Title: Entropy generation due to forced convection fluid flow about a solid sphere

Authors: M.A. Antar, M.A.I. El-Shaarawi

Addresses: Mechanical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), P.O. Box 535, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia. ' Mechanical Engineering Department, King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM), P.O. Box 535, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia

Abstract: The problem of entropy generation for laminar fluid flow around a solid sphere subjected to uniform heat flux is investigated numerically using a finite-difference technique. The governing continuity, boundary-layer momentum and energy equations were solved. The resulting velocity and temperature profiles were used to compute the local and average entropy generation around the sphere. The two components of the entropy generation, i.e., friction entropy generation and heat-transfer entropy generation, were calculated separately, compared to each other, and the total entropy generation was calculated. The effect of the controlling parameters such as Reynolds number, fluid Prandtl and Eckert numbers on entropy generation were investigated and presented.

Keywords: entropy generation; solid sphere; laminar fluid flow; forced convection; heat flux; finite difference; heat transfer; exergy.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2008.016015

International Journal of Exergy, 2008 Vol.5 No.1, pp.97 - 114

Published online: 02 Dec 2007 *

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