System-Level Heat Exchanger (TL-G)
Heat exchanger based on performance data between thermal liquid and gas networks
Since R2023b
Libraries:
Simscape /
Fluids /
Heat Exchangers /
Thermal Liquid - Gas
Description
The System-Level Heat Exchanger (TL-G) block models a heat exchanger based on performance data between a thermal liquid and a gas network.
The block uses performance data from the heat exchanger datasheet, rather than the detailed geometry of the exchanger. You can adjust the size and performance of the heat exchanger during design iterations, or model heat exchangers with uncommon geometries. You can also use this block to model heat exchangers with a certain level of performance at an early design stage, when detailed geometry data is not yet available.
You parameterize the block by the nominal operating condition. The block sizes the heat exchanger to match the specified performance at the nominal operating condition at steady state.
This block is similar to the Heat Exchanger (G-TL) block, but uses a different parameterization model. The table compares the two blocks:
Heat Exchanger (G-TL) | System-Level Heat Exchanger (TL-G) |
---|---|
Block parameters are based on the heat exchanger geometry | Block parameters are based on performance and operating conditions |
Heat exchanger geometry may be limited by the available geometry parameter options | Model is independent of the specific heat exchanger geometry |
You can adjust the block for different performance requirements by tuning geometry parameters, such as fin sizes and tube lengths | You can adjust the block for different performance requirements by directly specifying the desired heat and mass flow rates |
You can select between parallel, counter, shell and tube, or cross flow configurations | You can select between parallel, counter, or cross-flow arrangement at nominal operating conditions to help with sizing |
Predictively accurate results over a wide range of operating conditions, subject to the applicability of the E-NTU equations and the heat transfer coefficient correlations | Very accurate results around the specified operating condition; accuracy may decrease far away from the specified operating conditions |
Heat transfer calculations account for the variation of temperature along the flow path by using the E-NTU model | Heat transfer calculations approximate the variation of temperature along the flow path by dividing it into three segments |
Heat Transfer
The block divides the gas flow and the thermal liquid flow each into three segments of equal size. The block calculates heat transfer between the fluids in each segment. For simplicity, the equation in this section are for one segment.
If you clear the Wall thermal mass check box, then the heat balance in the heat exchanger is
where:
Qseg,G is the heat flow rate from the wall that is the heat transfer surface to the gas in the segment.
Qseg,TL is the heat flow rate from the wall to the thermal liquid in the segment.
If you select Wall thermal mass, then the heat balance in the heat exchanger is
where:
Mwall is the mass of the wall.
cpwall is the specific heat of the wall.
N = 3 is the number of segments.
Tseg,wall is the average wall temperature in the segment.
t is time.
The heat flow rate from the wall to the gas in the segment is
where:
UAseg,G is the heat transfer conductance for the gas in the segment.
Tseg,G is the average temperature for the gas in the segment.
The heat flow rate from the wall to the thermal liquid in the segment is
where:
UAseg,TL is the heat transfer conductance for the thermal liquid in the segment.
Tseg,TL is the average liquid temperature in the segment.
Thermal Liquid Heat Transfer Correlation
The heat transfer conductance on the thermal liquid side of the heat exchanger is
where:
aTL, bTL, and cTL are the coefficients of the Nusselt number correlation. These coefficients are block parameters in the Correlation Coefficients section.
Reseg,TL is the average Reynolds number for the segment.
Prseg,TL is the average Prandtl number for the segment.
kseg,TL is the average thermal conductivity for the segment.
GTL is the geometry scale factor for the thermal liquid side of the heat exchanger. The block calculates the geometry scale factor so that the total heat transfer over all segments matches the specified performance at the nominal operating conditions.
The average Reynolds number is
where:
is the mass flow rate through the segment.
μseg,TL is the average dynamic viscosity for the segment.
Dref,TL is an arbitrary reference diameter.
Sref,TL is an arbitrary reference flow area.
Note
The Dref,TL and Sref,TL terms are included in this equation for unit calculation purposes only, to make Reseg,TL nondimensional. The values of Dref,TL and Sref,TL are arbitrary because the GTL calculation overrides these values.
Gas Heat Transfer Correlation
The heat transfer conductance on the gas side of the heat exchanger is
where:
aG, bG, and cG are the coefficients of the Nusselt number correlation. These coefficients are block parameters in the Correlation Coefficients section.
Reseg,G is the average Reynolds number for the segment.
Prseg,G is the average Prandtl number for the segment.
kseg,G is the average thermal conductivity for the segment.
GG is the geometry scale factor for the gas side of the heat exchanger. The block calculates the geometry scale factor so that the total heat transfer over all segments matches the specified performance at the nominal operating conditions.
The average Reynolds number is
where:
ṁseg,G is the mass flow rate through the segment.
μseg,G is the average dynamic viscosity for the segment.
Dref,G is an arbitrary reference diameter.
Sref,G is an arbitrary reference flow area.
Note
The Dref,G and Sref,G terms are included in this equation for unit calculation purposes only, to make Reseg,G nondimensional. The values of Dref,G and Sref,G are arbitrary because the GG calculation overrides these values.
Pressure Loss
The pressure losses on the thermal liquid side are
where:
pA,TL and pB,TL are the pressures at ports A1 and B1, respectively.
pTL is internal thermal liquid pressure at which the block calculates heat transfer.
and are the mass flow rates into ports A1 and B1, respectively.
ρavg,TL is the average thermal liquid density over all segments.
is the laminar threshold for pressure loss, approximated as 1e-4 of the nominal mass flow rate. The block calculates the pressure loss coefficient, KTL, so that pA,TL – pB,TL matches the nominal pressure loss at the nominal mass flow rate.
The pressure losses on the gas side are
where:
pA,G and pB,G are the pressures at ports A2 and B2, respectively.
pG is the internal gas pressure at which the block calculates heat transfer.
ṁA,G and ṁB,G are the mass flow rates into ports A2 and B2, respectively.
ρavg,G is the average gas density over all segments.
ṁthres,G is the laminar threshold for pressure loss, approximated as 1e-4 of the nominal mass flow rate. The block calculates the pressure loss coefficient, KG, so that pA,G – pB,G matches the nominal pressure loss at the nominal mass flow rate.
Thermal Liquid Mass and Energy Conservation
The mass conservation for the overall thermal liquid flow is
where:
is the partial derivative of density with respect to pressure for the segment.
is the partial derivative of density with respect to temperature for the segment.
Tseg,TL is the temperature for the segment.
VTL is the total thermal liquid volume.
The summation is over all segments.
Note
Although the block divides the thermal liquid flow into N=3 segments for heat transfer calculations, it assumes all segments are at the same internal pressure, pTL. Consequently, pTL is outside of the summation.
The energy conservation equation for each segment is
where:
is the partial derivative of the specific internal energy with respect to pressure for the segment.
is the partial derivative of the specific internal energy with respect to temperature for the segment.
MTL is the total thermal liquid mass.
and are the mass flow rates into and out of the segment.
Φseg,in,TL and Φseg,out,TL are the energy flow rates into and out of the segment.
The block assumes the mass flow rates between segments are linearly distributed between the values of and .
Gas Mass and Energy Conservation
The mass conservation for the overall gas flow is
where:
is the partial derivative of density with respect to pressure for the segment.
is the partial derivative of density with respect to temperature for the segment.
Tseg,G is the temperature for the segment.
VG is the total gas volume.
The summation is over all segments.
Note
Although the block divides the gas flow into N=3 segments for heat transfer calculations, it assumes all segments are at the same internal pressure, pG. Consequently, pG is outside of the summation.
The energy conservation equation for each segment is
where:
is the partial derivative of the specific internal energy with respect to pressure for the segment.
is the partial derivative of the specific internal energy with respect to temperature for the segment.
MG is the total gas mass.
ṁseg,in,G and ṁseg,out,G are the mass flow rates into and out of the segment.
Φseg,in,G and Φseg,out,G are the energy flow rates into and out of the segment.
The block assumes the mass flow rates between segments are linearly distributed between the values of ṁA,G and ṁB,G.
Ports
Output
Conserving
Parameters
References
[1] Ashrae Handbook: Fundamentals. Atlanta: Ashrae, 2013.
[2] Çengel, Yunus A. Heat and Mass Transfer: A Practical Approach. 3rd ed. McGraw-Hill Series in Mechanical Engineering. Boston: McGraw-Hill, 2007.
[3] Mitchell, John W., and James E. Braun. Principles of Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning in Buildings. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley, 2013.
[4] Shah, R. K., and Dušan P. Sekulić. Fundamentals of Heat Exchanger Design. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2003.
[5] Cavallini, Alberto, and Roberto Zecchin. “A DIMENSIONLESS CORRELATION FOR HEAT TRANSFER IN FORCED CONVECTION CONDENSATION.” In Proceeding of International Heat Transfer Conference 5, 309–13. Tokyo, Japan: Begellhouse, 1974. https://doi.org/10.1615/IHTC5.1220.
Extended Capabilities
Version History
Introduced in R2023b