Vers 1.6(this), 1.6 (plotClass), 1.5 (thermoDraw), 1.4 (multSlab) DISCLAIMER
For this web page, your screen should be at least 1220 pixels wide.
This simulation concerns steady-state conduction in one principal direction. Any heat loss from the flanks of the domain is ignored, there is no internal heat generation, and the thermal conductivity is assumed to be independent of temperature. The underlying theory is summarised here .
Use the first set of radio buttons to select rectangular, cylindrical or spherical co-ordinates. You can choose to locate boundary temperatures on the exterior surfaces of the solid part of the domain ("without heat transfer coefficients") or within free streams ("with transfer coefficients"); the second set of radio buttons enable this choice. Use the first text box to set the number of solid layers, each with a distinct thickness and thermal conductivity. Use the next two text boxes to set temperatures at the left and right hand sides of the domain. Geometric parameters are also put in text boxes; their description depends on the co-ordinate system. In the table, a red font indicates that thermal conductivies and slab thicknesses can be edited.
Once you have entered all required values, press the recalculate button.
The calculation output starts with two panels. The first shows an isometric sketch of the domain with temperatures colour coded from blue (coldest) to red (hottest). The second shows the temperature profile. Performance indicators such at rate of heat flow and overall heat transfer coefficient are reported at the bottom of the page. (The reference area for the overall heat transfer coefficient is the exterior area).
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Fixed Parameters. Number of layers (max 6): . Temperatures, K: (LHS) (RHS)
Geometric parameters. xx, m xx, m²
Heat transfer coefficients, \( W m^{-2} K \). LHS: RHS:
Calculated Quantities
Rate of heat flow: \( \dot{Q} = \) -- watts.
Area of inner face: \( A_{i} = \) -- m^2.
Area of outer face: \( A_{o} = \) -- m^2. This is the reference area.
Overall heat transfer coefficient (based on area of external surface): \(U = \frac{\dot{Q}}{A_o |T_A-T_B|} = \) -- W m^{-2} K^{-1}
Heat flux at inner face: \( \dot{q}_i = \) -- W m^{-2}.
Heat flux at outer face: \( \dot{q}_o = \) -- W m^{-2}.