Condensing Furnace Modeling Program

In response to increasing minimum efficiency standards, the natural gas furnace industry has turned to computer simulation models to aid the product design process. GTI and the Batelle Institute developed the computer model, FURNACE, to test new product design enhancements. However, this model was one-dimensional, and did not allow designers to investigate properties at specific points within the furnace – a key need to prevent local hot spots that can lead to metal fatigue.

The ERC Policy & Assessment Group assisted GTI in evolving the FURNACE program to a 3-dimensional model capable of simulating the overall performance of both non-condensing and high-efficiency condensing residential furnaces. ERC developed a model Windows interface for the original FURNACE program and validated the computation fluid dynamics solver, developed by Battelle. The new 3-D model aids designers through color contours of temperature and flow properties – key developments that allow identification of problem areas in new furnace designs.

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