This MATLAB simulation solves the heat equation in a 1D, plane wall in the steady state. The boundary condition on the right side of the wall is convection with ambient fluid temperature T_∞,R and convection coefficient h_R. The boundary condition on the left side of the wall can be chosen with the radio buttons. Options include constant surface temperature at T_s,L, constant surface heat flux at q_s”, and convection with ambient fluid temperature T_∞,L and convection coefficient h_L. Adjust all parameters with the respective slider bar and observe the change in the spatial temperature (left plot) and heat flux (right plot) profiles. Note that the uniform volumetric heat generation q and the thermal conductivity of the wall k can also be adjusted. Edit the slider bar limits in the m-file to change the available range of parameters. Note that all initial values must be within the range of the slider limits.
NOTE: To simulate a constant surface temperature on the right hand boundary, increase h_R to infinity (>10,000 W/m²K).

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About:

This simulation was made at the University of Colorado Boulder, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering.  Author: Keith Regner