HollowBlock
Created Monday 08 April 2013
This model defines the basic geometric parameters of a hollow block.
1. Purpose of Model
The model is used to define the geometry of a block-shaped control volume of the level of detail L2.
2. Physical Insight
The volume and heat transfer area of the block are calculated according to the following properties:
- Block height
- Block length
- Block width
- Block flow orientation
3. Limits of Validity
4. Nomenclature
5. Governing Equations
5.1 System Description and General Model Approach
This model defines geometrical properties of a block shaped shell. The orientation of the block and the understanding of its main dimensions is always the same, as illustrated below. Furthermore, there is an orientation of the shell flow defined via flowOrientation. This parameter can be one of "vertical" and "horizontal".
5.2 Governing Model Equations
The hollow block geometry is characterized by its length, width, height and flow orientation.
The volume 
is calculated via the standard equation for a cuboid in Eq. 1.
The frontal area 
is defined according to the flow orientation of the block (see Eq.2).
For the geometry of a hollow block the cross sectional area 
is identical to the frontal area.
The nominal horizontal area is calculated via Eq.4.
is identical to 
for flowOrientation vertical.
The vector of the heat transferring area 
is calculated depending on the flow orientation. For a hollow block geometry 
only the lateral surface of the block is determined according to Eq. 5.1.
The fillable height of the component is equivalent to the height of the block.
6. Remarks for Usage
Whenever the block's volume or its cross section is zero or negative an assert will raise an error message. Additionally, z_in and z_out must be smaller than height_fill and greater equal than 0.
- A_cross > 0
- volume > 0
- z_in < height_fill
- z_out < height_fill
- z_in >= 0
- z_out >= 0
7. Validation
8. References
9. Version History
20.02.2012 - v01 - Initial implementation - Friedrich Gottelt, XRG Simulation GmbH
07.03.2016 - v1.1.0 - introduced assert for inlet outlet height outside the component - Friedrich Gottelt, XRG Simulation GmbH