Modeling

g of Thermal Systems
y

MEL 806
Thermal System Simulation (2-0-2)
Dr. Prabal Talukdar
Associate Professor
Department of Mechanical Engineering
IIT Delhi
 Modeling
g

The process of simplifying a given problem so

that it may be represented in terms of a system
of equations
equations, for analysis
analysis, or a physical
arrangement, for experimentation, is termed
modeling
The design and optimization processes are
closely coupled with the modeling effort,
effort and
the success of the final design is very strongly
influenced by the accuracy and validity of the
model employed.
 Descriptive
p Model
The model may be descriptive or predictive.
We are all very familiar with models that are used to
describe and explain various physical phenomena. A
working model of an engineering system
system, such as a
robot, an internal combustion engine, a heat exchanger,
or a water pump, is often used to explain how the device
works.
k
Frequently, the model may be made of clear plastic or
may have a cutaway section to show the internal
mechanisms.
Such models are known as descriptive and are frequently
usedd iin classrooms
l tto explain
l i bbasic
i mechanisms
h i and d
underlying principles
 Predictive model
Predictive models are of p particular interest to our p
present
topic of engineering design because these can be used
to predict the performance of a given system.
The
Th equation
ti governingi ththe cooling
li off a hhott metal
t l
sphere immersed in an extensive cold-water
environment represents a predictive model because it
allows us to obtain the temperature variation with time
and determine the dependence of the cooling curve on
physical variables such as initial temperature of the
sphere, water temperature, and material properties
 Modeling
g
Physical
y insight
g is the main basis for the simplification
p of
a given system to obtain a satisfactory model. Such
insight is largely a result of experience in dealing with a
variety of thermal systems
systems.
Estimates of the underlying mechanisms and different
effects that arise in a given system may also be used to
simplify and idealize. Knowledge of other similar
processes and of the appropriate approximations
employed for these also helps in modeling
modeling.
Overall, modeling is an innovative process based on
experience, knowledge, and originality.
 Experiment
p

In many practical systems, it is not possible to

simplify the problem enough to obtain a
sufficiently accurate analytical or numerical
solution. In such cases, experimental data are
obtained, with help from dimensional analysis to
d t
determine
i ththe iimportant
t t di
dimensionless
i l
parameters.
Experiments are also crucial to the validation of
the mathematical or numerical model and for
establishing the accuracy of the results obtained
Fire Protective Fabrics
 Modeling
g of the setup
p

Points selected for temperature

measurements of entire specimen holder.
 Curve-fitting
g
Material properties are usually available as discrete data
at various values of the independent variable, e.g.,
density and thermal conductivity of a material measured
at different temperatures. For all such cases, curve fitting
is frequently employed to obtain appropriate correlating
equations to characterize the data. These equations can
then serve as inputs to the model of the system, as well
as to the design process.
 Types
yp of Model

Analog models
Mathematical models
Ph i l models
Physical d l
Numerical models
 Analog
g Model
Analog g models are based on the analogy gy or similarity
y
between different physical phenomena and allow one to
use the solution and results from a familiar problem to
obtain the corresponding results for a different unsolved
problem.
An example of an analog model is provided by
conduction heat transfer through a multilayered wall,
which may be analyzed in terms of an analogous electric
circuit with the thermal resistance represented by the
electrical resistance and the heat flux represented by the
electric current
 Examples
p of Analog
g Model

Conduction heat transfer in a composite wall Analog model of plume

. flow in a room fire
 Mathematical Model
A mathematical model is one that represents the
performance and characteristics of a given system in
terms of mathematical equations.
These models are the most important
p ones in the design
g
of thermal systems because they provide considerable
versatility in obtaining quantitative results that are needed
as inputs for design
design.
Mathematical models form the basis for numerical
modeling and simulation, so that the system may be
investigated without actually fabricating a prototype
A solution to the equations for a heat exchanger would
give the dependence of the total heat transfer rate on the
inlet temperatures of the two fluids and on the dimensions
of the system.
 Physical
y Model
Ap physical
y model is one that
resembles the actual system
and is generally used to
obtain experimental results
on the behavior of the
system.
An example of this is a
scaled down model of a car
or a heated body
body, which is
positioned in a wind tunnel to
study the drag force acting
on the
th body
b d or ththe h
heatt
transfer from it.
 Numerical Model

Numerical models are based on mathematical

models and allow one to obtain, using a
computer, quantitative results on the system
behavior for different operating conditions and
design parameters.
Numerical modeling refers to the restructuring
and discretization of the governing equations in
order to solve them on a computer
computer. The relevant
equations may be algebraic equations, ordinary
or partial differential equations
equations, integral
equations, or combinations of these.
 Interaction between models
Even thoughg the four main types
yp of modeling g of
particular interest to design are presented as separate
approaches, several of these frequently overlap in
practical problems.
problems
Experimental data from physical models may indicate
some of the approximations or simplifications that may
be used in developing a mathematical model.
Although numerical modeling is based largely on the
mathematical model
model, outputs from the physical or analog
models may also be useful in developing the numerical
scheme.
 Classification of models

There are several other classifications of

modeling frequently used to characterize
the nature and type of the model
model.
Steady state or dynamic,
deterministic or probabilistic,
lumped or distributed, and
Discrete or continuous.

For instance, the model for a hot-water storage system may be described
as a dynamic, continuous, lumped, deterministic mathematical model.
Similarly, the mathematical model for a furnace may be specified as steady
state, continuous, distributed, and deterministic
 Mathematical Modeling
g

The development of a mathematical model

requires physical understanding,
experience and creativity
experience, creativity, it is often
treated as an art rather than a science.
Inputs for Model development
Knowledge of existing systems,
characteristics of similar systems
systems,
governing mechanisms, and
commonlyy made approximations
pp and idealizations
 Steps
p in Model Development
p

Transient/steady state
Spatial dimensions
Lumped mass approximations
Simplifications of boundary conditions
Negligible effects
Idealizations
Material Properties
Conservation laws
F th simplifications
Further i lifi ti off governing
i equations
ti
 Transient/steady
y state
Two main characteristic time scales need to be
considered: response time and characteristic time
r, refers to the response time of the material or body under
consideration,
consideration
c, refers to the characteristic time of variation of the ambient or
operating conditions.

Therefore, c indicates the time over which the conditions change.

For instance, it would be zero for a step change and the time period
p for a p process,, where p =1/f,, with f being
periodic p g the frequency.
q y
The response time r for a uniform-temperature (lumped) body
subjected to a step change in ambient temperature for convective
coolingg or heating
g is g
given by
y the expression
p
 Response,
p characteristic time
c is very large, c .
In this case, the conditions may be assumed to remain
unchanged with time and the system may be treated as
steady state.
c << r.
In this case, the operating conditions change very
rapidly, as compared to the response of the material.
Then the material is unable to follow the variations in the
operating variables.
An example of this is a deep lake whose response time is very large
compared to the fluctuations in the ambient medium. Even though the
surface temperature
p mayy reflect the effect of such fluctuations, the bulk
fluid would essentially show no effect of temperature fluctuations. Then the
system may be approximated as steady with the operating condition taken
at their mean values
 Response,
p characteristic time
c >> r
This refers to the case where the material or body
responds very fast but the operating or boundary
conditions change very slowly. An example of this is the
slow variation of the solar flux with time on a sunny day
and the rapid response of the collector

Replacement of the ambient

temperature variation with time
by a finite number of steps, with
the temperature held constant
over each step
 Periodic process
p
Periodic processes: In many cases, the behavior
off the
th thermal
th l system
t may beb represented
t d as a
periodic process, with the characteristics
repeating over a given time period p.
Environmental processes are examples of this
modeling because periodic behavior over a day
or over a year is of interest in many of these
systems.
The net heat transfer over the cycle must
be zero because, if it is not, there is a net
gain or loss of energy. This would result in
a consequent increase or decrease of
temperature with time and a cyclic
behavior would not be obtained
 Transient Process
If none of the p
previous approximations
pp is applicable,
pp , the
system has to be modeled as a general time-dependent
problem.
There
Th are many practical
ti l systems,
t particularly
ti l l iin
materials processing, that require such a dynamic model
because transient effects are crucial in determining the
quality of the product and in the control and operation of
the system.
Heat treatment and metal casting systems are examples
in which a transient model is essential to study the
characteristics of the system for design.
Reheat Furnace

Geometrical model of
walking beam type reheat
furnace
 Spatial
p Dimensions
Though
g all p
practical systems
y are three-dimensional,, theyy
can often be approximated as two - or one-dimensional
to considerably simplify the modeling. Thus, this is an
important simplification and is based largely on the
geometry of the system under consideration and on the
boundary conditions.
 System
y Simulation

Information flow diagram

Block represents transfer functions which can
be considered differential equations
Consider a centrifugal pump in a fluid flow
 Fire water facility
y

The equations for the water flow rate through open hydrants are :

w A = C A p 3 p at

w B = C B p 4 p at
 Equations
q

The equations for the pipe section 0-1 is :

p at p1 = C1w12 + hg

Pipe section 2-3: p 2 p 3 = C 2 w12

Pipe section 3-4: p 3 p 4 = C3 w 22
 System
y of Equations
q
These five equations
q can be written in functional form:
f1 ( w A , p 3 ) = 0
f 2 (w B , p4 ) = 0
f 3 ( w1 , p1 ) = 0
f 4 ( w1 , p 2 , p3 ) = 0
f 5 ( w 2 , p3 , p 4 ) = 0
An additional function is provided by the pump
characteristics:
f 6 ( w1 , p1 , p 2 ) = 0
Six equations eight unknowns??
 Information-flow diagram
g

Mass balances provide the other two

equations w1 = w A + w 2 f 7 ( w1 , w A , w 2 ) = 0
and w 2 = w B f 8 ( w 2 , w B ) = 0
 Sequential and Simultaneous
Calculations
S
Sometimes
ti it is
i possible
ibl tto start
t t with
ith th
the iinputt
information and immediately calculate the output of a
component. The output information from this first
component is all that is needed to calculate the input
information of the next component and so on to the final
component of the system.
system This is a sequential
calculation

In simultaneous calculations, a set of algebraic

equations need to be solved simultaneously.