INTRODUCTION

The Finite Volume Method (FVM)

The Finite Volume Method is commonly used nowadays specifically in computational fluid
dynamic field. The finite volume method is the most natural discretization scheme, because it
makes use of the conservation laws in integral form [1]. There are three conservation laws that
are commonly known which are conservation of mass, conservation of momentum and
conservation of energy. The finite-volume method (FVM) is a method for representing and
evaluating partial differential equations in the form of algebraic equations [2].
This paper will mainly focusing on the finite volume method for one-dimensional steady state
diffusion. The general equation for this type of method is

( ) + = 0

where represent the diffusion coefficient, represent the dependent variable and S represent
the source term. will be replaced by thermal conductivity, k for the problem regarding Energy
Conservation, or by diffusivity, D for Mass Conservation problem. For , it will be replaced
by temperature, T for Energy Conservation problem while concentration, C for Mass
Conservation problem.
There are few steps in solving this type of Finite Volume Method which are:
Step 1: Grid Generation
The first step is to divide the domain into several discrete control volumes. This is done
by placing nodal points in between the two ends. The boundaries are is placed mid-way
between the nodes thus making the nodes surrounded by the control volume.
A specified node is noted by P while the neighbours is noted by W and E. The control
volume are that is between P and W is noted by w while between P and E is noted by e. The
distances between P and w is xPw while P and e is xPe. Similarly the distances between P and
W is xPW while P and E is xPE. The width between e and w is x=xwe.

Figure 1

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 Figure 2
Step 2: Discretisation
The key step in Finite Volume Method is the integration of governing equation over control
volume to yield discretised equation at its nodal point P. For the control volume defined above
this gives

( ) + = 0

( ) ( ) + = 0

Where A is cross sectional area of control volume face, V is the volume and S is the average
value of source over control volume.
In order to derive useful form of discretised equation, the interface diffusion coefficient ()

and the gradient at e and w are required. In common practice, the value of are defined and
evaluated at nodal points. For the gradients, the most obvious and simplest method to use is
Linear Approximation. This will gives

=
2

=
2
And the diffusive flux are evaluated as

( ) = ( )

( ) = ( )

As for source term, S the finite volume method approximates it by means of a linear form:
= +

Substitute these equations in the integrated equation will gives

2

( ) ( ) + + = 0

Rearranging this equation will gives

( + ) = ( ) + ( ) +

= + +


+

Table 1
Step 3: Solution to equation
The above equation will be used to solve the problems at each nodal points. For the control
volumes that are adjacent to the domain, the equation is modified to incorporate boundary
conditions.

OBJECTIVES
The objective of this Progress Report 2 is to prove the accurateness of the Finite Volume
Method while understanding more on the application on this method.

METHODOLOGY
The method used is by comparing the differences in terms of the temperature, T values
calculated using the Finite Volume Method and the exact solution.

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SAMPLE EXAMPLE
a) Consider a source-free heat conduction in an insulated rod whose ends are maintained
at constant temperature 100oC and 500oC respectively. Calculate the steady state temperature
distribution in the rod. Assume thermal conductivity, k is 1000 W/m/K, cross sectional area A
is 10 x 10-3 m2.

Figure 3
Solution
This example will solve a problem for simple diffusion involving conductive heat transfer. The
equation for one dimensional steady state conductive heat transfer is

( ) + = 0

where thermal conductivity, k takes the place of and the dependent variable, is temperature,
T.
Step 1: Grid Generation
Divide the length of the rod into five equal control volume as shown is figure below. This gives
x=0.1 m.

Figure 4

Step 2: Discretisation

( + ) = ( ) + ( )

As the rod is made up of the same material, so = = and = = . Also k, A and
node spacing, x are constants. Therefore the discretised equation for nodal 2,3, and 4 are
= +

4


+

Table 2
As for node 1 and 5, it is quite different. The integration of equation above over control volume
surrounding point 1 gives

( ) ( )=0
/2
Assuming linear relationship between temperatures at boundary point 1 and node P,
2 2
( + ) = 0. + ( ) + ( )

= + +

2 2
0 + ( )

Table 3
As for node 5, it is quite the same as node 1.

( ) ( )=0
/2
2 2
( + ) = ( ) + 0. + ( )

= + +

2 2
0 + ( )

Table 4
Step 3: Solution to equation
Node
1 0 100 200 TA -200 300
2 100 100 0 0 200
3 100 100 0 0 200
4 100 100 0 0 200
5 100 0 200 TB -200 300
Table 5

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The resulting algebraic equation for this example is
300 T1 = 100 T2 + 200 TA
200 T2 = 100 T1 + 100 T3
200 T3 = 100 T2 +100 T4
200 T4 = 100 T3 + 100 T5
300 T5 = 100 T4 + 200 TB

300 100 0 0 0 T1 200TA

100 200 100
0 0 T2 0
0 100 200 100 0 T3 0

0 0 100 200 100 T4 0
0 0 0 100 300 T5 200 TB

T1 140
T 220
2
T3 300

T4 380
T5 460

The exact solution is a linear distribution between specified boundary temperatures: T = 800x
+ 100. The answer for all the value of temperature, T at all nodes is the same which means that
the Finite Volume Method is correct.

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b) This problem will includes sources other than those arising from the boundary
conditions. Figure below shows a large plate of thickness L=2 cm with constant thermal
conductivity k=0.5 w/m/K and uniform heat generation q=1000 kW/m3. The faces A and B are
at temperatures of 100oC and 200oC respectively. Assuming that the dimensions in the y-
direction and z-direction are so large that temperature gradients are significant in the x-
direction only, calculate the steady state temperature distribution. Compare the numerical result
with the analytical solution. The governing equation is

( ) + = 0

Figure 5
Solution
Divide the domain into five control volumes giving x=0.004 m.

Figure 6
For node 2, 3 and 4

[( ) ( ) ] + = 0


[( ) ( )] + = 0


( + ) = ( ) + ( ) +

= + +


+ 0

Table 6
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For node 1,

[( ) ( ) ] + = 0


( ) ( ) + = 0
/2
= + +

2 2
0 + + ( )

Table 7
For node 5,

[( ) ( ) ] + = 0


( ) ( ) + = 0
/2
= + +

2 2
0 + + ( )

Table 8
Node
1 0 125 4000+250TA -250 375
2 125 125 4000 0 250
3 125 125 4000 0 250
4 125 125 4000 0 250
5 125 0 4000+250TB -250 375
Table 9

375 125 0 0 0 T1 29000

125 250 125
0 0 T2 4000
0 125 250 125 0 T3 4000

0 0 125 250 125 T4 4000
0 0 0 125 375 T5 54000

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 T1 150
T 218
2
T3 254

T4 258
T5 230

The next step is comparing with analytical solution. This is obtainable by integrating the
equation given twice with respect to x.

=[ + ( )] +
2
Node 1 2 3 4 5
x (m) 0.002 0.006 0.01 0.014 0.018
Finite volume
150 218 254 258 230
method (oC)
Exact solution (oC) 146 214 250 254 226
Percentage error
2.8 1.9 1.6 1.6 1.8
(%)
Table 10
The table shows that the differences between the value of the temperature between finite
volume method and exact solution did not exceed 5% for all nodes. This concludes that the
finite volume method is accurate actually and does not deviate much from the exact values.

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c) This problem will discuss the cooling of a circular fin by means of convective heat
transfer along its length. Convection gives rise to a temperature dependent heat loss or sink
term in the governing equation.
Figure below shows cylindrical fin with uniform cross sectional area, A. the base is at
temperature of 1000C (TB) and the end is insulated. The fin is exposed to ambient temperature
of 200C. One-dimensional heat transfer in this situation is governed by

( ) ( ) = 0

Where h is a convective heat transfer coefficient, P is parameter, k is thermal conductivity and
T is the ambient temperature. Calculate the temperature distribution along the fin and compare
the result with the analytical solution given by
[( )]
=
cosh()
Where n2=hp/(kA), L is length of the fin and x is the distance along the fin. Data: L=1 m,
hP/(kA)=25 m-2 (note kA is constant).

Figure 7
Solution
Dividing the domain into five control volumes giving x=0.2 m.

Figure 8
As kA=constant,

( ) 2 ( ) = 0

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The integration of above equation over control volume gives

[( ) ( ) ] [2 ( )] = 0

Using linear approximation for temperature gradient

( )( ) [2 ( )] = 0

Rearrange the equation to get
1 1 1 1
( + ) = ( ) + ( ) + 2 2 = 0

For node 2, 3 and 4

= + +

1 1
+ 2 2

Table 11
For node 1,

[( )( )] + [2 ( )] = 0

2

1 2 2
0 + 2 2 +

Table 12
For node 5, heat flux across the east is zero as it has insulated boundary,

[0 ( )] + [2 ( )] = 0


1
0 + 2 2

Table 13
Node
1 0 5 100 + 10 TB -15 20
2 5 5 100 -5 15
3 5 5 100 -5 15
4 5 5 100 -5 15
5 5 0 100 -5 10
Table 14
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 20 5 0 0 0 T1 1100
5 15 5 0
0 T2 100
0 5 15 5 0 T3 100

0 0 5 15 5 T4 100
0 0 0 5 10 T5 100

T1 64.22
T 36.91
2
T3 26.50

T4 22.60
T5 21.30
Comparing with the analytical problem
Node 1 2 3 4 5
x (m) 0.1 0.3 0.5 0.7 0.9
Finite volume
64.22 36.91 26.50 22.60 21.30
method (oC)
Exact solution (oC) 68.52 37.86 26.61 22.53 21.21
Percentage error
6.27 2.51 0.41 -0.31 -0.42
(%)
Table 15
From the table above, it is shown that the percentage difference between finite volume method
and exact solution does not deviate much between each other. This concludes that the finite
volume method is quite accurate and can be used.

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CONCLUSION
The objectives of this Progress Report 2 is to prove that the Finite Volume Method is
applicable to solve problems regarding the Fluid Dynamics. This is very crucial to be studied
as it is going to be used in the main project. Based on the calculation evaluated, it is notable
that this method is quite accurate with not more than 10% percentage difference from the exact
solution. Thus this method is applicable to be used in the main project.

REFERENCES
Main References
H. K. Versteeg and W. Malalasekera, The Finite Volume Method for Diffusion Problems, An
Introduction to Computational Fluid Dyanmics, Longman Scientific and Technical. 1995. Pg
85-102
Sub References
[1] http://www.iue.tuwien.ac.at/phd/heinzl/node25.html
[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Finite_volume_method#References

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