Convection oriented heat exchanger model

The paper focuses on an accurate modeling of an outlet water temperature in a single phase water-to-air heat exchanger subject to dynamic changes on any inlet. Particularly, a convection character of the water stream is taken into account such that a finite, mass flow driven, temperature/information propagation speed through the heat exchanger is achieved. Finite difference approximation methods demonstrate numerical diffusion resulting in an infinite information propagation speed, therefore a “moving water element” approach is adopted and a convection oriented heat exchanger model is derived. Hybrid representation as well as a simplified discrete time model of the heat exchanger are given. An example showing improved convection behavior closes the paper.