TRANSIENT CONJUGATED HEAT-TRANSFER IN CONCENTRIC ANNULI

The paper presents a finite-difference scheme to solve the transient conjugated heat transfer problem in a concentric annulus with simultaneously developing hydrodynamic and thermal boundary layers. The annular forced flow is laminar with constant physical properties. Thermal transient is initiated by a step change in the prescribed isothermal temperature of the inner surface of the inside tube wall while the outer surface of the external tube is kept adiabatic. The effects of solid-fluid conductivity ratio and diffusivity ratio on the thermal behaviour of the flow have been investigated. Numerical results are presented for a fluid of Pr = 0.7 flowing in an annulus of radius ratio 0.5 with various values of inner and outer solid wall thicknesses.