Heat Transfer Proect
Budget: $30 – $250 USD
Consider the flow of room temperature water in such a pipe of length L = 40.0 cm and diameter D = 1.00 cm. Assume the
water enters the pipe at a uniform speed equal to V = 0.05024 m/sec. From property tables, one
finds the kinematic viscosity of the fluid as ν = μ/ρ = 1.005 x 10-6 m2/sec. Calculate the Reynolds
number to confirm that the flow is laminar and give reason(s). It is assumed that the fluid exits
the pipe at the pressure of the atmosphere. In addition to the velocity and pressure boundary
conditions, the numerical experiment will be conducted by varying the heat transfer conditions
on the boundary of the pipe. The two cases in heat transfer analysis are (a) constant temperature,
and (b) constant heat flux. You are asked to select a value for each of the two boundary conditions
for this project.
For EACH thermal boundary condition and for each of the following mesh selections in FLUENT
(note and report the number of elements for each mesh type), obtain solutions (velocity and
temperature distributions), to the fluid dynamics and heat transfer problem in the full pipe by
numerical means to generate the velocity and temperature distributions in the pipe.
1. Very Coarse Mesh
2. Coarse Mesh
3. Medium Mesh
4. Fine Mesh
5. Very Fine Mesh
6. Ultrafine Mesh
Once you have obtained “converged solutions” (you must document and explain what
“converged” means) for each mesh type, program FLUENT to generate the following plots:
1. Plot the dimensionless distance r/D (vertical axis) against Vz/V where V is the entrance
velocity as given. Generate the plot at axial dimensionless positions (z/D) of 1 and in
increments of 1 until 20, and at the pipe exit, z/D = L/D = 40. Superimpose the analytical
solution obtained in class on the L/D = 40 plot.
2. Plot the dimensionless distance r/D (vertical axis) against Tdim as defined in class. Generate
the plot at axial dimensionless positions (z/D) of 1 and in increments of 1 until 20, and at
the pipe exit, z/D = L/D = 40.
3. Obtain and plot the axial variation of the convection heat transfer coefficient for both
thermal boundary conditions along the entire length of the pipe.
4. Program FLUENT to generate the pressure drop from z/D = 1 and z/D = 20 locations for
all mesh options. Plot the pressure drop values (vertical axis) against the number of
elements (cells) in each mesh option.
5. Produce any other plots that you think can enhance the learning value of this exercise;
for example, using other values of temperature and heat flux as thermal boundary
conditions.
Deliverables:
Write a technical report using ASME style of writing (single column) on the results
obtained, the analysis of the results and the lessons learned from the exercise. It is not
enough to say “the results make sense”; dig a little deeper to interpret the results to
convince your colleagues (including faculty!!!!) that you understand what has been
produced from the analysis. Your report must be typed (with lots of figures!!!!!,
EXPLAINED), single spaced, 12-point Times Roman font with at the minimum, a Title Page,
Abstract, Introduction, Problem Statement, Solution Methodology, Analysis of Results,
Conclusions, Reflections, and References.
water enters the pipe at a uniform speed equal to V = 0.05024 m/sec. From property tables, one
finds the kinematic viscosity of the fluid as ν = μ/ρ = 1.005 x 10-6 m2/sec. Calculate the Reynolds
number to confirm that the flow is laminar and give reason(s). It is assumed that the fluid exits
the pipe at the pressure of the atmosphere. In addition to the velocity and pressure boundary
conditions, the numerical experiment will be conducted by varying the heat transfer conditions
on the boundary of the pipe. The two cases in heat transfer analysis are (a) constant temperature,
and (b) constant heat flux. You are asked to select a value for each of the two boundary conditions
for this project.
For EACH thermal boundary condition and for each of the following mesh selections in FLUENT
(note and report the number of elements for each mesh type), obtain solutions (velocity and
temperature distributions), to the fluid dynamics and heat transfer problem in the full pipe by
numerical means to generate the velocity and temperature distributions in the pipe.
1. Very Coarse Mesh
2. Coarse Mesh
3. Medium Mesh
4. Fine Mesh
5. Very Fine Mesh
6. Ultrafine Mesh
Once you have obtained “converged solutions” (you must document and explain what
“converged” means) for each mesh type, program FLUENT to generate the following plots:
1. Plot the dimensionless distance r/D (vertical axis) against Vz/V where V is the entrance
velocity as given. Generate the plot at axial dimensionless positions (z/D) of 1 and in
increments of 1 until 20, and at the pipe exit, z/D = L/D = 40. Superimpose the analytical
solution obtained in class on the L/D = 40 plot.
2. Plot the dimensionless distance r/D (vertical axis) against Tdim as defined in class. Generate
the plot at axial dimensionless positions (z/D) of 1 and in increments of 1 until 20, and at
the pipe exit, z/D = L/D = 40.
3. Obtain and plot the axial variation of the convection heat transfer coefficient for both
thermal boundary conditions along the entire length of the pipe.
4. Program FLUENT to generate the pressure drop from z/D = 1 and z/D = 20 locations for
all mesh options. Plot the pressure drop values (vertical axis) against the number of
elements (cells) in each mesh option.
5. Produce any other plots that you think can enhance the learning value of this exercise;
for example, using other values of temperature and heat flux as thermal boundary
conditions.
Deliverables:
Write a technical report using ASME style of writing (single column) on the results
obtained, the analysis of the results and the lessons learned from the exercise. It is not
enough to say “the results make sense”; dig a little deeper to interpret the results to
convince your colleagues (including faculty!!!!) that you understand what has been
produced from the analysis. Your report must be typed (with lots of figures!!!!!,
EXPLAINED), single spaced, 12-point Times Roman font with at the minimum, a Title Page,
Abstract, Introduction, Problem Statement, Solution Methodology, Analysis of Results,
Conclusions, Reflections, and References.