A transient 3-D inverse problem in imaging the time-dependent local heat transfer coefficients for plate fin

The local time-dependent surface heat transfer coefficients for plate finned-tube heat exchangers are estimated in a three-dimensional inverse heat conduction problem. The inverse algorithm utilizing the steepest descent method (SDM) and a general purpose commercial code CFX4.4 is applied successfully in this study in accordance with the simulated measured temperature distributions on fin surface by infrared thermography. Two different heat transfer coefficients for staggered as well as in-line tube arrangements with different measurement errors are determined. Results of the numerical simulation show that the reliable estimated heat transfer coefficients can be obtained by using the present inverse algorithm.