Modeling Heat Transfer w/ Fluid in COMSOL
 

Does anyone here have experience with COMSOL?

I want to model a system where i have a fluidic channel containing warm fluid running through a block and I want to analyze the heat transfer from the channel into the block .

To establish the warm fluid I put an initial temperature condition at the inlet of the channel. But I think this limits my model since the heat isn't being "carried" by the fluid down the length of the channel. For example I don't see much difference when varying the flow rate which I would expect.

Does anyone know what would be better boundary conditions for this model? Can I put in an equation for heat flux? What variables should the equation include? Should I apply it to the inlet or the walls of my channel?

Thanks!

wall boundary conditions
 

Hi,

If you have inlet boundary conditions as inlet flow velocity and inlet temperature, COMSOL will solve the problem according to the wall boundary condition which could be either constant temperature or constant heat flux. When you obtain the solution for either wall BC, check your results with heat transfer books (i.e., Nusselt numbers for laminar and turbulent flows).

Good luck