Heat Transport Calculations

     This application does one-dimensional heat transport calculations with heat transfer by convection on the boundaries. The temperature as a function of position are plotted in the graph. The temperature field is pictured in the graphic image with blue for cold and red for hot. The calculation procedure is:

  1. Set all desired parameters in the fields on the left
  2. Click Start to start the calculation. The result will be plotted in the graphic and pictured in an image.
  3. Click Pause at any time to pause the calculations. Paused calculations can be restarted be clicking Start again.
  4. Click Stop to stop the current calculations.

Specimen Constants

Setting Function
Geometry The 1D calculations can do a slab, a cylinder, or a sphere.
Thickness (mm) or Diameter (mm) Enter thickness of the slab or diameter of the cylinder or sphere in mm.
Initial T (C) Enter the initial temperature. The entire body will be at this temperature at time zero.
Reservoir T (C) Enter the temperature surrounding the body.
The temperatures are stated as in degrees C, but only the difference between the temperatures matters. Then can be entered in degrees K if desired. The body can be hot in cold reservoir (Initial T > Reservoir T) or vice versa.

Physical Constants

Setting Function
k (W/(m-K)) Enter thermal conductivity.
density (g/cm^3) Enter material density.
Cp (J/(kg-K)) Enter the constant pressure heat capacity.
h (W/(m^2-K)) Enter heat-convection coupling coefficient for the convection boundary conditions. A large value makes surface of body rapidly approach the reservoir temperature.
You can use the pop-up menu to select from among various common material types and the thermal conductivity (k), density, and heat capacity (Cp) for those materials will be inserted in the fields. Alternatively, you can enter any numbers into the fields:

Animation

Setting Function
Max time (sec) The calculations will stop if this time is reached.
Terminal T (C) The calculations will stop if the temperature at the center of the body reaches this value.
Speed Move the slider to control the speed of the animation.
You can change the speed at any time --- even in the middle of a calculation. Changes to any other settings while running or while paused, however, will not be used until you stop and then restart the calculations.

Credits

This Java application was written by John A. Nairn at Oregon State University.
Web Site: http://woodscience.oregonstate.edu/faculty/Nairn/