Simulation of heat transfer in Poiseuille pipe flow via generalized finite difference method with a space stepping algorithm

The aim of this paper is to propose an efficient numerical scheme to deal with heat transfer problems in pipe flow with a large length/diameter ratio. The generalized finite difference method (GFDM) is combined with a space stepping algorithm (SSA) for the solution. The SSA divides the solution domain into a number of overlapping sections in the length direction of the pipe. Due to the large Peclet number, the heat transport process is dominated by advection, which allows an approximate boundary condition to be applied at the downstream cross section. The problem is then solved section by section. Using the uniform distributed points, the solution matrix for each section does not change, and only the right hand side needs to be refreshed for the changing boundary conditions. This leads to a highly efficient scheme for problems with a large pipe length. To show the accuracy of the numerical scheme, a problem with available analytical solution is studied. Then the method is applied to problems of single pipe with different pipe wall temperature and flow Reynolds number, and concentric annular pipe. Numerical results confirm the stability and efficiency of the GFDM-SSA. The method can be applied to many real world transient heat transfer problems in which the pipe is heated or cooled along its length with arbitrary wall temperature for heat exchange and other purposes.