WinSim: A simple simulation program for evaluating the influence of windows on heating demand and risk of overheating

A two-node model of a room has been implemented in a computer program, WinSim, developed for evaluation of thermal performance of windows in new buildings and in case of retrofitting. The program calculates the annual heating demand and the number of hours with indoor temperatures higher than a user defined limit. WinSim is characterised by the limited amount of required input data. Guidelines for calculation of the effective thermal capacity of the room are given, and results obtained with WinSim have been compared to results from an advanced building simulation program. Good agreement has been found between the two programs with respect to calculated annual heating demand and energy savings due to window exchange, and also the calculated number of hours with overtemperature is similar. Based on the limited examples used for the comparison, it can be concluded that WinSim is well suited for a quick but realistic evaluation of thermal performance of windows.     

Thermal-comfort analysis and simulation for various low-energy cooling-technologies applied to an office building in a subtropical climate

Simulation of buildings’ thermal-performances is necessary to predict comfort of the occupants in buildings and to identify alternate cooling control-systems for achieving better indoor thermal environments. An analysis and prediction of thermal-comfort using DesignBuilder, based on the state-of-the-art building performance simulation software EnergyPlus, is carried out in an air-conditioned multi-storeyed building in the city of Rockhampton in Central Queensland, Australia. Rockhampton is located in a hot humid-region; therefore, indoor thermal-comfort is strongly affected by the outdoor climate. This study evaluates the actual thermal conditions of the Information Technology Division (ITD) building at Central Queensland University during winter and summer seasons and identifies the thermal comfort level of the occupants using low-energy cooling technologies namely, chilled ceiling (CC), economiser usages and pre-cooling. The Fanger comfort-model, Pierce two-node model and KSU two-node model were used to predict thermal performance of the building. A sophisticated building-analysis tool was integrated with the thermal comfort models for determining appropriate cooling-technologies for the occupants to be thermally comfortable while achieving sufficient energy savings. This study compares the predicted mean-vote (PMV) index on a seven-point thermal-sensation scale, calculated using the effective temperature and relative humidity for those cooling techniques. Simulated results show that systems using a chilled ceiling offer the best thermal comfort for the occupants during summer and winter in subtropical climates. The validity of the simulation results was checked with measured values of temperature and humidity for typical days in both summer and winter. The predicted results show a reasonable agreement with the measured data.     

Implications of the modelling of stratified hot water storage tanks in the simulation of CHP plants

This paper considers the effect that different hot water storage tank modelling approaches have on the global simulation of residential CHP plants as well as their impact on their economic feasibility. While a simplified assessment of the heat storage is usually considered in the feasibility studies of CHP plants in buildings, this paper deals with three different levels of modelling of the hot water tank: actual stratified model, ideal stratified model and fully mixed model.These three approaches are presented and comparatively evaluated under the same case of study, a cogeneration plant with thermal storage meeting the loads of an urbanisation located in the Bilbao metropolitan area (Spain). The case of study is simulated by TRNSYS for each one of the three modelling cases and the so obtained annual results are analysed from both a First and Second-Law-based viewpoint.While the global energy and exergy efficiencies of the plant for the three modelling cases agree quite well, important differences are found between the economic results of the feasibility study. These results can be predicted by means of an advanced exergy analysis of the storage tank considering the endogenous and exogenous exergy destruction terms caused by the hot water storage tank.     

Thermodynamic analysis of human heat and mass transfer and their impact on thermal comfort

In this paper a thermodynamic analysis of human heat and mass transfer based on the 2nd law of thermodynamics in presented. For modelling purposes the two-node human thermal model was used. This model was improved in order to establish the exergy consumption within the human body as a consequence of heat and mass transfer and/or conversion. It is shown that the human body’s exergy consumption in relation to selected human parameters exhibit a minimal value at certain combinations of environmental parameters. The expected thermal sensation, determined by the PMV* value, shows that there is a correlation between exergy consumption and thermal sensation. Thus, our analysis represents an improvement in human thermal modelling and gives even more information about the environmental impact on expected human thermal sensation.     

Entropy generation analysis in a uniformly heated microchannel heat sink

Present investigation analyzes the issue of entropy generation in a uniformly heated microchannel heat sink (MCHS). Analytical approach used to solve forced convection problem across MCHS, is a porous medium model based on extended Darcy equation for fluid flow and two-equation model for heat transfer. Simultaneously, closed form velocity solution in a rectangular channel is employed to capture z-directional viscous effect diffusion and its pronounced effect on entropy generation through fluid flow. Subsequently, governing equations are cast into dimensionless form and solved analytically. Second law analysis of problem is then conducted on the basis of obtained velocity and temperature fields and expressions for local and average entropy generation rate are derived in dimensionless form. Average entropy generation rate is then utilized as a criterion for assessing the system performance. Finally, the effect of influential parameters such as, channel aspect ratio (α_S), group parameter (Br/Ω), thermal conductivity ratio (C) and porosity (ε) on thermal and total entropy generation is investigated. In order to examine the accuracy of the analysis, the results of thermal evaluation are compared to one of the previous investigations conducted for thermal optimization of MCHS.     

Onset of Rayleigh–Bénard MHD convection in a micropolar fluid

The present work is concerned with the effect of a uniform magnetic field on the onset of convection in an electrically conducting micropolar fluid. A flat fluid layer bounded by horizontal rigid boundaries, subjected to thermal boundary conditions of the Neumann type, is considered. The parallel flow approximation is used to predict analytically the critical Rayleigh number for the onset of convection. The onset of motion is found to depend on the Hartmann number Ha, materials parameters K, B, $\lambda$, and the micro-rotation boundary condition n. A linear stability analysis is carried out to study numerically the onset of convection. The predictions of the analytical model are found to be in good agreement with the numerical solution. The above results are also compared with those obtained numerically for the case of a system subject to Dirichlet thermal boundary conditions.     

Flux and temperature distribution in the receiver of parabolic solar furnaces

In this study, a mathematical analysis is presented on the complete interface problem between solar concentration systems and high temperature thermochemical processes. This includes the thermal process starting from the incoming solar radiation up to the heat transfer to a heat carrier fluid or reactants in a given reactor. The system considered comprises a heliostat, a parabolic concentrator and a receiver. The hourly incoming radiation, the hourly reflection and absorption losses on the heliostat and concentrator systems, the radiation flux density distribution in the receiver space, the solar and IR bands radiation exchange and the useful heat transfer are all considered in the analysis. The parameters such as temperature distribution in the receiver as well as thermal efficiency can be calculated for a given case. The model has been verified using the experimental results obtained in two different systems. In addition, a parametric study has been carried out on the global receiver efficiency with respect to temperature.     

Buoyancy effects on laminar heat transfer in the thermal entrance region of horizontal rectangular channels with uniform wall heat flux for large prandtl number fluid

The Graetz problem for fully developed laminar flow in horizontal rectangular channels with uniform wall heat flux is extended by including buoyancy effects in the analysis for the case of large Prandtl number fluid. A general formulation valid for all Prandtl numbers is presented and the limiting case of large Prandtl number is approached by a numerical method. The typical developments of temperature profile, wall temperature and secondary flow in the thermal entrance region are presented for the case of square channel γ = 1. Local Nusselt number variations are presented for the aspect ratios γ = 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2 and 5 with Rayleigh number as parameter. Due to entry and secondary flow effects, a minimum Nusselt number occurs at some distance from the entrance, depending on the magnitude of Rayleigh number. This behavior is similar to that observed in the thermal entrance region where the transition from laminar to turbulent flow occurs. The effect of Rayleigh number is seen to decrease the thermal entrance length, and the Graetz solution, neglecting buoyancy effects, is found to be applicable only when Rayleigh number is less than about 10³. A study of the practical implications of large Prandtl number on heat transfer results for hydrodynamically and thermally fully developed case reveals that the present heat transfer results are valid for Prandtl number ranging from order 10 to infinity.     

Thermal entry flow for a viscoelastic fluid: the Graetz problem for the PTT model

A theoretical study of the entrance thermal flow problem is presented for the case of a fluid obeying the Phan-Thien and Tanner (PTT) constitutive equation. This appears to be the first study of the Graetz problem with a viscoelastic fluid. The solution was obtained with the method of separation of variables and the ensuing Sturm-Liouville system was solved for the eigenvalues by means of a freely available solver, while the ordinary differential equations for the eigenfunctions and their derivatives were calculated numerically with a Runge-Kutta method.The scope of the present study was quite wide: it encompassed both the plane and axisymmetric geometries for channel and tube flows; two types of thermal boundary conditions with either an imposed wall temperature or an applied heat flux; inclusion of viscous dissipation; and elastic (through the Weissenberg number) and elongational (through the PTT parameter ?) effects. The main underlying assumptions were those of constant physical properties, negligible axial heat conduction, and fully developed hydrodynamic conditions. The results are discussed in terms of the main effects brought about by viscoelasticity and viscous dissipation on the Nusselt number variation and the bulk temperature.     

Inverse problem of transpiration cooling for estimating wall heat flux by LTNE model and CGM method

In this work, a transient inverse problem of transpiration cooling is investigated in detail. The heat flux on the wall to be cooled is estimated by single point temperature measurement. The local thermal non-equilibrium (LTNE) model is utilized to describe the energy conservation of transpiration cooling process, and the conjugate gradient method (CGM) is extended to solve the inverse problem. The accuracy of the solutions of the inverse problem is examined through three given heat fluxes with given measurement errors. The examination shows that with the LTNE model and CGM, satisfactory solutions can be obtained. The influences of the variation in thermal properties, compressibility and the location of sensor on the accuracy of the solutions are analyzed. The analysis indicates that the variation in thermal properties and compressibility should be considered when a large temperature gradient exists, and the sensor location should be as close as possible to the hot wall. The inverse solutions obtained by the measurements of solid and fluid temperatures are compared. Through the comparison, it is found that using the solid temperature measurement as the input of the inverse problem is better than using the fluid temperature measurement.     

Wall thickness optimization of thick-walled spherical vessel using thermo-elasto-plastic concept

A study of thick-walled spherical vessels under steady-state radial temperature gradients using elasto-plastic analysis is reported. By considering a maximum plastic radius and using the thermal autofrettage method for the strengthening mechanism, the optimum wall thickness of the vessel for a given temperature gradient across the vessel is obtained. Finally, in the case of thermal loading on a vessel, the effect of convective heat transfer on the optimum thickness is considered, and a general formula for the optimum thickness and design graphs for several different cases are presented.     

Estimation of fuel burning rate and heating value with highly variable properties for optimum combustion control

Estimating solid residue gross burning rate and heating value burning in a power plant furnace is essential for adequate manipulation to achieve energy conversion optimization and plant performance. A model based on conservation equations of mass and thermal energy is established in this work to calculate the instantaneous gross burning rate and lower heating value of solid residue fired in a combustion chamber. Comparing the model with incineration plant control room data indicates that satisfactory predictions of fuel burning rates and heating values can be obtained by assuming the moisture-to-carbon atomic ratio (f/a) within the typical range from 1.2 to 1.8. Agreement between mass and thermal analysis and the bed-chemistry model is acceptable. The model would be useful for furnace fuel and air control strategy programming to achieve optimum performance in energy conversion and pollutant emission reduction.     

Novel approach to the solution of temperature distribution in thestator of an induction motor

In this paper a three-dimensional thermal model of an induction motor is presented. Excepting for providing a more accurate representation of the problem, the proposed model can also reduce computing costs. The finite element method is used to solve the three-dimensional steady-state and/or transient heat flow equation which describes the thermal model. A temperature-time method is employed to evaluate the distribution of loss in various parts of the machine. Using these loss distributions as an input for finite element analysis, more accurate temperature distributions can be then obtained. The validity and accuracy of the proposed method are checked by comparing the results with those obtained from test     

Simulation of transient Rayleigh-Bénard-Marangoni convection induced by evaporation

Numerical simulation of thermal convection induced by solvent evaporation in an initially isothermal fluid is considered. Both thermocapillarity and buoyancy driving forces are taken into account, and a criterium based on the Peclet number is used to analyze the stability of this transient problem. Critical Marangoni and Rayleigh numbers are obtained for a large range of Biot and Prandtl numbers. Results of the non-linear simulations are compared with a previous linear transient stability analysis based on a non-normal approach and with visualizations performed during polyisobutylene (PIB)/toluene solutions drying experiments. A scaling analysis is developed for the Marangoni problem and correlations are derived to predict the order of magnitude of temperature and velocity as a function of Bi, Ma and Pr numbers.     

PLANE WAVES IN GENERALIZED THERMOVISOCOELASTIC MATERIAL WITH RELAXATION TIME AND TEMPERATURE-DEPENDENT PROPERTIES

The model of generalized thermoviscoelasticity with one relaxation time for material having temperature-dependent properties is established taking into consideration rheological properties of the volume and density. Numerous special cases can be obtained from the given model. The normal mode analysis is used to obtain the exact expressions of the temperature distribution, thermal stresses, and the displacement components. The resulting formulation is applied to two different concrete problems. The first deals with a thick plate subjected to a time-dependent heat source on each face; the second concerns the case of a heated punch moving across the surface of an infinite thermoviscoelastic space subject to appropriate boundary conditions. Numerical results are given and illustrated for each problem. Comparisons are made with the results predicted ignoring rheological properties of the volume, or the temperature dependence of the mechanical properties, or by the coupled theory.     

Estimation of thermal contact resistance and temperature distributions in the pad/disc tribosystem

In this study, an inverse algorithm based on the conjugate gradient method and the discrepancy principle is applied to estimate the unknown time-dependent thermal contact resistance for the tribosystem consisting of a semi-infinite foundation (disc) and a plane-parallel strip (pad) sliding over its surface, from the knowledge of temperature measurements taken within the foundation. Subsequently, the temperature distributions in the medium can be determined as well. The temperature data obtained from the direct problem are used to simulate the temperature measurements, and the effect of the measurement errors upon the precision of the estimated results is also considered. Results show that an excellent estimation on the time-dependent thermal contact resistance can be obtained for the test case considered in this study. The current methodology can be applied to the prediction of thermal contact resistance in engineering problems involving sliding-contact elements.     

A stochastic model of turbulent mixing with chemical reaction: Nitric oxide formation in a plug-flow burner

A stochastic model of turbulent mixing has been developed for a reactor in which mixing is represented by n-body fluid particle interactions (n = 2, 3, ... 6). The model has been used to justify the assumption made in previous investigations of the role of turbulent mixing on burner generated thermal nitric oxide and carbon monoxide emissions that, for a simple plug flow reactor, composition nonuniformities can be described by a Gaussian distribution function in the local fuel: air equivalence ratio. Rate-limited upper and lower bounds of the nitric oxide produced by thermal fixation of molecular nitrogen and oxidation of organically bound fuel nitrogen are estimated on the basis of the stochastic model for a plug flow burner; these are compared with experimental measurements obtained using a laboratory burner operated over a wide range of test conditions; good agreement is obtained.     

Numerical simulation of conjugate,turbulent mixed convection heat transfer in a vertical channel with discrete heat sources

This paper presents the results of a comprehensive numerical study to analyze turbulent mixed convection in a vertical channel with a flush-mounted discrete heat source in each channel wall. The conjugate heat transfer problem is solved to study the effect of various parameters like the thermal conductivity of the wall material (k_s), the thermal conductivity of the flush-mounted discrete heat source (k_c), Reynolds number (Re_s), modified Richardson number (Ri⁎) and the aspect ratio of the channel (AR). The standard k–ε turbulence model, modified by including buoyancy effects, without wall functions, has been used for the analysis. The two-dimensional governing equations are discretised on a semi-staggered, non-uniform grid, using the finite volume method. The asymptotic computational fluid dynamics (ACFD) technique has been then applied to obtain a correlation for the non-dimensional maximum temperature θ¯_max, which can be used for a wide range of parameters.     

A shortcut to inverse Fourier transforms: Approximate reconstruction of transient heating curves from sparse frequency domain data

Frequency domain (AC) analysis, and associated phasor notation, offers a powerful and systematical way for dynamic thermal characterisation. The complex thermal impedance Z_th(jω) plays a central role and can be obtained from analytical calculation, numerical simulation and experimental measurements. Relevant associated time domain information, such as the transient heating curve, can be derived through inverse Fourier transform (IFT). However, IFT is known to suffer from aliasing, instabilities and other artifacts. In this work we propose an alternative method that bypasses the IFT but still allows approximate reconstruction of the heating curve based on the impedance spectrum. The technique is particularly useful in cases where only truncated or sparse (low-resolution) AC data is available. It simply consists of plotting the magnitude of the impedance |Z_th(jω)| (or transfer impedance for locations outside of the active junction) versus ω^?1 as time scale. Very reasonable results, with relative errors in the order of 10%, are achieved, while the transformation is extremely simple to perform. We develop a mathematical proof for increasingly complex situations, ranging from the simple case of one single thermal time constant to a generic thermal system characterised by an arbitrary continuous time constant spectrum. Additional illustration and validation of the method is provided by practical case studies. Finally, we develop an extension to the evaluation of the impulse response and related transients. In that context the proposed method produces accurate results as well, and outperforms IFT related techniques.     

Modelling solar effects on the heat and mass transfer in a street canyon, a simplified approach

In urban areas, the climatic loads on buildings in summer conditions are largely affected by solar radiation. In this paper a modified simplified method for radiant interchange determination is used in a solar energy study. The good agreement with the radiosity method allows one to use this simplified method in the street canyon case. In a building pilot study, parametric analysis and building thermal behaviour can be assessed by simplified models which are useful for long-period simulation. Then this radiant interchange model is introduced in a zonal model of a canyon street and performed with a variable climatic conditions show case. The solar radiation is the only driving force in the street air movement. The interest of such approach for complex coupled phenomena studies is highlighted by obtained results and the assessment of variable climatic loads for different building zones can be considered with the model detailed herein. Future developments are planned in order to improve simulation accuracy by the addition of other local phenomena.