Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling
Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling
(OP)
I'm looking for a program that models the temperature profile around a pipewall and into the process with a heat source at one point. I would need to be able to easily vary the pipe diameter, thickness and size and temperature of the heat source. I've done some research and have found some expensive programs to do this (ANSYS, FloTHERM, WinTherm).
Anyone have experience with an inexpensive and easy to use programs for this purpose?
Many thanks!
Anyone have experience with an inexpensive and easy to use programs for this purpose?
Many thanks!





RE: Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling
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There another program FlexPDE that can do this.
Both are pretty cheap compared to the codes that you mentioned. But you'll probably need to do some coding to get them to do exactly what you want.
There are a couple of free matlab-like clones (GNU Octave, FreeMat, and Scilab) that probably can do this too.
I don't know of any FEA codes that would be easy to setup that are either much cheaper (or free), perhaps Caculix but I've never used it to solve heat transfer problems so I can't say.
HTH
Dan
RE: Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling
Is the heat flow in one dimension (radially)?
RE: Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling
RE: Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling
Sailoday - trying to model heat transfer from a steam tracer around a pipewall and into process (all inside insulation). Just looking for 1-dimensions right now, but it would need to be multi-layered to account for the various film coefs and the conduction through the insulation, tube wall and pipe wall.
RE: Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling
You can program it using Finite Difference Method described in Suhas V. Patankar Book. you could use Fortran as the book contains sample programs in this language.
You could use one dimension model as the pipe is symetric. You would consider a segment with a set of discrete nodes located at equal distances and separated by half this distance on extremities. you write the Fourier differential heat equation (in radial coordinate system) and compute a finite difference discretization scheme in order to constitue a set of algebric equations.
For boundary conditions, On one extremity node (center of pipe) the symetry condition should apply. On the other I guess should set the Outside Temperature T=Ts. The heat sink (S) should stand for the RHS of the discrestized algebric equations.
When the Finite difference set of equation is available, it is possible to solve via TDMA algorithm described in Patankar's Book. However Still remain the option to use an iterative method as well.
As far as I know, ANSYS use finite element formalism to solve heat transfer problems.
Hope it helps
Regards
Wimple
RE: Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling
RE: Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling
insulation/|heat tracing |pipe wall | fluid to cnt line|
Or are there more layers?
RE: Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling
corus
RE: Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling
I believe people sometimes use analytical solutions (infinite series) for 1-D transient heat transfer in slabs; there are probably charts for various Biot number and Fourier numbers in your favorite heat transfer book.
Specific to transient heat transfer in pipes I have heard of (but never used myself) something called the Brock-McNeill charts:
McNeill, D. R. and Brock, John E., "Engineering Data File Charts for Transient Temperatures in Pipes," Heating/Piping/Air Conditioning, Reinhold Publishing Company,
November 1971.
Not sure where you would be able to find this reference.
RE: Heat Transfer Finite Difference Modeling