Numerical Transient Analysis of Parallel and Counter Flow Heat Exchangers

Numerical transient solutions of parallel and counter current heat transfer processes are obtained by the use of a finite element technique. Solutions provide the one dimensional temperature profile for both fluids of the heat exchangers.The results are verified with steady state and transient analytical or numerical solutions available in literature. The numerical method is applicable to the thermal analysis of anykind of parallel and counter flow heat exchanger with arbitraryinitial and inlet conditions.The main features of the mathematical model, adopted to solve the energy balance equations, is the use of the Galerkin finite elements method to linearize the system of partial differential equations.Very satisfactory results in extremely low computation time arerealized on a medium size computer.