How Can I Estimate Heat Transfer in a Rotating Cylinder with Flow on Both Sides?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around estimating heat transfer in a rotating cylinder with fluid flow on both the inside and outside. Participants explore various approaches to model the heat transfer, including assumptions about flow conditions and the geometry of the problem.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Technical explanation
  • Debate/contested
  • Mathematical reasoning

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests treating the problem as a 1D wall problem with moving flow on both sides, seeking a method to estimate wall temperature based on known inlet and outlet air temperatures.
  • Another participant advises using a counterflow design for maximum heat transfer efficiency, indicating a potential design consideration for heat exchangers.
  • A participant questions the location of the heat source, proposing to first analyze the scenario with a stationary cylinder before considering rotation, noting that the main difference would be in the velocities.
  • One participant provides a Nusselt number approximation for a rotating cylinder and expresses uncertainty about how to apply this to the inner flow, suggesting a flat plate analogy.
  • Concerns are raised regarding discrepancies between CFD results and analytical solutions, with one participant suspecting issues with the CFD setup, such as reference temperature settings.
  • There is a suggestion to simplify the problem by assuming a non-rotating cylinder and adjusting velocities, likening it to a single-tube heat exchanger scenario.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express various approaches and assumptions, with no consensus reached on the best method to estimate heat transfer in the rotating cylinder. Disagreements exist regarding the application of models and the interpretation of CFD results.

Contextual Notes

Participants note limitations in their current understanding of Nusselt numbers and heat transfer coefficients, as well as potential issues with the CFD analysis that may affect the accuracy of their results.

minger
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This should be a fairly easy problem, although my Heat Transfer is quite rusty. I'm trying to get a ballpark estimate for a rotating cylinder that has flow on both the inside and outside.

I know the temperature of the air at the inlet and outlet and am trying to get a decent estimation for the wall temp. I would be happy assuming that I'm doing a 1D problem at both inlet and outlet and then letting the numerical program converge the answer (more complex geometry than just cylinder).

I was treating this as basically a 1D wall problem with moving flow on both sides. I have velocities on both sides and am struggling with how to proceed. I'm looking through my textbook but can't seem to find a decent Nusselt number or anything. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong place though.

On second though, perhaps I can treat it as two separate "Flow over a Flat plate" problems and then just use each solution separately for heat transfer coefficients. From that point, I can just do a simple wall problem. Would this get my in the ballpark?

Thanks
 
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I understand you are designing a heat exchanger. Be sure to use a counterflow design to get maximum benefit of the heat transfer.
 
Where exactly is your heat source? Is it from one of the fluids or from the cylinder itself? I would first try the problem assuming the cylinder is stationary, then assume its rotating. The only difference between the two should be that your velocities slightly change direction and magnitude.

Are you trying to solve this problem with FEA or by hand?
 
The heat is coming from the fluid itself. I was thinking the same thing regarding the rotation. The problem is structural in nature. We were assuming constant temperature profile to being, but getting some less-than-optimum answers, so we figured we'd delve in a little further.

I was able to find a journal article that gives a Nusselt number approximation for a rotating cylinder as
Nu = 0.6366\left[\frac{D^2 \Omega}{2\nu}Pr\right]^{1/2}
Which I can believe for the outside. The inside however I'm not entirely sure how to get. Flat plate? Not sure.

The CFD has been ran and the film coefficient (what CFX calls it) is orders of magnitude smaller than the analytical solution. So this leads me thinking that something is screwy with the CFD run (reference temperature, etc).

Ideally there would be something like a heat exchanger relationship. I guess I can assume the cylinder non-rotating and adjust the velocities. Then I just have a cylinder with both inner and outer flow. Sounds like a single-tube heat exchanger.

edit: What the deuce is wrong with tex right now?
 

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