Condensation Simulations of Automotive Lighting Assemblies

The formation of condensation inside of an automotive lamp system has many negative effects on the perceived value of the product. At best, the formation of condensation is a cosmetic issue and in some cases can become a warranty issue in the field. Considering the advances that have been made with FEA / CFD solvers which now allow engineers to model an entire lamp assembly in a matter of days with thermal prediction accuracies near +-5 degrees C. The need for a fast and accurate condensation simulation becomes obvious. By linking together a completed thermal analysis with an external User Defined Function (UDF), the formation of condensation can be predicted and proper steps can be followed to remove this risk from the final design.