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Article
Publication date: 29 April 2014

Sylwia Hożejowska, Robert Kaniowski and Mieczysùaw E. Poniewski

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the application of the Trefftz method to the calculation of the two-dimensional (2D) temperature field in the boiling refrigerant flow…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the application of the Trefftz method to the calculation of the two-dimensional (2D) temperature field in the boiling refrigerant flow through an asymmetrically heated vertical minichannel with a rectangular cross-section. The considerations were limited to determining the temperature of the continuous phase – liquid for bubbly and bubbly-slug flow. The numerical solution found with the Trefftz methods was compared with the simplified solution. For nucleate boiling, heat transfer coefficient at the heating foil – liquid contact was determined.

Design/methodology/approach

The Trefftz method was used to determine 2D temperature distributions for the glass pane, the heating foil and the boiling liquid. The temperature fields were approximated by the sum of the particular solution and the linear combination of suitable Trefftz functions. Coefficients of linear combination were computed using experimental data, including heating foil temperature measurements obtained with the liquid-crystal method and experimentally determined void fraction. The computations were based on the Trefftz method supplemented with the adjustment calculus.

Findings

The way of solving direct and inverse problems of heat conduction in solid bodies (isolating glass, heating foil) and in liquids (boiling refrigerant flowing through the minichannel) was presented. For the first time, both 2D temperature fields for the heating foil and the boiling liquid were calculated while simultaneously using the Trefftz method. The known temperature values of the foil and liquid allowed the calculation of the heat transfer coefficient and the heat flux at the heating foil-liquid contact. Adjustment calculus implemented into the Trefftz method was used to smooth the measurement data and to reduce their errors.

Practical implications

The approach proposed in the paper can be applied to determining 2D temperature field, heat flux and heat transfer coefficient in direct and inverse problems concerning two-phase flowing miniature compact heat exchangers.

Originality/value

The paper presents a novel implementation of the Trefftz method to simultaneous solving an inverse problem in the heating foil and the contacting flowing liquid.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 24 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 January 2018

Beata Maciejewska, Kinga Strak and Magdalena Piasecka

This paper aims to focus on flow boiling heat transfer in an asymmetrically heated minichannel. Two-dimensional inverse heat transfer problem was solved using the Trefftz and Beck…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on flow boiling heat transfer in an asymmetrically heated minichannel. Two-dimensional inverse heat transfer problem was solved using the Trefftz and Beck methods. The primary purpose was to find an enhanced surface that could help intensify heat transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

The experimental set-up and methodology for FC-72 boiling heat transfer in two parallel vertical rectangular minichannels with smooth or enhanced heated surfaces was presented. The heat transfer coefficient was calculated using the Trefftz and Beck methods.

Findings

The results confirm that considerable heat transfer enhancement takes place when selected enhanced heated surface is used in the minichannel flow boiling and that it depends on the type of surface enhancement. The analysis of the experimental data revealed that the values and distributions of the heat transfer coefficient obtained using the Beck and Trefftz methods were similar.

Practical/implications

Many studies have been recently devoted to flow boiling heat transfer in minichannels because of the rapid development of high-performance integrated systems generating large amounts of heat. Highly efficient small-size cooling systems for new-generation compact devices are thus in great demand.

Originality/value

The present results are original and new in the study of cooling liquid boiling in minichannels with enhanced heated surfaces that contribute to heat transfer enhancement. The paper allows the verification of state-of-the-art methods of solving the inverse problem by using empirical data from the experiment. The application of the Trefftz and Beck methods for finding a solution of the inverse heat transfer problem is promising.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 28 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 19 July 2011

Zhuo‐Jia Fu, Qing‐Hua Qin and Wen Chen

The purpose of this paper is to develop a hybrid‐Trefftz (HT) finite element model (FEM) for simulating heat conduction in nonlinear functionally graded materials (FGMs) which can…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a hybrid‐Trefftz (HT) finite element model (FEM) for simulating heat conduction in nonlinear functionally graded materials (FGMs) which can effectively handle continuously varying properties within an element.

Design/methodology/approach

In the proposed model, a T‐complete set of homogeneous solutions is first derived and used to represent the intra‐element temperature fields. As a result, the graded properties of the FGMs are naturally reflected by using the newly developed Trefftz functions (T‐complete functions in some literature) to model the intra‐element fields. The derivation of the Trefftz functions is carried out by means of the well‐known Kirchhoff transformation in conjunction with various variable transformations.

Findings

The study shows that, in contrast to the conventional FEM, the HT‐FEM is an accurate numerical scheme for FGMs in terms of the number of unknowns and is insensitive to mesh distortion. The method also performs very well in terms of numerical accuracy and can converge to the analytical solution when the number of elements is increased.

Originality/value

The value of this paper is twofold: a T‐complete set of homogeneous solutions for nonlinear FMGs has been derived and used to represent the intra‐element temperature; and the corresponding variational functional and the associated algorithm has been constructed.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 28 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 June 2019

Beata Maciejewska and Magdalena Piasecka

The purpose of this paper is to determine the time-dependent heat transfer coefficient during FC-72 flow boiling in a 1.7-mm-deep vertical and asymmetrically heated minichannel.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the time-dependent heat transfer coefficient during FC-72 flow boiling in a 1.7-mm-deep vertical and asymmetrically heated minichannel.

Design/methodology/approach

The temperature of the minichannel heated wall was recorded continuously with the use of thermocouples. The heat transfer coefficients for the subcooled and saturated boiling regions at the heated wall–fluid contact surface were calculated from the Robin boundary condition. Both the wall and fluid temperatures were obtained from the solution of the inverse nonstationary problems in two adjacent domains: the heated wall and flowing fluid. The FEM with Trefftz-type basis functions was applied to solve the inverse problem.

Findings

The obtained time-dependent heat transfer coefficient in subcooled boiling achieved rather low values, whereas in saturated boiling, the coefficient was the highest at the channel inlet. The boiling curves were plotted to illustrate the results.

Practical implications

The results of experiments are the best source of information for the design of minichannel cooling systems used for thermoregulation of components and heat exchangers. High-tech minichannel heat exchangers are applied in various industrial applications as microelectronics devices, gas turbines, internal combustion engines, nuclear reactors, X-ray sources and organic rankine cycle (ORC) modules.

Originality/value

In the study, the Trefftz functions for the nonstationary Fourier–Kirchhoff equation with the factor describing void fraction were determined and then used to construct the time-dependent basis functions in FEM.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 25 June 2019

Krzysztof Grysa and Artur Maciag

The purpose of this paper is to derive the Trefftz functions (T-functions) for the Pennes’ equation and for the single-phase-lag (SPL) model (hyperbolic equation) with perfusion…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to derive the Trefftz functions (T-functions) for the Pennes’ equation and for the single-phase-lag (SPL) model (hyperbolic equation) with perfusion and then comparing field of temperature in a flat slab made of skin in the case when perfusion is taken into account, with the situation when a Fourier model is considered. When considering the process of heat conduction in the skin, one needs to take into account the average values of its thermal properties. When in biological bodies relaxation time is of the order of 20 s, the thermal wave propagation appears. The initial-boundary problems for Pennes’ model and SPL with perfusion model are considered to investigate the effect of the finite velocity of heat in the skin, perfusion and thickness of the slab on the rate of the thermal wave attenuation. As a reference model, the solution of the classic Fourier heat transfer equation for the considered problems is calculated. A heat flux has direction perpendicular to the surface of skin, considered as a flat slab. Therefore, the equations depend only on time and one spatial variable.

Design/methodology/approach

First of all the T-functions for the Pennes’ equation and for the SPL model with perfusion are derived. Then, an approximate solutions of the problems are expressed in the form of a linear combination of the T-functions. The T-functions satisfy the equation modeling the problem under consideration. Therefore, approximating a solution of a problem with a linear combination of n T-functions one obtains a function that satisfies the equation. The unknown coefficients of the linear combination are obtained as a result of minimization of the functional that describes an inaccuracy of satisfying the initial and boundary conditions in a mean-square sense.

Findings

The sets of T-functions for the Pennes’ equation and for the SPL model with perfusion are derived. An infinite set of these functions is a complete set of functions and stands for a base functions layout for the space of solutions for the equation used to generate them. Then, an approximate solutions of the initial-boundary problem have been found and compared to find out the effect of finite velocity of heat in the skin, perfusion and thickness of the slab on the rate of the thermal wave attenuation.

Research limitations/implications

The methods used in the literature to find an approximate solution of any bioheat transfer problems are more complicated than the one used in the presented paper. However, it should be pointed out that there is some limitation concerning the T-function method, namely, the greater number of T-function is used, the greater condition number becomes. This limitation usually can be overcome using symbolic calculations or conducting calculations with a large number of significant digits.

Originality/value

The T-functions for the Pennes’ equation and for the SPL equation with perfusion have been reported in this paper for the first time. In the literature, the T-functions are known for other linear partial differential equations (e.g. harmonic functions for Laplace equation), but for the first time they have been derived for the two aforementioned equations. The results are discussed with respect to practical applications.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 20 September 2011

J. Irša and A.N. Galybin

The purpose of this paper is to consider reconstructions of potential 2D fields from discrete measurements. Two potential processes are addressed, steady flow and heat conduction…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to consider reconstructions of potential 2D fields from discrete measurements. Two potential processes are addressed, steady flow and heat conduction. In the first case, the flow speed and streamlines are determined from the discrete data on flow directions, in the second case, the temperature and flux are recovered from temperature measurements at discrete points.

Design/methodology/approach

The method employs the Trefftz element principle and the collocation. The domain is seen as a combination of elements, where the solution is sought as a linear holomorphic function a priori satisfying the governing equations. Continuity of piecewise holomorphic functions is imposed at collocation points located on the element interfaces. These form the first group of equations. The second group of equations is formed by addressing the measured data, therefore the matrix coefficients may reflect experimental errors. In the case of fluid flow, all equations are homogeneous, therefore one normalising equation is added, which provides existence of a non‐trivial solution. The system is over‐determined; it is solved by the least squares method.

Findings

For the heat flow problem, the determination of heat flux is unique, while for the fluid flow, the determined streamlines are unique and the determination of speed contains one free multiplicative positive constant. Several examples are presented to illustrate the methods and investigate their efficiency and sensitivity to noisy data.

Research limitations/implications

The approach can be applied to other 2D potential problems.

Originality/value

The paper studies two novel formulations of the reconstruction problem for 2D potential fields. It is shown that the suggested numerical method is able to deal directly with discrete experimental data.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 21 no. 7
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 13 May 2019

Andrzej Frąckowiak, David Spura, Uwe Gampe and Michał Ciałkowski

T-shaped cavities occur by design in many technical applications. An example of such a stator cavity is the side space between the guide vane carriers and the outer casing of a…

Abstract

Purpose

T-shaped cavities occur by design in many technical applications. An example of such a stator cavity is the side space between the guide vane carriers and the outer casing of a steam turbine. Thermal conditions inside it have a significant impact on the deformation of the turbine casing. In order to improve its prediction, the purpose of this paper is to provide a methodology to gain better knowledge of the local heat transfer at the cavity boundaries based on experimental results.

Design/methodology/approach

To determine the heat transfer coefficient distribution inside a model cavity with the help of a scaled generic test rig, an inverse heat conduction problem is posed and a method for solving such type of problems in the form of linear combinations of Trefftz functions is presented.

Findings

The results of the calculations are compared with another inverse method using first-order gradient optimization technique as well as with estimated values obtained with an analytic two-dimensional thermal network model, and they show an excellent agreement. The calculation procedure is proved to be numerically stable for different degrees of complexity of the sought boundary conditions.

Originality/value

This paper provides a universal and robust methodology for the fast direct determination of an arbitrary distribution of heat transfer coefficients based on material temperature measurements spread over the confining wall.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 October 2019

Magda Joachimiak, Michał Ciałkowski and Andrzej Frąckowiak

The purpose of this paper is to present the method for solving the inverse Cauchy-type problem for the Laplace’s equation. Calculations were made for the rectangular domain with…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the method for solving the inverse Cauchy-type problem for the Laplace’s equation. Calculations were made for the rectangular domain with the target temperature on three boundaries and, additionally, on one of the boundaries, the heat flux distribution was selected. The purpose of consideration was to determine the distribution of temperature on a section of the boundary of the investigated domain (boundary Γ1) and find proper method for the problem regularization.

Design/methodology/approach

The solution of the direct and the inverse (Cauchy-type) problems for the Laplace’s equation is presented in the paper. The form of the solution is noted as the linear combination of the Chebyshev polynomials. The collocation method in which collocation points had been determined based on the Chebyshev nodes was applied. To solve the Cauchy problem, the minimum of functional describing differences between the target and the calculated values of temperature and the heat flux on a section of the domain’s boundary was sought. Various types of the inverse problem regularization, based on Tikhonov and Tikhonov–Philips regularizations, were analysed. Regularization parameter α was chosen with the use of the Morozov discrepancy principle.

Findings

Calculations were performed for random disturbances to the heat flux density of up to 0.01, 0.02 and 0.05 of the target value. The quality of obtained results was next estimated by means of the norm. Effect of the disturbance to the heat flux density and the type of regularization on the sought temperature distribution on the boundary Γ1 was investigated. Presented methods of regularization are considerably less sensitive to disturbances to measurement data than to Tikhonov regularization.

Practical implications

Discussed in this paper is an example of solution of the Cauchy problem for the Laplace’s equation in the rectangular domain that can be applied for determination of the temperature distribution on the boundary of the heated element where it is impossible to measure temperature or the measurement is subject to a great error, for instance on the inner wall of the boiler. Authors investigated numerical examples for functions with singularities outside the domain, for which values of gradients change significantly within the calculation domain what corresponds to significant changes in temperature on the wall of the boiler during the fuel combustion.

Originality/value

In this paper, a new method for solving the Cauchy problem for the Laplace’s equation is described. To solve this problem, the Chebyshev polynomials and nodes were used. Various types of regularization of this problem were considered.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 3
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 November 2015

Christophe Rouzaud, Fabrice Gatuingt, Olivier Dorival, Guillaume Herve and Louis Kovalevsky

The determination of the vibration induced by an aircraft impact on an industrial structure requires dynamic studies. The determination of the response by using classical finite…

Abstract

Purpose

The determination of the vibration induced by an aircraft impact on an industrial structure requires dynamic studies. The determination of the response by using classical finite element method associated with explicit numerical schemes requires significant calculation time, especially during the transient stage. This kind of calculation requires several load cases to be analyzed in order to consider a wide range of scenarios. Moreover, a large frequency range has to be appropriately considered and therefore the mesh has to be very fine, resulting in a refined time discretization. The purpose of this paper is to develop new ways for calculating the shaking of reinforced concrete structures following a commercial aircraft impact (see Figure 1). The cutoff frequency for this type of loading is typically within the 50-100 Hz range, which would be referred to as the medium-frequency range.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking into account this type of problem and assuming that the structure is appropriately sized to withstand an aircraft impact, the vibrations induced by the shock bring about shaking of the structure. Then these vibrations can travel along the containment building, as directly linked with the impact zone, but also in the inner part of the structure due to the connection with the containment building by the raft. So the excited frequency range, due to the impact of a commercial aircraft, contains two frequency ranges: low frequencies (less than ten wavelengths in the structure) and medium frequencies (between ten and 100 wavelengths). The strategy, which is presented in this paper, is inscribed in the context of the verification of inner equipment under this kind of shaking. The non-linear impact zone is assumed to have been delimited with classical finite element simulations. In this paper the authors only focus on the response of the linear part of the structure. This phenomenon induces a non-linear localized area around the impact zone.

Findings

So the medium frequencies can therefore induce significant displacements and stresses at the level of equipment and thus cause damage if the structure is not dimensioning to this frequency range.

Research limitations/implications

In this context the use of finite elements method for the resolution of the shaking implies a spatial discretization in correlation with the number of wavelengths to represent, and thus a long computation time especially for medium frequencies. That is why in the case of a coarse mesh the medium-frequency range is ignored. For example, a concrete structure with a characteristic dimension of about 30 and 1 m of thickness, may not represent frequencies higher than 16 Hz with a mesh size of 1 m (assuming ten elements per wavelength).

Practical implications

The paper includes implications for proper dimensioning civil engineering structures subjected to a load case containing a large frequency range.

Originality/value

This paper shows the gain of the strategy using appropriate method to medium frequencies compared to conventional method such as finite elements.

Details

Engineering Computations, vol. 32 no. 8
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0264-4401

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 6 March 2009

Berardi Sensale Rodriguez and Berardi Sensale Cozzano

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a fast and simple method to calculate an estimation of parameters of interest of microstrip antennas, such as the resonance frequencies…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a fast and simple method to calculate an estimation of parameters of interest of microstrip antennas, such as the resonance frequencies for example.

Design/methodology/approach

The Trefftz collocation method will be used to solve the governing differential equations of the problem. This method uses trial functions that satisfy, in a certain region the governing differential equations. Complete sets of solutions of such equations are required so that completeness and convergence can be guaranteed. The values of the wavenumbers for which the solution of the governing equation is unbounded, are those correspondent to the resonance frequencies of the antenna. After finding the wavenumbers, with the help of empirical correction formulas (because of the effect of the fringing field), the actual resonance frequencies are determined.

Findings

The Trefftz collocation method was found to be a very simple, fast and accurate method for the computation of the electric field under the patch of a microstrip antenna. Results obtained from this method showed excellent accuracy with less computational effort than other methods previously used.

Research limitations/implications

Although the resonance wavenumbers may be accurate for any shape of antenna (because of the method convergence), the resonance frequencies might not be so accurate for irregular shapes since the parameters of the empirical formulas are approximated. Also the resonant cavity model is only valid for antennas made of thin substrates.

Originality/value

This formulation of the Trefftz method was for the first time applied to this problem, showing promising results.

Details

COMPEL - The international journal for computation and mathematics in electrical and electronic engineering, vol. 28 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0332-1649

Keywords

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