Can't find a solution to this commonly asked conjugate heat transfer problem

Silly_N00b · May 27, 2015, 15:25

Note: I'm new to CFD. I could really use some guidance...

I'm setting up a steady state model where a cool fluid is moving inside an externally heated pipe (e.g. a water pipe wrapped with heating tape). I want to see how the temperature in the fluid changes as it travels through the pipe, and how the temperature of the pipe changes along its length.

I've set up the simulation 1000 different ways, but no matter what I do THE TEMPERATURE OF THE PIPE NEVER CHANGES. The model shows heat being transferred from the pipe to the fluid, but the pipe maintains the same temperature everywhere. Obviously this isn't right, but for the life of me I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong.

In searching the forum this is a common question, but so far as I can tell no one has answered it (at least, I have not found the answer):
http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...materials.html
http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...-transfer.html
http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...r-problem.html
http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...-transfer.html
http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...-transfer.html
http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...materials.html

The interface between the cooling fluid and the hot pipe is thermally "coupled".

Can anyone shine some light onto what I'm doing wrong here? Is anymore information needed? I imagine it's a dumb oversight/error I'm making...

Silly_N00b · May 27, 2015, 17:02

Well, I found my particular problem. I guess the cooling medium I had flowing through the center of the pipe wasn't as thermally "substantial" as I thought it was because when I increased both the specific heat and thermal conductivity by a factor of 10...voila! The pipe's temperature changed appreciably.

I could have sworn I checked this earlier, but I think maybe I had more than one issue playing a role at the time. It's working now though.

Silly N00b...

May 27, 2015, 15:25	Can't find a solution to this commonly asked conjugate heat transfer problem	#1
Silly_N00b New Member Roger Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Note: I'm new to CFD. I could really use some guidance... I'm setting up a steady state model where a cool fluid is moving inside an externally heated pipe (e.g. a water pipe wrapped with heating tape). I want to see how the temperature in the fluid changes as it travels through the pipe, and how the temperature of the pipe changes along its length. I've set up the simulation 1000 different ways, but no matter what I do THE TEMPERATURE OF THE PIPE NEVER CHANGES. The model shows heat being transferred from the pipe to the fluid, but the pipe maintains the same temperature everywhere. Obviously this isn't right, but for the life of me I can't figure out what I'm doing wrong. In searching the forum this is a common question, but so far as I can tell no one has answered it (at least, I have not found the answer): http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...materials.html http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...-transfer.html http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...r-problem.html http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...-transfer.html http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...-transfer.html http://www.cfd-online.com/Forums/flu...materials.html The interface between the cooling fluid and the hot pipe is thermally "coupled". Can anyone shine some light onto what I'm doing wrong here? Is anymore information needed? I imagine it's a dumb oversight/error I'm making...

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May 27, 2015, 17:02		#2
Silly_N00b New Member Roger Join Date: May 2015 Posts: 2 Rep Power: 0	Well, I found my particular problem. I guess the cooling medium I had flowing through the center of the pipe wasn't as thermally "substantial" as I thought it was because when I increased both the specific heat and thermal conductivity by a factor of 10...voila! The pipe's temperature changed appreciably. I could have sworn I checked this earlier, but I think maybe I had more than one issue playing a role at the time. It's working now though. Silly N00b...