Finite Volume Computational Fluid Dynamics Package for Solving Convective Heat Transfer Cases

Abstract

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has brought a step change in the field of flow analysis, particularly in the areas of fluid dynamics and heat transfer, which are intertwined. It has carved a niche in applications where, a decade back, experimentation was the only way forward. This article covers the benchmarking of convective heat transfer cases through the use of CFD software. The cases investigated are common cases of heat transfer involving free convection and one case involving forced convection. The results from CFD analysis are compared with the regressions available for each test case. The two sets of data coincide well, with a percentage difference as low as 0.4%. Information on setting up CFD analysis accurately, particularly for solving problems of natural convection, is also included.

Keywords

heat transfer computational fluid dynamics free convection natural convection

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Fluent Documentation Help, Fluent Europe Ltd (2004).

Zhai

Zhiqianq

Chen

Qingyan (Yan)

, ‘Numerical determination and treatment of convective heat transfer coefficient in the coupled building energy and CFD simulation’, Building and Environment, 39 (2004), 11–14.

Lienhard

, A Heat Transfer Textbook, 3rd edn (Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA, 1999).

Baskaran

Kashef

, ‘Investigation of airflow around buildings using computational fluid dynamics’, Engineering Structures, 18(11) (1996), 861–875.

Cheng-Hu

Wang

Fan

, ‘Using a CFD approach for the study of street-level winds in a built-up area’, Building and Environment, 40 (2005), 617–631.

Verstag

Malalasekra

, An introduction to Computational Fluid Dynamics: The Finite Volume Method (Prentice Hall, New York, 1996).

Muneer

Kubie

Grassie

, Heat Transfer – A Problem Solving Approach (Taylor & Francis, London, 2003).

Churchill

S. W.

Chu

H. H. S.

, ‘Correlating equations for laminar and turbulent free convection from a horizontal cylinder’, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 18 (1975), 1049–1053.

Chouikh

Guizani

El Cafsi

Maalej

Belghith

, ‘Experimental study of the natural convection flow around an array of heated horizontal cylinders’, Renewable Energy, 21(1) (2000), 65–78.

10.

Kitamura

Kami-Wa

Misumi

, ‘Heat transfer and fluid flow of natural convection around large horizontal cylinders’, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 42(22) (1999), 4093–4106.

11.

Bar-Cohen Rohsenow …

12.

FIDAP Documentation Help, Fluent Europe Ltd (2004).

13.

Yin

S. H.

Wung

T. Y.

Chen

, ‘Natural convection in air layer enclosed within rectangular cavities’, Int. J. Heat and Mass Transfer, 21 (1978), 307–315.

14.

Macgregor

R. K.

Emery

A. P.

, ‘Free convection through vertical plane layers: Moderate and high Prandtl number fluids’, J. Heat Transfer, 91 (1969), 391.

15.

Gill

A. E.

, ‘Numerical boundary layer regime for convection in a square cavity’, J. Fluid Mechanics, 26 (1966), 515–536.

16.

Churchill

S. W.

Chu

H. H. S.

, ‘Correlating equations for laminar and turbulent free convection from a vertical plate’, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 18 (1975), 1323.