Problem with total heat transfer rate

aswathy_raghu · July 26, 2016, 08:41

I am doing a 2D simulation of catalytic combustion of propane-air in a straight channel microreactor. Catalyst is coated on the wall. Rate equation is supplied using a UDF. Flow is laminar.

My problem is that, the net term of the total heat transfer rate (Reports/Fluxes/Total heat transfer) doesn’t approach 0. In certain simulations it is even more than 100 W (Error is very high)! The net term of sensible heat transfer rate, however, approaches 0. The monitors remain constant for several thousand iterations and residuals are very low, while the total heat transfer term continue to remain high.

Please help me understand how heat transfer rate is calculated by fluent. The flow rate of total enthalpy at outlet matches the value of total heat transfer rate at outlet but the flow rate of total enthalpy at inlet is not even close to the total heat transfer rate at inlet.

By the way, when I disable the species inlet diffusion (in Models), the net term of total heat transfer is approaching 0. But then, the residuals have a tendency to oscillate.

It would be a great help if you could help me figure this out.

nvarma · July 26, 2016, 17:52

Does the udf include heat source? Any other heat source in the domain? All boundaries included in total heat flux calculation?

aswathy_raghu · July 27, 2016, 01:28

Thank you for your concern.

The UDF contains a rate expression for the reaction. The expressions for the corresponding rate constants and activation energies are also included in the UDF. There is no other heat source other than this reaction (given by the UDF) at the wall.

All boundaries were considered for calculating total heat transfer.

I am unable to figure out how the total enthalpy is calculated by fluent. For the same inlet conditions, I get different values for enthalpy at inlet for the cases with and without species inlet diffusion. Why does it happen?

nvarma · July 27, 2016, 16:50

>The UDF contains a rate expression for the reaction.

This might be the net Q you are seeing. Total heatflux will not approach zero if you have an energy source term. Instead it should tend to the energy source value.

> I get different values for enthalpy at inlet for the cases with and without species inlet diffusion.

I have no idea about that. But my guess is with different mass fraction of each species entering, the enthalpy WILL be different?

aswathy_raghu · July 28, 2016, 10:06

Thank you very much for considering my problem.
Total "sensible" heat transfer rate is approaching a value that is equal to the reaction source term. I believe net total heat transfer rate has to approach 0 for energy conservation. Energy in has to be equal to energy out, right?

The inlet conditions are same in both the cases. Same mass fraction is entering. I am not sure how species inlet diffusion option works.

nvarma · July 28, 2016, 10:26

The heat flux is integrated of "surfaces" in report>flux>total heat flux.

So volumetric heat generation is not included. For heat balance:

Heat out (domain boundary)=Heat in (domain boundary)+ Qsource (domain).

If you define a UDM, and do volume integral of your source terms it should match the total heat flux calculated by fluent.

SUBHANKAR · November 6, 2019, 08:51

Hi raghu,
Could you solve the issue? I am also getting the same error. I am using non-premixed combustion model. Total heat transfer rate is coming negative for all surfaces. Thus, the net is coming a larger negative value.

regards
Subhankar

aswathy_raghu · November 6, 2019, 13:08

Hey Subhankar

Is your mesh structured and uniform? Sometimes unstructured mesh gives problems.
My issue was solved when I switched off inlet diffusion.

SUBHANKAR · November 6, 2019, 13:40

Thanks for the reply. I am using unstructured mesh. I then converted to polyhedra mesh. I had inlet diffusion disabled.

regards

Edit: Inlet diffusion should be enabled. I suppose.

Phanindra Raavi · April 21, 2022, 11:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by SUBHANKAR

Thanks for the reply. I am using unstructured mesh. I then converted to polyhedra mesh. I had inlet diffusion disabled.

regards

Edit: Inlet diffusion should be enabled. I suppose.

Hi Subhankar.
Did the issue solved for you.
I had similar issue with total heat transfer rate as 25000 wats.
I am using non premixed chemical equilibrium combustion species model.
Please let me know how you solved the issue?

July 26, 2016, 08:41	Problem with total heat transfer rate	#1
aswathy_raghu New Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 10	I am doing a 2D simulation of catalytic combustion of propane-air in a straight channel microreactor. Catalyst is coated on the wall. Rate equation is supplied using a UDF. Flow is laminar. My problem is that, the net term of the total heat transfer rate (Reports/Fluxes/Total heat transfer) doesn’t approach 0. In certain simulations it is even more than 100 W (Error is very high)! The net term of sensible heat transfer rate, however, approaches 0. The monitors remain constant for several thousand iterations and residuals are very low, while the total heat transfer term continue to remain high. Please help me understand how heat transfer rate is calculated by fluent. The flow rate of total enthalpy at outlet matches the value of total heat transfer rate at outlet but the flow rate of total enthalpy at inlet is not even close to the total heat transfer rate at inlet. By the way, when I disable the species inlet diffusion (in Models), the net term of total heat transfer is approaching 0. But then, the residuals have a tendency to oscillate. It would be a great help if you could help me figure this out. Last edited by aswathy_raghu; July 28, 2016 at 10:07.

July 27, 2016, 16:50		#4
nvarma Senior Member nm Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 100 Rep Power: 13	>The UDF contains a rate expression for the reaction. This might be the net Q you are seeing. Total heatflux will not approach zero if you have an energy source term. Instead it should tend to the energy source value. > I get different values for enthalpy at inlet for the cases with and without species inlet diffusion. I have no idea about that. But my guess is with different mass fraction of each species entering, the enthalpy WILL be different? aswathy_raghu likes this.

November 6, 2019, 13:40		#9
SUBHANKAR Member subhankar Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 10	Thanks for the reply. I am using unstructured mesh. I then converted to polyhedra mesh. I had inlet diffusion disabled. regards Edit: Inlet diffusion should be enabled. I suppose. Last edited by SUBHANKAR; November 7, 2019 at 01:16.

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July 26, 2016, 17:52		#2
nvarma Senior Member nm Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 100 Rep Power: 13	Does the udf include heat source? Any other heat source in the domain? All boundaries included in total heat flux calculation?

July 27, 2016, 01:28		#3
aswathy_raghu New Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 10	Thank you for your concern. The UDF contains a rate expression for the reaction. The expressions for the corresponding rate constants and activation energies are also included in the UDF. There is no other heat source other than this reaction (given by the UDF) at the wall. All boundaries were considered for calculating total heat transfer. I am unable to figure out how the total enthalpy is calculated by fluent. For the same inlet conditions, I get different values for enthalpy at inlet for the cases with and without species inlet diffusion. Why does it happen?

July 28, 2016, 10:06		#5
aswathy_raghu New Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 10	Thank you very much for considering my problem. Total "sensible" heat transfer rate is approaching a value that is equal to the reaction source term. I believe net total heat transfer rate has to approach 0 for energy conservation. Energy in has to be equal to energy out, right? The inlet conditions are same in both the cases. Same mass fraction is entering. I am not sure how species inlet diffusion option works.

July 28, 2016, 10:26		#6
nvarma Senior Member nm Join Date: Mar 2013 Posts: 100 Rep Power: 13	The heat flux is integrated of "surfaces" in report>flux>total heat flux. So volumetric heat generation is not included. For heat balance: Heat out (domain boundary)=Heat in (domain boundary)+ Qsource (domain). If you define a UDM, and do volume integral of your source terms it should match the total heat flux calculated by fluent.

November 6, 2019, 08:51		#7
SUBHANKAR Member subhankar Join Date: May 2016 Posts: 36 Rep Power: 10	Hi raghu, Could you solve the issue? I am also getting the same error. I am using non-premixed combustion model. Total heat transfer rate is coming negative for all surfaces. Thus, the net is coming a larger negative value. regards Subhankar

November 6, 2019, 13:08		#8
aswathy_raghu New Member Join Date: Jul 2016 Posts: 5 Rep Power: 10	Hey Subhankar Is your mesh structured and uniform? Sometimes unstructured mesh gives problems. My issue was solved when I switched off inlet diffusion.