibrated, a pressure reciprocity calibration method is used. The properties of moist air depend on the ambient pressure, temperature, and relative humidity. This dependence has to be accounted for in order to obtain accurate results.

Application Library Title:
pressure_reciprocity_calibration_coupler

Download from the Application Gallery