Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD)

Abstract:

This study evaluated thermal management in a cylindrical cooling system with O-ring heat sources, targeting electronics and industrial applications. Proportional (P), Proportional-Integral (PI), and Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controllers were tested using trial-and-error tuning. A hollow cylinder with four heat sources and a central temperature probe was analyzed, with airflow managed via the Galerkin finite element method solving Navier-Stokes and heat equations. Key metrics—overshoot, rise time, and steady-state error—were assessed, alongside the influence of Reynolds, Richardson, and Grashof numbers on the Nusselt number. Higher Kp reduced steady-state error, while tuned Ki and Kd improved settling time and stability. The PI controller achieved zero steady-state error fastest but with higher overshoot; Kd adjustments enhanced stability. The findings offer insights for optimizing controller tuning in thermo-fluidic systems.