Fast, nonlinear network flow solvers for fluid and thermal transient analysis

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present a fast nonlinear solver for the prediction of transients in network flows.

Design/methodology/approach

Broyden method‐based nonlinear solvers are developed to solve the system of conservation equation for fluids by judiciously exploiting physical coupling among the equations.

Findings

To demonstrate the feasibility and robustness of the solvers, two test cases of practical engineering interest were solved. The results obtained by the solvers were verified against analytical results for a simplified case. The performance of the solvers was found to be comparable or better than existing solvers.

Originality/value

The proposed solver enables predictions of fluid and thermal transients in complex flow networks feasible in reduced computational time.

Citation

Majumdar, A.K. and Ravindran, S.S. (2010), "Fast, nonlinear network flow solvers for fluid and thermal transient analysis", International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, Vol. 20 No. 6, pp. 617-637. https://doi.org/10.1108/09615531011056791