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A Robust Finite Element Modeling Approach to Conjugate Heat Transfer in Flexible Elastic Tubes and Tube Networks

A Coccarelli, Perumal Nithiarasu Orcid Logo, Alberto Coccarelli Orcid Logo

NUMERICAL HEAT TRANSFER PART A-APPLICATIONS, Volume: 67, Pages: 513 - 530

Swansea University Authors: Perumal Nithiarasu Orcid Logo, Alberto Coccarelli Orcid Logo

DOI (Published version): 10.1080/10407782.2014.937284

Abstract

In this work, heat transfer between fluid flow in elastic tubes and external environment is modeled using a robust finite element approach. The transport of energy is coupled to fluid flow that is linked to the pressure and cross-sectional area variations of the tube. The novel model developed is ap...

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Published in: NUMERICAL HEAT TRANSFER PART A-APPLICATIONS
Published: 2015
URI: https://cronfa.swan.ac.uk/Record/cronfa20250
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Abstract: In this work, heat transfer between fluid flow in elastic tubes and external environment is modeled using a robust finite element approach. The transport of energy is coupled to fluid flow that is linked to the pressure and cross-sectional area variations of the tube. The novel model developed is applied to flow and heat transfer in elastic tubes with different geometric and material properties. The effects of reflections due to discontinuities and bifurcations in the tubes are also investigated. To determine the heat transport by conduction in the elastic walls, a radial heat conduction model is also incorporated. The coupled flow equations are solved using the locally conservative Galerkin finite element method, which provides an explicit element-wise conservation of fluxes. Several simulations are performed for different parametric variations to understand the relevant aspects of heat transfer in flexible elastic tubes. The results show that small temperature fluctuations are possible, inline with the pulsatile flow boundary conditions. It is also observed that increased flexibility of tubes leads to better heat transfer between the fluid and the wall. The results clearly indicate that any flow reflections also increase the heat transfer between the fluid and the wall.
College: Faculty of Science and Engineering
Start Page: 513
End Page: 530

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