Conjugate Heat Transfer

Conjugate Heat Transfer
Abstract:
Conjugate heat transfer (CHT) analysis has been carried out for
laminar flow past flat plate. Navier-Stokes equations model in
the fluid and conduction equation in the solid have been solved
simultaneously to obtain the flow features. The computed
temperature distribution of the flow past flat plat matches very
well with analytical and other numerical results.
Introduction:
In certain critical applications where, working temperature is
very high, it is necessary to calculate the temperature
distribution in the solid to ensure that it should not cross the
metallurgical limit.
The Selection of the material and wall thickness is largely
dependent on the wall temperature distribution in the solid.
Hence, it is necessary to solve the energy equation of the solid
along with the fluid flow equations, commonly known as
conjugate heat transfer problem.
This type of problem differs from commonly encountered heat
conduction problems, as the temperature of the fluid which is
used to cool (or heat) the solid is not known a priori. Instead,
the fluid temperature is calculated at the same time as the solid
temperature .
It can be seen that the Prandtl number, Reynolds number, ratio
of conductivity of the solid wall to that of the fluid, thickness to
length ratio of the wall are the important parameters to
determine the effect of the wall conduction.
Nomenclature:
u - X-velocity
v - Y-velocity
𝜌 - Density
p - Pressure
µ - Dynamic viscosity
β - Volumetric thermal expansion coefficient
α - Thermal Diffusivity
ʋ - Kinematic Viscosity
Physical Model and Governing Equations:
Figure 1 Physical model

The fluid velocity in the x-direction is ‘u’ and in the y-direction is
‘v’.
The governing equations we use in the analysis of this problem
are the continuity equation and the x and y momentum
equations and the energy equation which belong to the Navier-
Stokes equations.
Assumptions:
1. 2-Dimensional
2. Incompressible (𝜌 = constant)
3. Laminar Flow.
Then the governing equations get simplified to -
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑣
Continuity Equation: + =0
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
X-Momentum Equation:
𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑢 𝜕𝑝 𝜕2 𝑢 𝜕2 𝑢
𝜌 [𝑢 +𝑣 ]= − +𝜇[ + ] + 𝜌𝑔𝑥
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 2 𝜕𝑦 2
Y-Momentum Equation:
𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑣 𝜕𝑝 𝜕2𝑣 𝜕2𝑣
𝜌 [𝑢 +𝑣 ]= − + 𝜇 [ 2 + 2 ] + 𝜌𝑔𝑦
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
𝜕𝑇 𝜕𝑇
Energy Equation: 𝜌𝐶𝑝 [𝑢 +𝑣 ] = 𝑘(∇2 𝑇) + 𝑞𝑣
𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
Non-Dimension Parameters:
x*=x/L; y*=y/L;
u*=u/(α/L); v*=v/(α/L);
𝑔𝛽(𝑇ℎ −𝑇𝑐 )𝐿3 𝑇−𝑇𝑐
p*=p/ (𝜌(α/L)2 ); 𝑅𝑎 = ; 𝑃𝑟 = 𝜗/𝛼 ; 𝜃 =
𝜗𝛼 𝑇ℎ −𝑇𝑐
So, the governing equations become:

𝑈𝜕𝑢∗ 𝑈𝜕𝑣 ∗
+ =0
𝐿𝜕𝑥 ∗ 𝐿𝜕𝑦 ∗
Which reduces to:
𝜕𝑢∗ 𝜕𝑣 ∗
+ =0
𝜕𝑥 ∗ 𝜕𝑦 ∗
x-momentum Equation(dimensionless):
𝛼 2 ∗ 𝜕𝑢∗ ∗
𝜕𝑢∗ 𝜌𝛼 2 𝜕𝑝∗ 𝛼 𝜕 2 𝑢∗ 𝜕 2 𝑢∗
𝜌 3 [𝑢 +𝑣 ]= − 3 +𝜇 3[ + ]
𝐿 𝜕𝑥 ∗ 𝜕𝑦 ∗ 𝐿 𝜕𝑥 ∗ 𝐿 𝜕𝑥 ∗ 2 𝜕𝑦 ∗ 2
Which finally reduces to (in x-direction):
𝜕𝑢∗
∗ ∗
𝜕𝑢∗ 𝜕𝑝∗ 𝜕 2 𝑢∗ 𝜕 2 𝑢∗
[𝑢 +𝑣 ] = − ∗ + 𝑃𝑟 [ ∗ 2 + ∗ 2 ]
𝜕𝑥 ∗ 𝜕𝑦 ∗ 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
Similarly in y-direction:
𝜕𝑣 ∗
∗ ∗
𝜕𝑣 ∗ 𝜕𝑝∗ 𝜕2𝑣∗ 𝜕2𝑣 ∗
[𝑢 +𝑣 ] = − ∗ + 𝑃𝑟 [ ∗ 2 + ∗ 2 ]
𝜕𝑥 ∗ 𝜕𝑦 ∗ 𝜕𝑦 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
Energy Equation:
𝛼 ∗
𝜕𝜃 ∗
𝜕𝜃 (𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑐 ) 𝜕 2 𝜃 𝜕2𝜃
𝜌𝐶𝑝 2 (𝑇ℎ − 𝑇𝑐 ) [𝑢 +𝑣 ]=𝑘 ( ∗2 + ∗2 )
𝐿 𝜕𝑥 ∗ 𝜕𝑦 ∗ 𝐿2 𝜕𝑥 𝜕𝑦
which reduces to
∗
𝜕𝜃 ∗
𝜕𝜃 𝜕2𝜃 𝜕2𝜃
𝑢 +𝑣 = +
𝜕𝑥 ∗ 𝜕𝑦 ∗ 𝜕𝑥 ∗2 𝜕𝑦 ∗2
Grid Independence Study:
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION AT
X=80MM
Grid 3 Literature Grid 1 Grid 2
6
RFACE
5
z
The graph shows the difference in the values of the temperature due to
the difference in grid sizing.
The grid whose results matches approximately closely with that of the
literature is taken for the simulation.
The difference is very small as the grid taken for the independence study
were relatively on the finer side specially at the interface in order to
accurately capture the energy interactions that occur there.
The gradients in the solid is not of much significance as the interest here
mainly lies in the temperature profile of the fluid interacting with the solid.
When the interface temperature is plotted it is seen that there are subtle
differences that happen due to the different grid structures.
But as we are using biased grids the effect on the overall value of the
finer structure of the mesh at the interface is very small.
Results and Discussions:
Temperation Variation at X=10mm

6
ormal Distance from CHT
4
interface
3
Ansys
2 Literature
TEMPERATURE DISTRIBUTION AT
X=80MM
Ansys Literature
6
Y(MM) FROM INTERFACE
5
4
3
2
1
0
0 0.2 0.4 0.6 0.8 1 1.2
T/TO
Figure 4 temperature Variation at X=80mm
INTERFACE TEMPERATURE
DISTRIBUTION
Ansys Literature
1.2
1
0.8
T/TO
0.6
0.4
0.2
0
From our plots it can be seen that the results of our simulation
do match at least in a qualitative way with the results from
literature.
This difference arises due to not knowing the exact properties
used for the simulation done in the literature.
Although our results match the predicted outcome due to the
vagueness of the problem the exact solution is not found.
In order to solve the problem analytically an iterative procedure
must be used but even then, the results won’t match the one
obtained from literature as it can be seen from the interface
temperature variation that there is an almost constant
difference in temperature.
This difference in temperature can only be obtained for a
different Reynolds number and not the one mentioned in
literature.
The difference in this interface temperature leads to such a
deviation in the other temperature distribution plots.
The variation is less for X=10mm because the difference in
interface temperature at the leading edge is the least and it
increases with increase in distance from the leading edge.
So, the deviation is more for X=80mm.
Conclusion:
The conjugate heat transfer is conducted for a laminar flow
across a flat plate. The same model can be used for a turbulent
profile with slight modifications to the grid quality.
The results obtained from the simulation qualitatively matches
the literature results. Further details like the exact properties
used might help in the quantitative result comparison.
References:
1. P. Manna, D. Chakraborty, Numerical Investigation of
Conjugate Heat Transfer Problems, Journal of Aerospace
Sciences and Technologies, 2004.

Conjugate Heat Transfer

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Conjugate Heat Transfer

Physical Model and Governing Equations:

Figure 1 Physical model

So, the governing equations become:

Grid Independence Study:

Results and Discussions:

Temperation Variation at X=10mm

Figure 4 temperature Variation at X=80mm

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