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Heat Transfer by Free Convection
Introduction
This example describes a fluid flow problem with heat transfer in the fluid. An array of heating tubes is submerged in a vessel with fluid flow entering at the bottom. Figure 1 shows the setup.
Figure 1: Heating tubes and direction of the fluid flow.
Model Definition
The first consideration when modeling should always be the true dimension of the problem. Sometimes there are no variations in the third dimensions, and it can be extrapolated from the solution of a related 2D case. By neglecting any end effects from the walls of the vessel, the solution is constant in the direction of the heating tubes. You can therefore reduce the model to a 2D domain.
Figure 2: Using symmetry to reduce computation time and complexity. The model describes one section of the array of heating tubes (indicated by the dashed lines).
The next step is finding symmetries. In this case, using symmetry planes, it suffices to model the thin domain indicated in Figure 2.
Governing Equations
This is a multiphysics model because it involves fluid dynamics coupled with heat transfer. The pressure p and the velocity fields u and v are the solution of the Navier-Stokes equations, while the temperature T is solved through the heat equation. These variables are all related through bidirectional multiphysics couplings.
Results
The analysis of the coupled thermal-fluid model provides the velocity field, pressure distribution, and temperature distribution in the fluid. Figure 3 shows a plot of the velocity field and the temperature.
Figure 3: The velocity field and temperature distribution in the fluid.
Using integration to find the mean temperature at the outlet shows that the temperature increases roughly by 1 K from the inlet to the outlet.
Notes About the COMSOL Implementation
To build a model in COMSOL Multiphysics using the above equations, the Nonisothermal Laminar Flow interface is used to simulate the coupling between heat transfer and fluid flow.
It combines the Heat Transfer in Fluids and Laminar Flow interfaces. The Nonisothermal Flow multiphysics coupling is automatically added. It couples the heat transfer and flow interfaces and provides options to include flow heating in the model.
Application Library path: COMSOL_Multiphysics/Multiphysics/free_convection
Modeling Instructions
From the File menu, choose New.
New
In the New window, click  Model Wizard.
Model Wizard
1
In the Model Wizard window, click  2D.
2
In the Select Physics tree, select Fluid Flow > Nonisothermal Flow > Laminar Flow.
3
Click Add.
4
Click  Study.
5
In the Select Study tree, select General Studies > Stationary.
6
Click  Done.
Global Definitions
Parameters 1
1
In the Model Builder window, under Global Definitions click Parameters 1.
2
In the Settings window for Parameters, locate the Parameters section.
3
In the table, enter the following settings:
Name
Expression
Value
Description
v_in
5[mm/s]
0.005 m/s
Inlet velocity
T_in
20[degC]
293.15 K
Inlet temperature
T_heat
50[degC]
323.15 K
Heater temperature
Geometry 1
Rectangle 1 (r1)
1
In the Geometry toolbar, click  Rectangle.
2
In the Settings window for Rectangle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3
In the Width text field, type 0.005.
4
In the Height text field, type 0.04.
5
Click  Build All Objects.
Circle 1 (c1)
1
In the Geometry toolbar, click  Circle.
2
In the Settings window for Circle, locate the Size and Shape section.
3
In the Radius text field, type 0.0025.
4
Locate the Position section. In the y text field, type 0.015.
5
Click  Build All Objects.
Difference 1 (dif1)
1
In the Geometry toolbar, click  Booleans and Partitions and choose Difference.
2
Select the object r1 only.
3
In the Settings window for Difference, locate the Difference section.
4
Click to select the  Activate Selection toggle button for Objects to subtract.
5
Select the object c1 only.
6
Click  Build All Objects.
Definitions
Define a nonlocal coupling for computing average values over the outlet.
Average 1 (aveop1)
1
In the Definitions toolbar, click  Nonlocal Couplings and choose Average.
2
In the Settings window for Average, locate the Source Selection section.
3
From the Geometric entity level list, choose Boundary.
4
Select Boundary 4 only.
5
In the Operator name text field, type avgout.
Using this coupling, define a variable, DeltaT, for the temperature rise from inlet to outlet.
Variables 1
1
In the Definitions toolbar, click  Local Variables.
2
In the Settings window for Variables, locate the Variables section.
3
In the table, enter the following settings:
Name
Expression
Unit
Description
DeltaT
avgout(T)-T_in
K
Temperature rise
Add Material
1
In the Materials toolbar, click  Add Material to open the Add Material window.
2
Go to the Add Material window.
3
In the tree, select Built-in > Water, liquid.
4
Click the Add to Component button in the window toolbar.
5
In the Materials toolbar, click  Add Material to close the Add Material window.
Laminar Flow (spf)
1
In the Settings window for Laminar Flow, locate the Physical Model section.
2
Select the Include gravity checkbox.
Since the water density is temperature dependent, the flow is set to weakly compressible.
Symmetry 1
1
In the Physics toolbar, click  Boundaries and choose Symmetry.
2
Select Boundaries 1, 3, and 5 only.
Inlet 1
1
In the Physics toolbar, click  Boundaries and choose Inlet.
2
Select Boundary 2 only.
3
In the Settings window for Inlet, locate the Velocity section.
4
In the U0 text field, type v_in.
Outlet 1
1
In the Physics toolbar, click  Boundaries and choose Outlet.
2
Select Boundary 4 only.
Initial Values 1
1
In the Model Builder window, click Initial Values 1.
2
In the Settings window for Initial Values, locate the Initial Values section.
3
In the p text field, type spf.rhoref*g_const*(0.04[m]-y).
Show advanced physics options as follows, and enable pseudo time-stepping for the laminar flow equation for better convergence.
4
Click the  Show More Options button in the Model Builder toolbar.
5
In the Show More Options dialog, in the tree, select the checkbox for the node Physics > Advanced Physics Options.
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Click OK.
7
In the Model Builder window, click Laminar Flow (spf).
8
In the Settings window for Laminar Flow, click to expand the Advanced Settings section.
9
Find the Pseudo time stepping subsection. From the Use pseudo time stepping for stationary equation form list, choose On.
Heat Transfer in Fluids (ht)
In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) click Heat Transfer in Fluids (ht).
Temperature 1
1
In the Physics toolbar, click  Boundaries and choose Temperature.
2
Select Boundary 2 only.
3
In the Settings window for Temperature, locate the Temperature section.
4
In the T0 text field, type T_in.
Temperature 2
1
In the Physics toolbar, click  Boundaries and choose Temperature.
2
Select Boundaries 6 and 7 only.
3
In the Settings window for Temperature, locate the Temperature section.
4
In the T0 text field, type T_heat.
Outflow 1
1
In the Physics toolbar, click  Boundaries and choose Outflow.
2
Select Boundary 4 only.
Symmetry 1
1
In the Physics toolbar, click  Boundaries and choose Symmetry.
2
Select Boundaries 1, 3, and 5 only.
Initial Values 1
1
In the Model Builder window, click Initial Values 1.
2
In the Settings window for Initial Values, locate the Initial Values section.
3
In the T text field, type T_in.
Mesh 1
In the Model Builder window, under Component 1 (comp1) right-click Mesh 1 and choose Build All.
Study 1
In the Study toolbar, click  Compute.
Results
Temperature (ht)
The default plots visualize the velocity, pressure, and temperature fields. To reproduce the plots in the Figure 3, modify the temperature plot.
Arrow Surface 1
1
In the Model Builder window, right-click Temperature (ht) and choose Arrow Surface.
2
In the Settings window for Arrow Surface, locate the Arrow Positioning section.
3
Find the x grid points subsection. In the Points text field, type 10.
4
Locate the Coloring and Style section. From the Color list, choose White.
5
In the Temperature (ht) toolbar, click  Plot.
6
Click the  Zoom Extents button in the Graphics toolbar.
Finally, evaluate the temperature rise.
Global Evaluation 1
1
In the Results toolbar, click  Global Evaluation.
2
In the Settings window for Global Evaluation, click Replace Expression in the upper-right corner of the Expressions section. From the menu, choose Component 1 (comp1) > Definitions > Variables > DeltaT - Temperature rise - K.
3
Click  Evaluate.
Table 1
1
Go to the Table 1 window.
The value should be close to 1 K.