ISSN Online: 2377-424X
ISBN Print: 0-89116-909-1
International Heat Transfer Conference 9
THE IMAGINARY PLANES METHOD APPLIED TO THE 3D SIMULATION OF THE TRANSIENT BEHAVIOUR OF METAL PROCESSING FURNACES
Abstract
A mathematical model has been developed for simulating the transient behaviour of the combustion chambers of metal processing furnaces. It is based on coupling the finite-volume solution of momentum, heat and mass transfer equations with the imaginary planes method (IPM) for the analysis of radiative heat transfer. This paper describes the model, gives details of the coupling mechanisms and discusses the advantages of IPM over the traditionally used flux and zone methods. Also, the effects of various simulation parameters and approximate coupling techniques on the accuracy and computation time are presented. An aluminum melter-holder furnace was simulated using this model. Results are presented which show that a semi-interactive coupling procedure is well adapted to the simulation of transient processes.