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Comparing 2D and 3D numerical simulation results of gas flow velocity in convection reflow oven

Balázs Illés (Department of Electronics Technology, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Budapest, Hungary)

Soldering & Surface Mount Technology

ISSN: 0954-0911

Article publication date: 26 August 2014

421

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to compare and study two-dimensional (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics simulation results of gas flow velocity in a convection reflow oven and show the differences of the different modeling aspects. With the spread of finer surface-mounted devices, it is important to understand convection reflow soldering technology more deeply.

Design/methodology/approach

Convection reflow ovens are divided into zones. Every zone contains an upper and a lower nozzle-matrix. The gas flow velocity field is one of the most important parameters of the local heat transfer in the oven. It is not possible to examine the gas flow field with classical experimental methods due to the extreme circumstances in the reflow oven. Therefore, numerical simulations are necessary.

Findings

The heat transfer changes highly along the moving direction of the assembly, and it is nearly homogeneous along the traverse direction of the zones. The gas flow velocity values of the 2D model are too high due to the geometrical distortions of the 2D model. On the other hand, the calculated flow field of the 2D model is more accurate than in the 3D model due to the finer mesh.

Research limitations/implications

Investigating the effects of tall components on a printed wiring board inside the gas flow field and further analysis of the mesh size effect on the models.

Practical implications

The presented results can be useful during the design of a simulation study in a reflow oven (or in similar processes).

Originality/value

The presented results provide a completely novel approach from the aspect of 2D and 3D simulations of a convection reflow oven. The results also reveal the heat transfer differences.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

The work reported in this paper was supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences.

Citation

Illés, B. (2014), "Comparing 2D and 3D numerical simulation results of gas flow velocity in convection reflow oven", Soldering & Surface Mount Technology, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 223-230. https://doi.org/10.1108/SSMT-07-2013-0016

Publisher

:

Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2014, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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