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Abstract
A procedure is presented for obtaining a shape factor for transient heat conduction in arbitrary objects for which no
analytical solution exists. Such a shape factor is the dominant parameter in the prediction of heat transfer processes.
The procedure has been applied and compares favourably with other existing methods. Some data is given for transformation between the dierent parameters that are in use to describe shape or geometry, including those for an
equivalent one-dimensional object.
# 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.
Keywords: Heat transfer; Convection; Geometric factor
1. Introduction
For prediction of cooling, heating, freezing or thawing processes shape factors are often used. Many dierent denitions of shape factors do exist in literature. An
extensive overview can be found in the reference work
of Cleland [1] and a practical example in the ASHRAE
handbook [2].
The shape factor for a particular object can be dened
as the ratio of process time for a slab and that object. In
such a case, the shape factor not only depends on the
geometry of the object, but also on other thermal properties and the boundary conditions. The shape factor
can then be dierent for cases with and without change
* Corresponding author. Tel.: +31-15-278-6061; fax: +3115-278-1204.
E-mail address: g.c.j.bart@tn.tudelft.nl (G.C.J. Bart).
0140-7007/03/$30.00 # 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd and IIR. All rights reserved.
PII: S0140-7007(02)00079-8
Nomenclature
A
Bi
E
F
fshape
Fo
L
Nu
q
rc
R
S
t
T
(hT i)
T0
V
x
x0
X
Z
Greek symbols
heat transfer coecient (W m2 K1)
zero of Bessel function, dimensionless
G
geometric factor, dimensionless
l
thermal conductivity (Wm1 K1)
parameter for geometry, dimensionless
coordinate, dimensionless
temperature, dimensionless
time, dimensionless
Subscripts
i
internal
pen
penetration
r
relative
z
z-direction
When the analytical solution for transient heat transfer with boundary condition of the rst kind is known,
the shape factors can easily be rated. In this way, values
for rectangular parallelepipeds and nite cylinders are
readily available. It has been shown for such common
objects [6,7], that the thermal response, i.e. mean
enthalpy as a function of dimensionless time, is quite
similar for objects having the same shape factor and the
same characteristic size.
361
Once the shape factor of an object is known its thermal response can be obtained by using the thermal
response of another object with the same shape factor
and known thermal response. For instance, the thermal
response of an ellipsoid can be replaced by the thermal
response of an equivalent rectangular parallelepiped. In
addition, procedures exist [8,9] for a direct and simple
estimation of the thermal response of an arbitrary object
by using the shape factor or the closely related internal
Nusselt number as a parameter. However, the accuracy
of these methods has not yet been fully assessed.
In this paper we present a geometrical interpretation
of the shape factor and derive a method to assess shape
factors of convex objects for which an analytical solution does not exist. The results are compared with other
methods for arbitrary shapes, available in the literature
[1012].
Finally, a procedure is outlined to formulate a onedimensional nite dierences object with arbitrary
shape factor. As indicated by Fikiin [5], such an object
can save considerable computing time in comparison
with the corresponding multidimensional solution.
362
q i hTi T0
6i V 32
fshape
lS
2
i X 2
SX
fshape
l
V
4
can be considered as a mixed physical quantity depending on two dierent denitions for shape.
A better standardization in denitions and nomenclature will be benecial for international cooperation
between researchers in this eld.
In an earlier publication [6] the shape factor fshape has
been formulated and determined, see Table 1, for different objects with readily available analytical solution,
e.g. slab, rectangular parallelepiped, nite full cylinder,
sphere and hemisphere. Additional information for
more elaborate cases as, for example, nite hollow
cylinders is also available [7].
2.2. Interpretation of shape factor
Once the shape factor has been found for many differently shaped objects, e.g. the data given in Table 1, an
attempt can be made to understand which parameters of
the geometry determine the shape factor. First, it can be
noticed that sphere and cube, with heat uxes directed
to a single point, have a lower shape factor than innite
cylinder or innite square rod, where heat uxes are
directed to a line. The highest shape factor is found for
the innite slab, with heat uxes directed to a at plane.
It can be concluded that the dimensionality of the heat
transfer process is an important parameter.
Further, cube (fshape=0.3333) and innite square rod
(f
=0.5) have
lower shape factor than sphere
shape
fshape 0:4444
respectively
innite
cylinder
(fshape=0.5859). So, apparently also the smoothness of
the outer surface plays a role. Both eects, dimensionality and smoothness, can be taken together in a single
statement or interpretation. The more, after initial
penetration, heat uxes entering from the outer surface
have to concentrate or to converge the lower the shape
factor becomes.
V/S
fshape
1
1
Ly
1
Lx2
L12 L12
y
z
2
1
1
1
Lx
Ly
Lz
Rectangular parallelepiped:
dimensions: 2 Lx, 2 Ly, 2 Lz
1
Lx
Lz
R/2
2:40482
2
Sphere: dimension: R
R/3
4/9=0.4444
L1z
1/2
Cube: dimension: 2 Lz
Lz/3
1/3
1
Lz
2 R/9
2
R
1
Lz2
0:5859
42:4048
2 R 2
2
1
2
Lz R
0.404
363
Fig. 2. Rectangular parallelepiped with inner isothermal surface with pentration depth and radius of curvature rc.
364
Lz 2Lz2
1
V
2R 3R 2
Lz
S
Lz 2Lz2
1
2
R
R
11
S
2Lz Lz R=2 R 2
12
1
9
V R
2 3Lz =R
Spen
1
1
10
R
R Lz
S
and sphere A=1. Both models of Lin show some nonsmooth behaviour for aspect ratios between 0.1 and 1
and produce somewhat conicting results for aspect
ratios about 1. The model of Yilmaz behaves strange
about aspect ratio 1 and shows severe deviations from
the other models for aspect ratios about 0.1. An additional independent reference is therefore needed, for a
reliable judgement of the accuracy of dierent methods.
Hence, we carried out the same procedure for the case
of a nite cylinder, for which an exact analytical
expression for the shape factor is available, see Table 1.
The results were collected in Fig. 6. The estimation
method developed in this paper always produces values
of the shape factor that are within 0.01 from the values
found with the exact analytical expression. All other
models show larger deviations. Especially the minimum
and the behaviour about the minimum are better predicted by the estimation method described in this paper.
The dierences between the exact analytical solution
and the models of Lin and Yilmaz can be seen in Fig. 6,
while the dierences between our model and the models
of Lin and Yiimaz could be estimated from Fig. 5.
These data suggest that in general the model we developed gives quite reliable results. The model seems to
behave smoothly and no big dierences with exact
solutions have been found until now.
365
Sx
xS v1
1
S
vV
13
xS
vV
v1
xS
1
d
V
14
15
16
17
366
fshape
2
1
2
18
6. Conclusions
A relatively accurate method was developed for
assessing the shape factor of irregular objects.
Better intuitive understanding and interpretation of shape factor were acquired.
In Section 2.1 equations were presented to connect dierent existing parameters from literature, which dene the geometry of an object.
An equivalent one-dimensional articial object
was dened that is described with a parameter .
A graph was presented that gives the relation
between parameter and shape factor fshape.
References
[1] Cleland AC. Food refrigeration processes, analysis, design
and simulation. London: Elsevier Applied Science; 1990.
[2] Parsons RA, editor, 1998 ASHRAE handbookrefrigeration: SI-edition. Altanta: American Society of Heating,
Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers Inc, 1998.
[3] Schlunder E-U, editor, VDI-Wameatlas, Berechnungsblatter fur den Warmeubergang. Dusseldorf: VDI, Verlag,
1988.
[4] Fikiin KA, Fikiin AG. Mode`le numerique du refroidissement de matie`res alimentaires et dautres corps solides de
forme geometrique variee. Int J Refrig 1989;12(4):22431.
[5] Fildin KA. Solution numerique generalisee du proble`me
de la conduction thermique dans les solides de diverse
conguration lors dun refroidissement convectif. Int
J Refrig 1992;15(4):2216.
[6] Bart GCJ. Estimation of freezing or chilling behavior. Int
J Refrig 1998;21(1):5563.
367