Title: Fast algorithm for modelling fluid flow and heat transfer in rotomoulding

Authors: Anton Ianakiev; Jo Darkwa

Addresses: School of ADBE, Nottingham Trent University, Burton Street, Nottingham, NG1 4BU, UK ' Centre for Sustainable Energy Technologies (CSET), University of Nottingham Ningbo, 199 Taikang East Road, Ningbo 315100, China

Abstract: This paper investigates the application of a fast algorithm technique to fluid flow and heat transfer modelling for the rotomoulding process. Transient heat transfer and fluid flow analysis in rotomoulding are computationally very intensive and time consuming with the bulk of the calculation time spent on modelling the fluid flow outside the mould. The elimination of this would speed the calculations significantly. Essentially the connection between the hot fluid and the solid mould in a convection process is the heat transfer coefficient. By varying heat transfer coefficients for the nodes of the mould during one rotation, the fluid flow was able to be simulated. The process was repeated several times for a number of rotations and the results were found to be fairly close to those of the single rotation. The method can be very useful in simulation of large and complex rotomoulded products like rainwater tanks.

Keywords: heat transfer coefficient; fluid flow; rotomoulding; modelling; simulation; rainwater tanks.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDE.2012.053017

International Journal of Design Engineering, 2012 Vol.5 No.2, pp.142 - 157

Published online: 30 Aug 2014 *

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