The Heat Transfer in Pipes Interface
The Heat Transfer in Pipes (htp) interface (), found under the Heat Transfer branch () when adding a physics interface, is used to model heat transfer by conduction and convection in pipes and channels of different shapes, where the fluid velocity and pressure fields are known a priori. It provides 1D models to define the pipe flow profile and temperature profiles on curve segments, or lines. These lines can be drawn in 2D or 3D and represent simplifications of hollow tubes. Wall heat transfer, including multilayer walls and cladding is included as an option.
The temperature equation corresponds to a 1D convection-diffusion equation that may contain additional contributions like heat sources.
The Nonisothermal Pipe Flow Interface extends this physics interface by providing equations to compute the velocity and pressure fields when they are unknown.
When this physics interface is added, these default nodes are also added to the Model BuilderHeat Transfer, Pipe Properties, Temperature, and Initial Values. Then, from the Physics toolbar, add other nodes that implement, for example, boundary conditions. You can also right-click Heat Transfer in Pipes to select physics features from the context menu.
Settings
The Label is the default physics interface name.
The Name is used primarily as a scope prefix for variables defined by the physics interface. Refer to such physics interface variables in expressions using the pattern <name>.<variable_name>. In order to distinguish between variables belonging to different physics interfaces, the name string must be unique. Only letters, numbers, and underscores (_) are permitted in the Name field. The first character must be a letter.
The default Name (for the first physics interface in the model) is htp.
Dependent Variables
This physics interface defines the Temperature T (SI unit: K) dependent variable (field). If required, edit the name, but dependent variables must be unique within a model.
Discretization
The default discretization for temperature is quadratic.
Handling Frames in Heat Transfer in the COMSOL Multiphysics Reference Manual