An algebraic solution for a 2-D partial differential energy equation with a Robin boundary condition generated from the simpler solution for a Dirichlet boundary condition (Q1130397)

Theoretical and numerical analyses for predicting \(\theta_b(z)\) -- the mean bulk temperatures of hot fluids flowing inside circular tubes are conducted. Heat exchange between an internal forced flow and an external, normal forced flow of a cold fluid occurs through the tube wall. The mathematical formulation of this combined internal/external convection problem is given by the 2-D partial differential equation of parabolic type \[ (1-r^2){\partial\theta\over\partial z}={1\over r}{\partial\over\partial r} \left(r{\partial\theta\over\partial r}\right) \] with the following boundary conditions \(\theta(1,r)=1\), \(\partial\theta/ \partial r| _{r=0}=0\), \(-\partial\theta/\partial r| _{r=1}=c\theta(z,1)\). The temperature field \(\theta(z,r)\) is determined numerically. Another mathematical model for determining \(\theta_b(z)\) is a 1-D lumped model: \(d\theta_b(z)/dz=-a(z)\theta_b(z), \theta_b(0)=1\). The aim of the paper is to critically examine the thermal response of the internal flows implementing two different mathematical models: the 2-D differential-based model and the 1-D lumped model. The authors' conclusion is that the 1-D lumped model provides accurate estimates of \(\theta_b(z)\) when compared with the exact ones computed with the 2-D distributed model.