Setting Up the Physics Models

Physics models define the primary variables of the simulation and what mathematical formulation is used to generate the solution.

Physics continua are required for the following:

  • anode and cathode active materials

  • anode and cathode collectors

  • electrolyte regions and separator, represented by one fluid continuum, with additional porosity defined for the separator.

Simcenter STAR-CCM+ creates a physics continuum, Physics 1, automatically when you generate a mesh.

To select the physics models:

  1. Rename the Continua > Physics 1 node to Anode AM Physics.
  2. For the physics continuum, Continua > Anode AM Physics, make sure that Auto-select recommended models is activated and select the following models in order:

    Group Box

    Model

    Space

    Three Dimensional (selected automatically)

    Time

    Implicit Unsteady

    Material

    Solid

    Optional Models

    Segregated Solid Energy

    Gradients (selected automatically)

    Equation of State

    Constant Density

    Optional Models

    Electrochemistry

    Electrochemistry

    Li-Ion Battery Cell

    Optional Models

    Li-Ion Concentration

    Li-Ion Electric Potential

    Cell Quality Remediation

  3. Click Close.
  4. To review the models, open the Anode AM Physics > Models node.


To create physics continua for the other solid materials, copy the Anode AM Physics continuum:

  1. Right-click the Continua > Anode AM Physics node and select Copy.
  2. Right-click the Continua node and select Paste.

    Simcenter STAR-CCM+ adds a copy to the feature tree.

  3. Repeat the paste process two more times.
  4. Rename the copies as follows:
    • Anode Collector Physics

    • Cathode AM Physics

    • Cathode Collector Physics



Next, you create a fluid physics continuum for the electrolytes and separator:

  1. Create a physics continuum.
  2. Rename the Continua > Physics 1 node to Electrolyte Physics.
  3. For the physics continuum, Continua > Electrolyte Physics, select the following models in order:

    Group Box

    Model

    Space

    Three-Dimensional

    Time

    Implicit Unsteady

    Material

    Liquid

    Flow

    Segregated Flow

    Gradients (selected automatically)

    Viscous Regime

    Laminar

    Equation of State

    Constant Density

    Optional Models

    Electrochemistry

    Electrochemistry

    Li-Ion Battery Cell

    (Li-Ion Concentration and Li-Ion Electric Potential are selected automatically)

    Energy

    Segregated Fluid Temperature

    Optional Models

    Cell Quality Remediation

  4. Click Close.