An iterative, analytical method for solving conjugate heat transfer problems. (November 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Shah, Krishna; Jain, Ankur
• Is Part Of: International journal of heat and mass transfer. Volume 90(2015:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1232
• Page End: 1240
• Publication Date: 2015-11
• Subjects: Conjugate heat transfer -- Thermal conduction -- Convection -- Analytical methods; Heat -- Transmission -- Periodicals; Mass transfer -- Periodicals; Chaleur -- Transmission -- Périodiques; Transfert de masse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 621.4022
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheatmasstransfer.2015.07.056
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0017-9310

Abstract

Highlights: An iterative method is described for solving conjugate heat transfer problems. This general method independently solves conduction and convection equations. The method is illustrated for conjugate internal and external flow problems. Results are in good agreement with finite element simulations. Abstract: Conjugate heat transfer involving convection and conduction in a fluid flow and a solid body in contact with each other occurs commonly in engineering applications. While analytical solutions for individual convection and conduction problems are relatively easier, it is a lot more challenging to solve the combined conjugate heat transfer problem. In this paper, an iterative method is developed for analytically solving conjugate heat transfer problems. Based on an initial assumption of the temperature field at the solid–fluid interface, the temperature distributions in the fluid and solid body are determined by separately solving the governing energy conservation equations in the two domains. These solutions are used to improve the initial assumption of the interface temperature until convergence. It is found that only a few iterations of this process are needed for convergence. Temperature fields computed from this analytical approach are found to be in good agreement with finite element simulation results. The iterative analytical approach is used to solve two technologically relevant problems related to internal and external flows. Given the general nature of the iterative approach, results from this paper may be helpful in solving a variety of conjugate heat transfer problems.