MODELLING AND SIMULATION OF DYNAMIC SYSTEMS

BASIC SYSTEM MODELS-THERMAL SYSTEMS

PUSHPARAJ MANI PATHAK

MECHANICAL & INDUSTRIAL ENGINEERING

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Introduction

There are only two basic building blocks for thermal

systems. These are
Resistance
Capacitance

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Thermal Resistance

There is a net heat flow between two points if there

is a temperature difference between them.
A relationship for thermal resistance can be defined
similar to that of an electrical resistance i.e.,
1 2
= (Similar to = )

Here q is rate of heat flow, and 1 2 is the
temperature difference

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 The value of thermal resistance depends on mode of heat
transfer i.e., conduction or convection.
For unidirectional conduction through a solid
( )
= 1 2

Where
A=cross sectional area of material through which heat is
being conducted
K=thermal conductivity of the material
L= length of the material between the points
Thus = /
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 For convection heat transfer (for example in liquid
and gases)
= (1 2 )
Where
A=surface area across which there is a temperature
difference
H= coefficient of heat transfer
Thus = 1/
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Thermal Capacitance
It is a measure of store of internal energy in a system.
Thus if input and output flow rate of heat are q1 and q2
respectively then
Rate of change of internal energy
= q1 - q2 =mc x (rate of change of temperature)

1 2 =


Where m is the mass, c is the specific heat capacity, is

rate of change of temperature

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 For electrical system
1 2 =
1
If C = mc = thermal =

capacitance, then
=

1 2 =

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Example 1: A thermometer
Let a liquid is at
temperature TL
A thermometer has T q

been inserted in it and

TL

it reaches a
temperature T
If the thermal resistance
is R then, heat flow from =

liquid to thermometer

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 Thermal capacitance of the thermometer is given by

1 2 =


1 0 = (since heat flow is only from liquid to

thermometer)

=

Since =
=

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=


+ = T q

This is a first order differential
TL

equation which indicates how

temperature indicated by
thermometer will vary with time for
a given liquid at temperature

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Example 2: Heating of a room

Let there is a thermal system

consisting of an electric fire in a C
T T0
room
Heat input by fire is q1 and heat loss q1 q2
from room is q2.
Air at room is at uniform
temperature T.
Surrounding temperature is T0.

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 Assume no heat storage by the
walls of the room. C

How room temperature will T T0

change with time?

Let the thermal capacity of the q1 q2

room be C then,

1 2 =

0
Also 2 = (R is wall thermal + = 1 + 0

resistance
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Example 3: Thermal system involving two
compartments
For first compartment T3

C q1 C q3
1 T1
1 + 2 = T2

1 3
1 = q q2

1 2 Compartment 1 Compartment 2
2 =

Substituting in first equation
1 3 1 2 1 1
+ = = 21 + 2 + 3

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For second compartment T3

C q1 C q3
2 T1
2 3 = T2

2 3
3 = q q2

Compartment 1 Compartment 2

(2 3 ) 2
2 =

2
= 1 22 + 3
(1 2 ) (2 3 ) 2
=

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Thank you

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