基于火积理论的螺旋折流板换热器的优化结构分析

为了比较平面螺旋折流板换热器和折面螺旋折流板换热器的传热和阻力性能,应用了换热器常用评价标准PEC准则和火积理论对两种换热器实验结果进行了分析,同时采用火积耗散极值原理对两种换热器的传热火积耗散率、阻力火积耗散率以及总火积耗散率进行了对比。结果表明:火积耗散理论分析换热器性能的结果与传统换热器评价标准PEC准则相符,说明了火积耗散理论的可靠性;折面螺旋折流板换热器的综合性能得到了有效的改进,火积耗散率也均优于原始结构,表明折面螺旋折流板换热器的性能得到较大改善;两种换热器传热火积耗散率值要远远大于阻力火积耗散率,约为阻力火积耗散率的一千余倍,说明传热损失为换热器的主要不可逆损失。     

基于火积耗散热阻的新型板式省煤器传热分析

建立了新型板式省煤器的传热模型,计算了新型板式省煤器的火积耗散热阻以及空气侧压降,分析了新型板式省煤器结构参数及空气流速变化时,火积耗散热阻及空气侧压降的变化情况。研究结果表明:增大长轴可以减小火积耗散热阻,有利于提高板式省煤器的传热性能,并且空气侧压降变化幅度不大;增大短轴可以减小火积耗散热阻,有利于提高板式省煤器的传热性能,但空气侧压降增大;减小板束间距可以减小火积耗散热阻,有利于提高板式省煤器的传热性能,但空气侧压降增大,尤其是在板束间距小于20 mm时,继续减小板束间距会造成空气侧压降急剧增大;增大空气进口流速可以减小火积耗散热阻,有利于提高板式省煤器的传热性能,但空气侧压降增大,对换热器的磨损也会增加。     

Two energy conservation principles in convective heat transfer optimization

Improving heat transfer performance is very beneficial to energy conservation because heat transfer processes widely existed in energy utilization systems. In this contribution, in order to effectively optimize convective heat transfer, such two principles as the field synergy principle and the entransy dissipation extremum principle are investigated to reveal the physical nature of the entransy dissipation and its intrinsic relationship with the field synergy degree. We first established the variational relations of the entransy dissipation and the field synergy degree with the heat transfer performance, and then derived the optimization equation of the field synergy principle and made comparison with that of the entransy dissipation extremum principle. Finally the theoretical analysis is then validated by the optimization results in both a fin-and-flat tube heat exchanger and a foursquare cavity. The results show that, for prescribed temperature boundary conditions, the above two optimization principles both aim at maximizing the total heat flow rate and their optimization equations can effectively obtain the best flow pattern. However, for given heat flux boundary conditions, only the optimization equation based on the entransy dissipation extremum principle intends to minimize the heat transfer temperature difference and could get the optimal velocity and temperature fields.     

The thermodynamic basis of entransy and entransy dissipation

In the present work, the entransy and entransy dissipation are defined from the thermodynamic point of view. It is shown that the entransy is a state variable and can be employed to describe the second law of thermodynamics. For heat conduction, a principle of minimum entransy dissipation is established based on the second law of thermodynamics in terms of entransy dissipation, which leads to the governing equation of the steady Fourier heat conduction without heat source. Furthermore, we derive the expressions of the entransy dissipation in duct flows and heat exchangers from the second law of thermodynamics, which paves the way for applications of the entransy dissipation theory in heat exchanger design.     

Optimization principles for convective heat transfer

Optimization for convective heat transfer plays a significant role in energy saving and high-efficiency utilizing. We compared two optimization principles for convective heat transfer, the minimum entropy generation principle and the entransy dissipation extremum principle, and analyzed their physical implications and applicability. We derived the optimization equation for each optimization principle. The theoretical analysis indicates that both principles can be used to optimize convective heat-transfer process, subject to different objectives of optimization. The minimum entropy generation principle, originally derived from the heat engine cycle process, optimizes the convective heat-transfer process with minimum usable energy dissipation focusing on the heat–work conversion. The entransy dissipation extremum principle however, originally for pure heat conduction process, optimizes the heat-transfer process with minimum heat-transfer ability dissipation, and therefore is more suitable for optimization of the processes not involving heat–work conversion. To validate the theoretical results, we simulated the convective heat-transfer process in a two-dimensional foursquare cavity with a uniform heat source and different temperature boundaries. Under the same constraints, the results indicate that the minimum entropy production principle leads to the highest heat–work conversion while the entransy dissipation extremum principle yields the maximum convective heat-transfer efficiency.     

A new approach to analysis and optimization of evaporative cooling system I: Theory

Using the analogy between heat and mass transfer processes, the recently developed entransy theory is extended in this paper to tackle the coupled heat and mass transfer processes so as to analyze and optimize the performance of evaporative cooling systems. We first introduce a few new concepts including the moisture entransy, moisture entransy dissipation, and the thermal resistance in terms of the moisture entransy dissipation. Thereinafter, the moisture entransy is employed to describe the endothermic ability of a moist air. The moisture entransy dissipation on the other hand is used to measure the loss of the endothermic ability, i.e. the irreversibility, in the coupled heat and mass transfer processes – this total loss is shown to consist of three parts: (1) the sensible heat entransy dissipation, (2) the latent heat entransy dissipation, and (3) the entransy dissipation induced by a temperature potential. Finally the new thermal resistance, defined as the moisture entransy dissipation rate divided by the squared refrigerating effect output rate, is recommended as an index to effectively reflect the performance of the evaporative cooling system. In the end, two typical evaporative cooling processes are analyzed to illustrate the applications of the proposed concepts.     

Entransy flux of thermal radiation and its application to enclosures with opaque surfaces

Entransy is a new concept developed in recent years to measure the transport ability of heat at a temperature in conduction and convection. This paper develops the concept of entransy flux for thermal radiation in enclosures with opaque surfaces. The entransy balance equation and entransy dissipation function are derived. The minimum principle of radiative entransy loss is developed. The potentials and the heat fluxes distribution which meet the Stefan–Boltzmann’s law and the energy balance equation would make the radiative entransy loss minimum if the net heat flux of each surface or the thermal potentials of the surfaces are given. The extremum entransy dissipation principles (EEDP) for thermal radiation are developed. The minimum radiative entransy dissipation leads to the minimum average radiative thermal potential difference for prescribed total heat exchange and the maximum radiative entransy dissipation leads to the maximum heat exchange for prescribed average radiative thermal potential difference. The minimum and maximum principle can be concluded into the minimum thermal resistance principle (MTRP) for thermal radiation by defining the thermal resistance with the entransy dissipation. The EEDP or MTRP is proved to be reliable when they are used to optimize some radiative heat transfer problems, and a comparison is made between the minimum principle of entropy generation and the EEDP.     

Experimental exergy and entransy analyses on designed and fabricated crossflow heat exchanger

A crossflow heat exchanger (CFHEx) is designed and fabricated in a workshop. For designing this heat exchanger (HEx), the number of passes, frontal areas, HEx volumes, heat transfer areas, free-flow areas, ratios of minimum free-flow area to frontal area, densities, mass flow rates of flowing fluids, maximum/minimum heat capacities, heat capacity ratio, outlet temperatures of hot/cold fluids, average temperatures, mass velocities, Reynolds numbers, and convective heat transfer coefficients are evaluated by considering Colburn/friction factors. After fabrication of the HEx, effectiveness, exergy destruction, entransy dissipation, entransy dissipation-based thermal resistance, entransy dissipation number, and entransy effectiveness for hot/cold fluids sides are found at different flow rates and inlet temperatures of fluids. By experimental results, optimum operating conditions are found, which gives maximum effectiveness and entransy effectiveness but minimum rates of exergy destruction, entransy dissipation, entransy dissipation-based thermal resistance, and entransy dissipation number for the fabricated CFHEx. This study is concluded as follows: minimum exergy destruction and entransy dissipation rates (ie, 3.061 kJ/s·K and 1125.44 kJ·K/s, respectively) are found during experiment 2. Maximum entransy effectiveness of hot/cold fluids (ie, 0.689/0.21) is achieved in experiment 1. Moderate values of entransy dissipation number (ie, 4.689), entransy dissipation-based thermal resistance (ie, 0.04 s·K/J), exergy destruction (ie, 3.845 kJ/s·K), and entransy dissipation (ie, 1374.04 kJ·K/s) rates are found during experiment 1. Maximum effectiveness (ie, 0.4) for the fabricated HEx is also obtained through experiment 1. After comparative analyses, it is found that experiment 1 provides optimum results, which shows the best performance of the fabricated HEx.     

A new approach to analysis and optimization of evaporative cooling system II: Applications

After introducing the concepts of moisture entransy, moisture entransy dissipation and thermal resistance based on moisture entransy dissipation (TRMED) in part I of this study, we further analyze several direct/indirect evaporative cooling processes based on the above concepts in this part. The nature of moisture entransy, moisture entransy dissipation and TRMED during evaporative cooling processes was reexamined. The results demonstrate that it is the moisture entransy, not the enthalpy, that represents the endothermic ability of a moist air, and reducing the entransy dissipation by both enlarging the thermal conductance of heat and mass transfer, and decreasing the temperature potential of the moist air, i.e. the difference between the dry-bulb temperature of moist air over its dew-point temperature, will result in a smaller system TRMED, and consequently a better evaporative cooling performance. Then, a minimum thermal resistance law for optimizing evaporative cooling systems is developed. For given mass flow rates of both moist air and water, with prescribed moist air and water conditions, minimizing the TRMED will actually lead to the most efficient evaporative cooling performance. Finally, the thermal conductance allocation for an indirect evaporative cooling system is optimized to illustrate the application of the proposed minimum thermal resistance law.     

球突翅片的传热流动特性及等效热阻数值分析

为了提高翅片管换热器的传热系数和减小压降,提出了一种球突型翅片,通过数值模拟研究其传热与流动性能,同时应用(火积)耗散理论对其传热的不可逆性进行分析。计算结果表明:与平片相比,其传热能提高26.21%～39.53%,而阻力系数仅提高16.62%～27.04%,同时综合性能增加16.54%～32.56%;这说明该翅片具有高传热系数低压降的特点,是一种性能优良的翅片。通过(火积)耗散分析可以看出:球突翅片的等效热阻减小,其传热的不可逆性减弱。     

Entransy and exergy analyses for optimizations of heat-work conversion with carnot cycle

The concept of entransy has been newly proposed in terms of the analogy between heat and electrical conduction and could be useful in analyzing and optimizing the heat-work conversion systems.This work presents comparative analyses of entransy and exergy for optimizations of heat-work conversion.The work production and heat transfer processes in Carnot cycle system are investigated with the formulations of exergy destruction,entransy loss,work entransy,entransy dissipation,and efficiencies for both cases of dumping and non-dumping of used source fluid.The effects of source and condensation temperatures on the system performance are systematically investigated for optimal condition of producing maximum work or work entransy.     

Improvement of constructal tree-like network for “volume-point” heat conduction with variable cross-section conducting path and without the premise of optimal last-order construct

The constructal “tree-like” network has been proved an effective way for “volume-point” heat conduction. This paper aims to further improve the constructal “tree-like” network with the optimization objectives of minimizations of maximum thermal resistance and entransy dissipation rate respectively. By removing the constraint that the last-order construct must be optimal, and using variable cross-section conducting path, the maximum thermal resistance and entransy dissipation rate can be greatly reduced. It is also found that the optimal construct for minimum peak temperature is similar to the optimal one for minimum entransy dissipation rate. They hold the same shape and configuration, and the main difference of them is the shape of high-conductivity path.     

Constructal entransy dissipation rate minimization of a disc

Disc cooling problem is optimized by taking entransy dissipation rate minimization as optimization objective. The non-dimensional mean temperature difference of the disc cooling model with radial high conducting fins inserted is deduced. The effects of the fin geometry, the fin aspect ratio, the ratio between the high conductivity and low conductivity, the relative amount of high conductivity material and the number of high conducting fins on the entransy dissipation rate of disc cooling are analyzed. The optimization results show that the high conducting fin should be extended to the centre of circle as the heat transfer effect of the high conducting fins is improved, and there exists an optimal fin aspect ratio corresponding to minimum entransy dissipation rate for different high conducting effects of the fin, and the number of high conducting fins has a slight effect on the entransy dissipation rate. Comparison with those for maximum temperature difference minimization shows that the constructs based on entransy dissipation rate minimization are different from those based on maximum temperature difference minimization, but the optimal constructal shape changing potentials of the number of fins and the relative amount of high conductivity material are similar.     

Application of entransy dissipation theory in heat convection

In the present work, formulas for calculating the rates of the local thermodynamic entransy dissipation in convective heat transfer in general, and the internal and external flows in particular, are established. Practically, these results may facilitate the application of entransy dissipation theory in thermal engineering. Theoretically they shed light on solving the contradiction of the minimum entropy production principle with balance equations in continuum mechanics.     

An entransy dissipation-based optimization principle for building central chilled water systems

The recently developed entransy theory is introduced in this paper to tackle the heat transfer processes in building central chilled water systems so as to improve their energy efficiency. We first divide the irreversible heat transfer processes into four categories: (1) air mixing processes; (2) heat transfer processes between chilled water and air; (3) chilled water mixing processes; and (4) heat transfer processes between chilled water and refrigerant. The formulas of entransy dissipation rates for each irreversible process are derived, and then the total entransy dissipation rate in the whole chilled water systems is obtained, which connects the geometrical structures of each heat exchanger and the operating parameters of each fluid directly to the demands of users and the supply of refrigerating unit. Based on the formula of entransy dissipation rate together with the conditional extremum method in mathematics, two optimization equation groups are deduced theoretically. Simultaneously solving such equation groups will easily find the optimal central chilled water system with the highest energy efficiency. Finally, a simple building central chilled water system with two users is taken as an example to illustrate the applications of the newly proposed optimization principle.     

Application of Entransy Optimization to One-Stream Series-Wound and Parallel Heat Exchanger Networks

Entransy theory has developed in recent years to describe heat transfer behavior from another point of view. Entransy dissipation is proposed to evaluate the irreversibility of heat transfer and is used to optimize heat transfer processes. We apply this theory to the one-stream series-wound and parallel heat exchanger (HE) networks. The heat transfer optimization for the HE networks includes the distribution of the heat transfer area or heat load. The distribution of the cold fluid flow rate in parallel HE networks can also be optimized. For these problems, physical and mathematical models are set up, analyzed, and discussed with the entransy theory. It is found that the optimization objectives of these problems and the optimization directions of the extremum entransy dissipation principle are consistent. The optimized results for the distribution optimization problem with given heat load are in agreement with the uniformity principle of temperature difference field. Examples of simple one-stream HE networks are given; the distributions of the heat transfer area or heat load are optimized by the extremum entransy dissipation method.     

Analysis of two‐stage waste heat recovery based on natural gas‐fired boiler

Waste heat recovery (WHR) is crucial to the efficiency improvement of natural gas‐fired boiler systems. Two‐stage WHR systems based on the natural gas‐fired boiler were analyzed from the viewpoints of thermal efficiency and heat transfer irreversibility. An overall entransy dissipation‐based thermal resistance was derived to evaluate the irreversibility of WHR, including the entransy dissipations during condensation and in absorption heat pump (AHP). Compared with the basic WHR system, the two‐stage WHR systems have higher boiler efficiency and less irreversibility. The air‐humidified system recycles both the heat and vapor in flue gas, while the unutilized latent heat in the recovered vapor causes the boiler to be less efficient than the AHP system. Investigation on heat exchanger effectiveness of two‐stage WHR systems illustrated: in the two‐stage WHR system with air humidification, the increasing effectiveness of both heat exchangers could effectively increase boiler efficiency and reduce heat transfer irreversibility. In the two‐stage WHR system with AHP, boiler efficiency has a local optimum when the dew point occurs near the outlet of the first heat exchanger; increasing the second heat exchanger effectiveness is more efficient in improving boiler efficiency. The present work may provide available references and guidance for the design and optimization of the two‐stage WHR systems.     

基于恒截面流道矩形单元体的积耗散率最小传质构形优化

以质量积耗散率最小为优化目标,对恒截面高渗透率通道的矩形单元体传质构形问题进行了分析和优化,得到结构体内平均传质效果最好的结构外形。结果表明:对于单元体和各级构造体,其平均传质压差均为最大传质压差的2/3。因为高渗透率材料中质流率密度符合线性分布,所以基于积耗散率最小与最大压差最小的最优构形完全一致。所得最优构形同时使得传质能力和传质安全性最好。     

T–q diagram of heat transfer and heat–work conversion

The performance analysis of heat transfer and heat–work conversion is very important in energy utilization. T–q diagram for heat transfer is discussed and extended to heat–work conversion processes. The results show that T–q diagram is convenient for expressing entransy dissipation and analyzing heat transfer performance and can express work entransy and entransy loss intuitively. It could have an application in analyzing the performance of heat–work conversion processes.     

圆柱形内肋强化换热数值模拟与火积耗散分析

对内肋管内部流体的湍流换热过程进行了数值模拟,讨论了肋高和肋的轴向夹角对换热的影响。相比于普通圆管,内肋圆管内的传热性能明显得到提高。无量纲肋高度和角度分别为0.8°和40°时传热效果最佳,而在0.1°和40°时换热与阻力的比值(Performance Evaluation Criteria,PEC)最大,综合换热性能最佳,可用于强化地源热泵地埋管换热。此外,本研究从火积耗散与传热效率的角度分析了内肋强化传热机理,得到管壁冷却管内流体的火积传递效率计算式,为内肋管强化换热的深入分析提供了依据。