Determination of the temperature distribution in a minichannel using ANSYS CFX and a procedure based on the Trefftz functions

¹ Faculty of Management and Computer Modelling
² Faculty of Mechatronics and Mechanical Engineering Kielce University of Technology, Al. 1000-lecia P.P. 7, 25-314 Kielce, Poland

^* Corresponding author: beatam@tu.kielce.pl

Published online: 12 May 2017

Abstract

This work discusses the mathematical model for laminar-flow heat transfer in a minichannel. The boundary conditions in the form of temperature distributions on the outer sides of the channel walls were determined from experimental data. The data were collected from the experimental stand the essential part of which is a vertical minichannel 1.7 mm deep, 16 mm wide and 180 mm long, asymmetrically heated by a Haynes-230 alloy plate. Infrared thermography allowed determining temperature changes on the outer side of the minichannel walls. The problem was analysed numerically through either ANSYS CFX software or special calculation procedures based on the Finite Element Method and Trefftz functions in the thermal boundary layer. The Trefftz functions were used to construct the basis functions. Solutions to the governing differential equations were approximated with a linear combination of Trefftz-type basis functions. Unknown coefficients of the linear combination were calculated by minimising the functional. The results of the comparative analysis were represented in a graphical form and discussed.