Heat transfer phenomena develop in various natural and artificially created processes. Fundamental laws of physics allow the transfer mechanisms to be classified; however, describing the phenomena is relatively complex, even if the analysis is limited to conduction. In particular, to determine the temperature distribution in a solid body, the definition of the boundary conditions that perturb it is required. Such conditions mathematically model a fluid’s hydrodynamic and thermodynamic behavior, and when the temperature differences are significantly high, the flow by radiation. It is then complex to define the functions of the thermal boundary conditions and solve the well-posed problem. Naturally, nonlinear system results and applying numerical methods are constant in the analysis. However, a unique solution for the thermal field in a solid does ensure. Alternatively, the scheme of the discretization of the system allows us to propose that through the knowledge of a fraction of the thermal field, the boundary condition is quantified independently of its nature. Such a procedure is called inverse analysis and has the characteristic of not satisfying the single solution criterion. However, some cases of interest can treat, and the estimate is guaranteed to be highly accurate.
Part of the book: Heat Transfer
Currently, shell and tube heat exchangers comprise a group of equipment called profitable interest due to their usefulness in various industrial sectors. Its appropriate design is coupled to processes in a sustainable development scenario, mainly for use in laboratories or home services. The semi-analytical analysis of these complex systems currently allows for achieving temperature control objectives in the substances used, such as water, without detailed modeling of the hydrodynamics that develop due to the flow conditions. For this purpose, the development of computational tools that implement algorithms based on correlations for determining Nusselt numbers is proposed. Specifying key correlations that determine optimal operating conditions can be used to define process efficiency and contribute to the concept of net zero energy. Simultaneously, the transfer of thermal energy can continue in subprocesses, contributing to reuse and reducing the carbon footprint if the source of the energy comes from fuels or to efficiency if it comes from renewable energies.
Part of the book: Innovative Heat Exchanger Technologies, Developments and Applications