CHAPTER 4 Some Complications with Finite Difference Equations 4.1. FDEs IN NON-CARTESIAN COORDINATE SYSTEMS It is easier to represent the shape of some objects by a coordinate system other than cartesian. The general equation of heat conduction has already been described in both cylindrical polar and spherical polar coordinates in Section 2.3 of Chapter 2. We shall now see that these equations can be represented in FDE form by using the same methods as those used for the cartesian systems, 4. Cylindrical Polar Coordinates ‘The general equation of heat conduction in these coordinates (taking the thermal conductivity as constant) is er lor Ler er or PT Pe aa (The detailed derivation is given in Section 2.3 of Chapter 2.) The FDE which replaces the above PDE will be derived by the two main methods previously explained, direct replacement and energy balance. 41.) 4.1.2. Direct Replacement The geometric configuration is shown in Figs. 4.1 and 4.2. Equal increments of z, r and 8 are used. Directly replacing the above PDE will give the following FDE for node 0: Ty 2Ty+T, | Te 2T+ To Tax 2Te+ Ty Ti=2T04 Ts , Te 204 Te | (Ay & (To ~ Tu) wat (4.1.2) 6Some Complications with Finite Difference Equations e arrose -onis into page Fia. 4.1, Cylindrical coordinates. This of course is the fully explicit representation. The fully and partially implicit forms are discussed immediately after the energy balance derivation. 4.1.3. Energy Balance ‘Using Figs. 4.1 and 4.2 for reference, we shall evolve the energy balance for node 0, in terms of the rate of heat flow by conduction to 0 from its, 2ar ar a2] xl FiG, 4.2, Subdivision of cylindrical body with equal r and 9 increments.” Heat Transfer Calculations Using Finite Difference Equations neighbouring nodes, the rate of internal heat generation in the control volume represented by 0, and the rate at which the control valume isrisingin temperature: Rate of heat flow from node I to T,-1, node 0 by conduction = k(Az- Ar)( +2 788 Rate of heat flow from node 2 to A/T, node 0 by conduction = (AB -z)( ro + 2 IN we Rate of heat flow from node 3 to 7-7, node 0 by conduction = k(Az- an . i 2) Rate of heat flow from node 4 to node 0 by conduction = K(A0-Az2)( ry — Rate of heat flow from node 5 to node 0 by conduction = (ry AOAr) Rate of heat flow from node 6 to node 0 by conduction = k(r0Ar) (2) (4.1.3) Rate of internal heat generation in control volume Hx Control volume Hx (rgA0+ Ar Az) 14) The rate at which heat is transferred to the control volume can also be represented by the equation Q, = (Mass of control volume x Specific heat x Rate of change of node temperature) - sired ar-a2ye,( B= 2) (4.1.5) ‘Summing all the terms in eqns. (4.1.3) and (4.1.4), and equating this sum to