Optimal distribution of a heat source within a thermopenetrator

Abstract

Heat conduction within a heater of an arbitrary shape is investigated. A mathematical model is presented as a mixed boundary-value problem for the Poisson equation converted into a Fredholm boundary integral equation of the first kind which is solved numerically. A closed-form solution for the particular case of a rectangular heater is also found. Provided that the temperature and heat flux on the heater's boundary are given, the problem is treated as an inverse problem where the heat source distribution within the heater is the unknown function. The existence of the unique solution of this inverse problem is proved. Finally, the problem is solved numerically for a one-dimensional heat source. © 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.