Search results

Stability characteristics of two‐level, time‐integration algorithms are investigated, with particular reference to explicit schemes. Conditions for stability are expressed on the basis of algebraic estimates of the eigenvalues associated with the amplification matrices of the algorithm. The use of automatic symbolic manipulators allows an extension of these estimates to higher order and multidimensional elements. Eigenvectors are also evaluated algebraically and the resulting fundamental mode shapes are related to the onset of instabilities.

In this paper, a residual correction method based upon an extension of the finite calculus concept is presented. The method is described and applied to the solution of a scalar convection‐diffusion problem and the problem of elasticity at the incompressible or quasi‐incompressible limit. The formulation permits the use of equal interpolation for displacements and pressure on linear triangles and tetrahedra as well as any low order element type. To add additional stability in the solution, pressure gradient corrections are introduced as suggested from developments of sub‐scale methods. Numerical examples are included to demonstrate the performance of the method when applied to typical test problems.

Exterior shading devices and dynamic shading systems constitute an efficient way to improve energy efficiency and occupants’ comfort in buildings through the reduction of direct solar heat gains and disturbing glare. The purpose of this paper is to analyse the performance of different types of shading systems, fixed and dynamic, and their influence on the energy consumption and cooling loads for an office building located in Tallinn, Estonia. The scope is to determine the most performative configuration for energy consumption and cooling load reduction for office buildings and to provide designers and developers with the necessary knowledge to increase the performance of their buildings.

There are many types of fixed shading devices, most of which use rectangular planar elements, the orientation and layout of which depends on the building location and façade orientation. The dynamic shading systems vary on the base of the building occupancy schedules and occupants’ preferences. The paper presents a method to determine the most efficient type and size of fixed shading devices in relation to different windows’ size and orientation, and the quantity of windows panes. At the same time the dynamic shading system using a control algorithm developed by the authors is compared.

The results show that solar shading is an efficient way to control the energy consumption of office buildings, though with different efficacy by the static systems depending on orientation, window and shading type. Evidence shows that dynamic blind systems have more uniform performance and usually outperform static shading.

The paper compares the performances of different static and dynamic shading devices and systems for the location in Tallinn. The dynamic shading system tested uses a control algorithm developed by the authors. The indications for the energy reduction and cooling loads are a valuable resource for designers and developers to increase the energy efficiency of their buildings.

Joint descriptions of both heat and mass transfer and thermodynamic aspects of air‐cooling applications cannot be easily found in the literature. Numerical analyses are a notable exception since suitable physical models and realistic boundary conditions are a prerequisite of accurate simulations. Thus, it is believed that the experience gained with numerical simulations might be of some help also to designers of air‐conditioning and drying systems. This paper seeks to address this issue.

In the text, the physical implications of governing equations and boundary conditions utilized in numerical simulations are extensively discussed. Particular attention is paid to the thermodynamically consistent definition of latent and sensible heat loads, and to the correct formulation of the heat and mass transfer analogy.

Comparisons of analytical and numerical results concerning forced flows of humid air over a cooled plate validate the assumptions made in numerical simulations, both for air‐conditioning applications (almost always characterized by low rates of mass convection) and drying applications (almost always characterized by high rates of mass convection).

Finally, with reference to the cold plate problem investigated here, the effects of the suction flow induced by condensation on the Nusselt number are quantified.

The purpose of this paper is to numerically investigate two dimensional steady state convective heat transfer in a differentially heated square cavity with constant temperatures and an inner rotating cylinder. The gap between the cylinder and the enclosure walls is filled with power law non-Newtonian fluid.

Finite volume-based CFD software, Fluent (Ansys 15.0) is used to solve the governing equations. Attribution of the various flow parameters of fluid flow and heat transfer are investigated including Rayleigh number, Prandtl number, power law index, the cylinder radius and the angular rotational speed.

Outcomes are reported in terms of isotherms, streamlines and average Nusselt number (Nu) of the heated wall for various considered here.

A detailed investigates is needed in the context of 3D flow. This will be a part of the future work.

The effect of a rotating cylinder on heat transfer and fluid flow in a differentially heated rectangular enclosure filled with power law non-Newtonian fluid has practical importance in the process industry.

The results of this study may be of some interest to the researchers of the field of chemical or process engineers.

This paper presents the hydrodynamic and thermal behavior of fluid that surrounds an isothermal circular cylinder in a square cavity. Simulations were carried out for four aspect ratios (defined by L/D), i.e. 2.0, 3.0, 4.0, 5.0. An incompressible flow of Newtonian fluid is considered. Prandtl number is assumed constant and equal to 1. Effect of eccentric positions (ε=−0.5 and 0.5) of the cylinder with respect to the cavity was carried out at L/D=2.0. Predicted results for eccentric cases are compared with concentric (ε=0.0) case. Grashof number is based on the diameter of the cylinder and ranges from 10 to 10⁶. The control volume based finite volume method is used to discretize the governing equations in cylindrical coordinate. SIMPLE algorithm is used. A collocated variable arrangement is considered and SIP solver is employed to solve the system of equations. Parametric results are presented in the form of streamlines and isothermal lines for both eccentric and concentric positions. Heat transfer distribution along the perimeter of the cylinder is presented in the form of local Nusselt number. Predicted results show good agreement with the results described by Cesini et al. (1999).

The modelling of steady‐state natural and mixed convection in obstructed channels is presented. The two‐dimensional numerical analysis is carried out with a finite element thermally coupled incompressible flow formulation written in terms of the primitive variables of the problem and solved via a generalized streamline operator technique. Natural convection is studied in several vertical channel configurations for a wide range of Rayleigh numbers while mixed convection is analysed in a horizontal channel with a built‐in rectangular cylinder for different Reynolds and Grashof numbers. The results obtained in this work are validated with available experiments and other existing numerical solutions.

We report on the progress in the development and application of a coupled boundary element/finite volume method temperature‐forward/flux‐back algorithm developed to solve conjugate heat transfer arising in 3D film‐cooled turbine blades. We adopt a loosely coupled strategy where each set of field equations is solved to provide boundary conditions for the other. Iteration is carried out until interfacial continuity of temperature and heat flux is enforced. The NASA‐Glenn explicit finite volume Navier‐Stokes code Glenn‐HT is coupled to a 3D BEM steady‐state heat conduction solver. Results from a CHT simulation of a 3D film‐cooled blade section are compared with those obtained from the standard two temperature model, revealing that a significant difference in the level and distribution of metal temperatures is found between the two. Finally, current developments of an iterative strategy accommodating large numbers of unknowns by a domain decomposition approach is presented. An iterative scheme is developed along with a physically‐based initial guess and a coarse grid solution to provide a good starting point for the iteration. Results from a 3D simulation show the process that converges efficiently and offers substantial computational and storage savings.

This paper aims to develop a multidomain boundary element method (BEM) for modeling 2D complex turbulent thermal flow using low Reynolds two‐equation turbulence models.

The integral boundary domain equations are discretised using mixed boundary elements and a multidomain method also known as a subdomain technique. The resulting system matrix is an overdetermined, sparse block banded and solved using a fast iterative linear least squares solver.

The simulation of a turbulent flow over a backward step is in excellent agreement with the finite volume method using the same turbulent model. A grid consisting of over 100,000 elements could be solved in the order of a few minutes using a 3.0 Ghz P4 and 1 GB memory indicating good efficiency.

The paper shows, for the first time, that the BEM is applicable to thermal flows using k‐ε.

The purpose of the paper is to study the steady and periodic solution of a lid‐driven cavity flow problem with the gradual increase of Reynolds number (Re) up to 10,000.

The problem is solved by unsteady stream function‐vorticity formulation using the clustered grids. The alternating direction implicit (ADI) method and the central difference scheme have been used for discretization of the governing equations. Total vorticity error and the total kinetic energy have been considered for ensuring the state of flow condition. The midplane velocity distribution and the top wall vortex distribution are compared with the results of other authors and found to show good agreement.

Kinetic energy variation with time is studied for large time computation. Below 7,500, it becomes constant signifying the flow to be in steady‐state. At Re=10,000, the fluid flow has an oscillating nature. The dimensionless period of oscillation is found to be 1.63. It is demonstrated that the present computation is able to capture the periodic solution after the bifurcation very accurately.

The findings will be useful in conducting a steady and periodic solution of variety of fluid flows or thermally‐driven fluid flows.