CL455

Autumn 2016

CL455: Problem 2

Heat Transfer in a Rod having a Heat Source and a Heat Sink

Problem definition:
To carry out CFD simulation to obtain the axial temperature profile in a solid rod having
constant temperature at both the ends, a heat source and a heat sink. The source causes
uniform generation of heat in the rod. The sink is in the form of heat loss to the
environment from the curved surface of the rod by convective heat transport.
To compare the axial temperature profile obtained by CFD simulation with the analytical
axial temperature profile given by:

Analytical temperature profile is obtained by assuming 1-D heat transfer. T is axial

temperature at position x. T1 is the temperature of one end of the rod (@ x=0), T2 is the
temperature of the other end of the rod (@ x = L). T is the temperature of the environment
(free stream temperature). h is heat transfer coefficient for the convective heat transport
from the rod to environment. P is the perimeter of the cross-section of the rod. A is the
cross-sectional area of the rod. k is thermal conductivity of the material of the rod. L is the
length of the rod. q is volumetric rate of heat generation.

Geometry and Conditions

Radius of the rod (r) = 1 cm
Length of the rod (L) = 30 cm
Rod is aligned along the x-axis
Temperature at the constant temperature end @ x = 0 (T1) = (310 + 10*group-number) K
Temperature at the constant temperature end @ x = L (T2) = 310 K

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Autumn 2016

Heat transfer coefficient for heat loss from the curved surface of the rod to the environment
(h) = 5 W/(m2.K)
Material of the rod is copper
Temperature of the environment or free stream (T) = 300 K
Volumetric rate of heat generation (q) = 1x107 W/m3
problem-2.msh, the file containing the geometry and mesh is provided. Fig.1 shows the
meshed geometry of the rod.

Procedure:
Computationally the problem is very simple as it involves solution of conduction equation
alone. Accurate solution is obtained even for very coarse grid such as the one shown in Fig.
1. If problem is setup correctly, solution converges in no time. Since the problem is very
simple and takes hardly any time for convergence you are expected to utilize the time to
explore the software yourself. Therefore, a detailed manual is not being provided for this
problem. However, some hints are given below.
1. Note that geometry was created in centimeters so do scaling before carrying out
simulation.
2. You will have to enable energy equation. By default it is not enabled. Explore the
software yourself to do so.
3. Choose copper as the material to be used. It is available in FLUENTs material
database.
4. Boundary conditions:
a. cons_temp_end refers to the end of the rod at x = 0 which is maintained at
constant temperature T1. Remember, the temperature you have to specify
at this boundary is a function of your group number.
b. insulated_end refers to the end of the rod at x = L which is maintained at
constant temperature T2. Please note that the same mesh file was used
earlier for simulating a problem in which the end at x = L was insulated. The
name of this boundary is coming from that problem. However, remember it is

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Autumn 2016

just a name, you can assign any heat transfer boundary condition at this
surface. You can even change the name of this boundary in FLUENT. In this
simulation you need to specify a constant temperature condition at this
boundary. The temperature here is T2.
c. curved_surface refers to the curved surface of the rod losing heat to the
environment. You have to specify the heat transfer coefficient and ambient
temperature (free stream temperature) at this boundary.
d. You may also see a field named heat generation rate in the window in which
you specify the heat transfer coefficient. But you need not specify anything
here.
5. Cell zone condition:
a. rod refers to the solid volume of the rod. Make sure copper is selected as the
material for this volume. The default material may be something else e.g.
aluminum.
b. You have to specify the volumetric heat generation source term here i.e.
1x107 W/m3.
6. Since the problem does not involve flow you can disable solution of flow equations.
Even if you do not do so their residuals will be printed as 0 as the solution proceeds.
7. Choose second order upwind discretization for energy equation.
8. In Residual Monitors, specify 1e-10 as the convergence criterion for energy equation.
Unless you keep it very small, solution will converge extremely fast and you will feel
as if solution has not proceeded at all. Enable plotting of residual.
9. Keep number of iterations to 50. You will find that residual falls to a very small value
and then become constant in a few iterations. Take the snapshot of residual versus
iteration plot (with date visible). This will be required for your report.
10. Save case and data files. You may need them later on.
11. Explore the software to create a line along the axis of the rod i.e. x-axis. You have to
plot the temperature along this line versus x-coordinate. Create a X-Y Plot. Enable
order points. Disable position on X axis options. Choose temperature & static
temperature in Y axis function and grid & X-coordinate in X axis function. Take a
snapshot of this plot for your report. The date should be visible in the plot. Export
this data of axial temperature versus x coordinate to a file as you will need to plot
this data along with the temperature obtained from the analytical expression on the
same graph.
12. Create a x-z plane. You have to see the temperature contours in this plane. While
seeing the temperature contour plot in x-z plane, enable filled option. Take a
snapshot of this contour plot for your report with date and scale visible.

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Autumn 2016

13. Additional simulations:

a. Division 1: What is the profile if the heat source term within the rod
reduced by 50%? Perform simulations and plot the axial variation of the
temperature for this case.
b. Division 2: What is the profile if the heat transfer coefficient for heat loss is
20 W/(m2.K)? Perform simulations and plot the axial variation of the
temperature for this case.