Steady-state analysis for a class of hyperbolic systems with boundary inputs

Results of a steady-state analysis performed for a class of distributed parameter systems described by hyperbolic partial differential equations defined on a one-dimensional spatial domain are presented. For the case of the system with two state variables and two boundary inputs, the analytical expressions for the steady-state distribution of the state variables are derived, both in the exponential and in the hyperbolic form. The influence of the location of the boundary inputs on the steady-state response is demonstrated. The considerations are illustrated with a practical example of a shell and tube heat exchanger operating in parallel- and countercurrent-flow modes.