Performance evaluation of a stack cooling system using CO2 air conditioner in fuel cell vehicles

A relation between the heat release from a fuel cell stack and an air conditioning system's performance was investigated. The air conditioning system installed in a fuel cell vehicle can be used for stack cooling when additional stack heat release is required over a fixed radiator capacity during high vehicle power generation. This study investigated the performance of a stack cooling system using CO₂ air conditioner at various operating conditions. Also, the heat releasing effectiveness and mutual interference were analyzed and compared with those for the conventional radiator cooling system with/without cabin cooling. When the radiator coolant inlet temperature and flow rate were 65 °C and 80 L/min, respectively, for the outdoor air inlet speed of 5 m/s, the heat release of the stack cooling system with the aid of CO₂ air conditioner increased up to 36% more than that of the conventional radiator cooling system with cabin cooling. Furthermore, this increased by 7% versus the case without cabin cooling.     

Etude des facteurs d'intensification de l'échange de chaleur dans le refroidissement des fruits et légumesInvestigating the factors for intensifying fruit and vegetable cooling

Increasing the rate of fruit and vegetable cooling is of economic significance for the following reasons: biochemical and microbiological processes are quickly suppressed; surface mass-exchange with ambient air is slowed down; power consumption is reduced, and the freezing output of cooling equipment and installations is increased.It was assumed that the fruits and vegetables in crates were arranged regularly and covered with thin paper of a negligible small thermal resistance in order to eliminate the infiltration of cold air within the layers. Crates were arranged on a pallet so that they touched horizontally. Thus, the packages form plates above and below the cooling air flow. Heat-exchange with a one-dimensional temperature field is established.It was found that intensification of cooling can be achieved by increasing the speed of cooling air as well as by stopping the process at a higher final temperature. Increasing the speed up to 5 m s^?1 shortens the time of the process by a factor of two compared with the low speeds (0.3–0.5 m s^?1) which are normally used. The product can be cooled until the temperature in the layer centre reaches 5°C, and the surface temperature about 2°C, which is low enough. Afterwards the cooled product is transferred to a freezing chamber or to a van-freezer. This factor results in a further halving of the cooling time. The combined effect of the two factors shortens the duration of the process by about 75% and increases the output of the cooling equipment from 3.5 to 4 times.     

Etude des facteurs d'intensification de l'échange de chaleur dans le refroidissement des fruits et légumes

Increasing the rate of fruit and vegetable cooling is of economic significance for the following reasons: biochemical and microbiological processes are quickly suppressed; surface mass-exchange with ambient air is slowed down; power consumption is reduced, and the freezing output of cooling equipment and installations is increased.It was assumed that the fruits and vegetables in crates were arranged regularly and covered with thin paper of a negligible small thermal resistance in order to eliminate the infiltration of cold air within the layers. Crates were arranged on a pallet so that they touched horizontally. Thus, the packages form plates above and below the cooling air flow. Heat-exchange with a one-dimensional temperature field is established.It was found that intensification of cooling can be achieved by increasing the speed of cooling air as well as by stopping the process at a higher final temperature. Increasing the speed up to 5 m s⁻¹ shortens the time of the process by a factor of two compared with the low speeds (0.3–0.5 m s⁻¹) which are normally used. The product can be cooled until the temperature in the layer centre reaches 5°C, and the surface temperature about 2°C, which is low enough. Afterwards the cooled product is transferred to a freezing chamber or to a van-freezer. This factor results in a further halving of the cooling time. The combined effect of the two factors shortens the duration of the process by about 75% and increases the output of the cooling equipment from 3.5 to 4 times.     

Cellulose-pad water cooling system with cold storage

The present study develops a cooling system using water as the working medium which is cooled at night by cellulose-pad cooling tower (CWCT) and stored for cooling application at daytime. That is, it utilizes the natural energy drawn from diurnal ambient air temperature difference. A cooling system was built and tested. It is found that the coefficient of performance of CWCT for heat dissipation of water at night, COP_nt, is between 3.8 and 11 and varies linearly with the evaporation temperature glide D_G (difference between cold water temperature in the storage tank and wet-bulb temperature of ambient air). The COP for room cooling at daytime run with air cooler in a room, COP_day, is between 8.8 and 12.6. For day cycle operation, the measured overall cooling COP_o is 5.1. COP_o is expected to reach 9.4 at room temperature 45 °C.     

板式蒸发式冷凝器传热传质的数值模拟

根据能量守恒和质量守恒定律,对板式蒸发式冷凝器中制冷剂、冷却水与空气之间的传热传质过程,建立了热质交换过程的二维数学模型,由此分析板式蒸发式冷凝器中冷却水温度、空气温度和空气含湿量等参数的分布规律,以及空气流速、干湿球温度、冷却水喷淋密度和冷凝温度对板式蒸发式冷凝器热流密度的影响,并将模拟结果通过实验进行了验证,两者之间的误差在10%以内。研究表明:板式蒸发式冷凝器的热流密度随进口空气流速的增加而增大,随湿球温度的升高而减小,几乎不受进口空气干球温度的影响;热流密度随着冷却水喷淋密度的增加逐渐增大,但增大至一定量后不再对热流密度有明显影响;冷凝温度越高,其热流密度越大。上述结论对板式蒸发式冷凝器的优化设计具有指导意义。     

Cooling processes and effects of crushed rock embankment along the Qinghai–Tibet Railway in permafrost regions

Crushed rock embankment (CRE) was most prevalent embankment structure with cooling measures along the Qinghai–Tibet Railway in permafrost regions. Ground temperature dataset from embankment construction (in 2002) to 2010 at nine monitoring sites along the railway were compiled to study long term cooling processes and cooling effects of CRE. Monitoring results indicated that the heat stored in filling materials could dissipate out in two cold seasons after embankment construction. Under cooling effect of CRE, permafrost tables beneath CRE moved upwards significantly during the first three years after embankment construction and then maintain almost constant. But underlying permafrost experienced different thermal process in relative warm and cold permafrost regions. In cold regions, underlying permafrost up to 14 m in depth experienced considerable cooling trends during the first five to sixth years after embankment construction. While in warm regions, the uppermost permafrost layer warmed after upwards movement of permafrost table, and underlying deep permafrost had no obvious cooling trends with time. Finally, differences in freezing and thawing seasons of, and differences in ground thermal regimes of cold and warm permafrost regions were investigated based on ground temperature from natural borehole. Then, the different cooling effects of CRE in two regions were interpreted based on these differences.     

Determination of transition temperatures during freezing and melting of interdendritic phases in Ni based superalloys

Abstract

Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) coupled with microstructural analysis has been used to characterise the freezing and melting response in a typical Ni based superalloy, CMSX10K. Transition temperatures and evolution of fraction solid (or liquid) during freezing and melting are determined from enthalpy considerations. Significant differences in heat capacity (C_P) curves exist between the heating and cooling. It is shown that differences between freezing and melting kinetics occur because of undercooling, which is most significant beyond the solidus temperature up to the onset of eutectic freezing. The correlation of DSC heating and cooling curves to quantitatively characterise directional solidification has been demonstrated.     

乳化炸药钢带凉药工艺的改进

分析了乳化炸药钢带凉药机的工作原理,针对钢带凉药机冷却能力低、与装药机能力不匹配的问题,提出了解决方案:将自然对流改为强制对流,提高对流换热系数;安装风冷循环系统,提高基质与冷风的温差等。经试验证明,该方案能实现钢带凉药机与装药机的产能匹配。     

Analytical solution for the simultaneous heat and mass transfer problem in air washers

An analytical solution approach for the simultaneous heat and mass transfer problem in air washers operating as evaporative coolers is presented. A one-dimensional model using the coupled mass and energy balance equations in the air washer is presented. Then, starting from a linear approach for the experimental curve of the air saturation, an analytical solution for the model was derived. The solution showed an excellent agreement with the available results found in the literature. The influence of several important parameters for the cooling process such as temperature and ambient air humidity, air flow rate and feeding water temperature, in the air cooling rate was investigated. The efficacy of the process can be greatly increased by reducing the cooling water temperature and the applied air flow rate. The analytical solution can be easily included into the models used for simulating desiccant air-conditioning systems operating in conjunction with air washers.     

Cooling performance of several CO2/propane mixtures and glide matching with secondary heat transfer fluid

This paper presents the cooling performance of several CO₂/propane mixtures measured in air-conditioning test rig at several conditions. The discharge pressure of CO₂/propane mixtures is reduced with increasing mole fraction of propane and their reduced values coincide approximately with the circulation concentrations of propane. Since propane is the refrigerant having a higher refrigerating effect and a much lower vapor density than CO₂, adding propane to CO₂ improves the system efficiency and reduces the cooling capacity. The temperature glide effect of CO₂/propane mixtures on the cooling performance was analyzed based on the experimental data. To utilize the temperature glide effect successfully, a sufficient heat exchange area is required, and the temperature gradient of refrigerant must be similar to that of secondary heat transfer fluid. It is better the temperature change of refrigerant can prevent pinching with that of the secondary heat transfer fluid.     

固溶温度对TA19钛合金组织及性能的影响

采用5种不同固溶温度和相同时效温度的热处理制度对TA19钛合金进行固溶时效处理,研究不同固溶温度对显微组织和力学性能的影响。结果表明,固溶温度对TA19钛合金显微组织的初生α相含量影响显著;经相变点以下10℃到50℃固溶保温1 h后风冷,再经595℃时效保温8 h后空冷,获得的室温和高温力学性能均能满足AMS 4975标准的要求;固溶温度选择相变点以下10℃时,TA19钛合金的室温和高温力学性能及蠕变性能匹配最好,对应的显微组织中初生α相含量为15%~18%。     

Experimental study on cooling enhancement of crushed rock layer with perforated ventilation pipe under air-tight top surface

Under the warm and ice-rich nature of permafrost and the scenarios of climate warming on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, it will be necessary to use combinatorial techniques of cooling the ground temperature in the proposed Qinghai-Tibet Express Highway of construction. For the crushed rock highway embankment embedded a perforated ventilation pipe in permafrost regions of the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the mechanism of impact on the cooling capability enhanced by a perforated ventilation pipe in the air-tight crushed rock layer was studied using laboratory experiment. All boundary conditions at each edge of the crushed rock sample with dimensions of 100 × 60 × 100 cm except the inlet and outlet of the perforated pipe are air-tight. A ventilation steel pipe with an inner diameter of 8 cm was drilled with many small holes with a diameter of 1 cm and horizontally embedded in the length direction of the crushed rock sample with a depth of 53 cm. The laboratory experiments with a periodically fluctuating air temperature in the inner test tank regulated by program control were performed. The perforated pipe is only ventilated during the negative temperature fluctuation period in the inner test tank. The results show that the heat transfer processes in the crushed rock layer embedded a perforated ventilation pipe with an air-tight surface include pure heat conduction, forced convection that occurs in the crushed rock layer forming directly a pore air circulation in conjunction with the in-duct air by the small holes of perforated pipe wall absorbed from the inner test tank, and convective heat transport between the in-duct air and the inner surface of ventilation pipe wall. When air temperatures in the inner test tank are colder than the pore air temperatures in the crushed rock region around the perforated ventilation pipe, the perforated ventilation pipe can produce a significantly enhanced cooling of the crushed rock layer base due to the direct formation of a complete pore air circulation in the crushed rock layer in conjunction with the in-duct air via the small holes of the perforated pipe wall. When the fluctuating air temperature in the inner test tank rises from a minimum value to a warmer one than the pore air temperature in the crushed rock region around the perforated pipe during the negative temperature ventilating period, a warming process begins to occur in the crushed rock layer due to a warmer in-duct air absorbed from the inner test tank. This stronger warming process in the crushed rock region around the perforated pipe may decrease the cooling capability of the air-tight crushed rock layer. Thus, in order to avoid this warming process at this stage before ventilating end, the ventilating end time of ventilation pipe ought to be brought forward.     

Experimental study on a new internally cooled/heated dehumidifier/regenerator of liquid desiccant systems

For providing good performance of dehumidifier and regenerator with certain dimensions, a new type of internally cooled/heated dehumidifier/regenerator based on the plate–fin heat exchanger (PFHE) was designed. To investigate the behavior of the new equipment, an experimental setup was established in an environment chamber with regulable temperature and humidity air. By the internally cooled dehumidification testing, effects of the cooling water temperature, the air flow rate and the desiccant temperature on the dehumidification performance and the cooling efficiency were presented. The behavior of internally cooled dehumidification process was compared with that of the adiabatic dehumidification process. The results suggested that the cooling efficiency decreased with the increasing of the cooling water temperature and desiccant with low temperature could bring more mass transfer coefficients. There is an optimal air flow rate to achieve the maximum absolute humidity decrease of the air. By the internally heated regeneration testing, effects of the air flow rate and the desiccant inlet temperature on the regeneration performance and air outlet parameters were discussed and also compared with those of the adiabatic regeneration process. It was concluded that the regeneration efficiency of internally heated regeneration was more than that of the adiabatic regeneration, and the internally heated regenerator could offer better thermal performance.     

Air cycle combined heating and cooling for the food industry

In the food industry there is often a need to both cook and cool food. Heating and cooling processes are rarely directly linked due to heat from refrigeration processes being insufficient to cook food. Therefore cooling and cooking is usually provided by separate pieces of equipment. This paper presents an air cycle system where the hot air was used for heating and the cold air used for fast freezing.The apparatus used a bootstrap unit developed for aircraft air conditioning which was unable to run at the low temperature required for food freezing, so a parallel compressor was added to enable the system to operate at the low temperature required for food freezing. This approach allowed temperatures as low as −140 °C and as high as 234 °C. The system cooked and froze beef burgers, and at the same time heated water up to 98 °C.     

Optimisation of a desiccant cooling system design with indirect evaporative cooler

Solar desiccant-based air-conditioning has the potential to significantly reduce cost and/or greenhouse gas emissions associated with cooling of buildings. Parasitic energy consumption for the operation of supply fans has been identified as a major hindrance to achieving these savings. The cooling performance is governed by the trade-off between supplying larger flow-rates of cool air or lower flow-rates of cold air. The performance of a combined solid desiccant-indirect evaporative cooler system is analysed by solving the heat and mass transfer equations for both components simultaneously. Focus is placed on varying the desiccant wheel supply/regeneration and indirect cooler secondary/primary air-flow ratios. Results show that for an ambient reference condition, and 70 °C regeneration temperature, a supply/regeneration flow ratio of 0.67 and an indirect cooler secondary/primary flow ratio of 0.3 gives the best performance with COP_e > 20. The proposed cooling system thus has potential to achieve substantial energy and greenhouse gas emission savings.     

The use of mechanical refrigeration to improve the storage of pesticide treated grain

Cooling a bulk of stored grain greatly increases the persistence of chemical pesticides applied to it. In this work, an established mathematical model of heat and mass transfer and chemical kinetics is used to simulate the effects of blowing mechanically refrigerated air through grain on the subsequent rate of decay of pesticides. It is demonstrated that the hardware suitable for such a task may be based on standard, commercial, air conditioners fitted with an appropriate air handling system capable of forcing cold air through the grain. Although the rates of decay of the two pesticides, methacrifos and malathion, in uncooled grain bulks are very sensitive to initial, grain moisture content and temperature, grain cooling renders their degradation relatively insensitive to these variables. It is shown that when the grain cooling units are operated for a fixed time there is an optimum air flow rate for achieving the maximum preservation of pesticide. This air flow rate is in the typical operating range of the commercial air conditioner studied. The effects of cooling strategy and geographical location on pesticide preservation in cooled grain bulks are investigated. The physico-chemical aetiology of these phenomena is discussed in some detail.     

Effect of air speed, temperature and carcass weight on the cooling rates and weight losses of goat carcasses

This Paper provides data on the cooling time in the deep leg and shoulder of goat carcasses (5, 10 and 20 kg in weight) in air velocities of 0.5, 1 and 3 m s⁻¹. The analysis has been carried out to enable cooling time predictions to be made for any air temperature that avoids surface freezing. There was no significant difference in weight loss (average 2.48% over 23 h) for different values of carcass weight or air velocity.

Résumé

This Paper provides data on the cooling time in the deep leg and shoulder of goat carcasses (5, 10 and 20 kg in weight) in air velocities of 0.5, 1 and 3 m s⁻¹. The analysis has been carried out to enable cooling time predictions to be made for any air temperature that avoids surface freezing. There was no significant difference in weight loss (average 2.48% over 23 h) for different values of carcass weight or air velocity.     

Experimental performance analysis and modelling of liquid desiccant cooling systems for air conditioning in residential buildings

The paper presents a new desiccant cooling cycle to be integrated in residential mechanical ventilation systems. The process shifts the air treatment completely to the return air side, so that the supply air can be cooled by a heat exchanger. Purely sensible cooling is an essential requirement for residential buildings with no maintenance guarantee for supply air humidifiers. As the cooling power is generated on the exhaust air side, the dehumidification process needs to be highly efficient to provide low supply air temperatures. Solid rotating desiccant wheels have been experimentally compared with liquid sorption systems using contact matrix absorbers and cross flow heat exchangers. The best dehumidification performance at no temperature increase was obtained in an evaporatively cooled heat exchanger with sprayed lithium chloride solution. Up to 7 g kg⁻¹ dehumidification could be reached in an isothermal process, although the surface wetting of the first prototype was low. The process then provides inlet air conditions below 20 °C for the summer design conditions of 32 °C, 40% relative humidity. With air volume flow rates of 200 m³ h⁻¹ the system can provide 886 W of cooling power.A theoretical model for both the contact absorber and the cross flow system has been developed and validated against experimental data for a wide range of operating conditions. A simulation study identified the optimisation potential of the system, if for example the surface wetting of the liquid desiccant can be improved.     

液氮喷淋冷冻性能计算分析

利用模拟计算分析方法对液氮喷淋冷藏车中影响冻结物冻藏性能的因素进行研究,分析液氮喷嘴数量和喷嘴布置形式对冻结特性的影响以及循环风的强度对冷冻空间和冻结物温度变化影响、液氮喷量对冻结特性的影响,提出合理喷液量的影响因素关系.     

The use of mechanical refrigeration to improve the storage of pesticide treated grainUtilisation du froid mécanique pour améliorer l'entreposage des grains traités par insecticide

Cooling a bulk of stored grain greatly increases the persistence of chemical pesticides applied to it. In this work, an established mathematical model of heat and mass transfer and chemical kinetics is used to simulate the effects of blowing mechanically refrigerated air through grain on the subsequent rate of decay of pesticides. It is demonstrated that the hardware suitable for such a task may be based on standard, commercial, air conditioners fitted with an appropriate air handling system capable of forcing cold air through the grain. Although the rates of decay of the two pesticides, methacrifos and malathion, in uncooled grain bulks are very sensitive to initial, grain moisture content and temperature, grain cooling renders their degradation relatively insensitive to these variables. It is shown that when the grain cooling units are operated for a fixed time there is an optimum air flow rate for achieving the maximum preservation of pesticide. This air flow rate is in the typical operating range of the commercial air conditioner studied. The effects of cooling strategy and geographical location on pesticide preservation in cooled grain bulks are investigated. The physico-chemical aetiology of these phenomena is discussed in some detail.