Analytical Modeling and Computer Simulation of Heat Transfer Phenomena during Hydrothermal Processing Using SOLIDWORKS<sup>®</sup>

Abstract

Mathematical modeling of unit operations especially in biomaterials processing plays an important part in understanding simultaneous heat and mass transfer and fluid flow phenomena. Hydrothermal/supercritical processes are one such process which utilizes high temperature and pressure to synthesize materials for varied applications. The present study constitutes development of a model incorporating all standard transport equations and transient conditions to predict the behavior of process and thus materials upon heating to high temperature in an enclosed composite (Steel and Teflon (PFA) vessel. Commercial software package SOLIDWORKS® is employed to simulate and output is presented as animations after post-processing. Results yield very useful data and information about process; materials of construction and materials being processed which helps in optimization.