Hierarchic modeling of heat transfer processes in heat exchangers

An alternate approach based on hierarchic modeling is proposed to simulate fluid and heat flow in heat exchangers. On the first level, the direct simulations have been performed for the geometry that is similar to a segment of the examined heat sink. Based on the obtained results, the Reynolds number dependencies of the scaling factors f and StPr^2/3 have been established. On the second level, the integral model of the whole heat sink has been built using the volume averaging technique (VAT). The averaging of the transport equations leads to a closure problem. The direct model Reynolds number dependencies f and StPr^2/3 have been used to calculate the local values of the drag coefficient and the heat transfer coefficient , which are needed in the integral model. The example calculations have been performed for 14 different pressure drops across the aluminum heat sink. The whole-section drag coefficient and Nusselt number have been calculated and compared with the experimental data [M. Rizzi, M. Canino, K. Hu, S. Jones, V. Travkin, I. Catton, Experimental investigation of pin fin heat sink effectiveness, in: Proc. of the 35th National Heat Transfer Conference Anaheim, California, 2001]. A good agreement between the modeling results and the experiment data has been reached with same discrepancies in the transitional regime. The constructed computational algorithm offers possibilities for geometry improvements and optimization, to achieve higher thermal effectiveness.     

Computational and experimental analysis of high temperature thermal treatment of wood based on ThermoWood technology

Heat treatment of wood at relatively high temperatures (in the range of 180–240 °C) is an effective method to improve the dimensional stability and increase biological durability of wood. In this article, a coupling method is presented for high thermal treatment of a wood based on ThermoWood technology. A three-dimensional mathematical model describing simultaneous unsteady heat and moisture transfer between a gas phase and a solid phase during heat treatment has been developed. The conservation equations for the wood sample are obtained using diffusion equation with variable diffusion coefficients and the 3-dimensional incompressible Reynolds averaged Navier–Stokes equations have been solved for the flow field. The experimental results and model predictions were found to be in good agreement.     

Heat and mass transfer modeling in rotary desiccant dehumidifiers

A desiccant wheel model has been developed in the aim to be adapted to building simulation tools. This model fulfils several criteria such as simplicity of parameterization, accuracy, possibility to characterize the equipment under all operation conditions and low computation time. The method of characteristics has been applied to the heat and mass transfer partial differential equations. This transformation provides new equations which are similar to those of a rotary heat exchanger. Then, the model is described by the Effectiveness-NTU method and it is identified from only one nominal rating point. The model has been compared to experimental and manufacturers’ data for a broad range of operating conditions. A good agreement has been found.     

Recent developments of heat and mass transfer in hydromagnetic flows

This review article presents an account of several investigations of heat and mass transfer in the field of magnetohydrodynamics which have been carried out during the last few years by several authors. If an article has been omitted, it is entirely by oversight and not by intention.     

Experimental study on heat and mass transfer characteristics of louvered fin-tube heat exchangers under wet condition

An experimental study was conducted to investigate the effect of a tube row, a fin pitch and an inlet humidity on air-side heat and mass transfer performance of louvered fin-tube heat exchangers under wet condition. Experimental conditions were varied by three fin pitches, two rows, and two inlet relative humidities. From the experimental results, it was found that the heat transfer performance decreased and the friction increased with the decrease of a fin pitch, for 2 row heat exchanger. The effect of a fin pitch on heat transfer performance was negligible with 3 row heat exchanger. The change in a relative humidity was not affected heat transfer and friction. However, the mass transfer performance was slightly decreased with the increase of a relative humidity and with the decrease of a fin pitch. The mass transfer performance decreased with the decrease of a fin pitch. The mass transfer performance of the louvered fin-and-tube heat exchanger was different according to the number of a tube row.     

Simultaneous heat and mass transfer on oscillatory free convection boundary layer flow

The problem of simultaneous heat and mass transfer in two-dimensional free convection from a semi-infinite vertical flat plate is investigated. An integral method is used to find a solution for zero wall velocity and for a mass transfer velocity at the wall with small-amplitude oscillatory wall temperature. Low- and high-frequency solutions are developed separately and are discussed graphically with the effects of the parameters Gr (the Grashof number for heat transfer), Gc (the Grashof number for mass transfer) and Sc (the Schmidt number) for Pr = 0–71 representing aid at 20°C.     

An inverse problem of parameter estimation for heat and mass transfer in capillary porous media

This work deals with the solution of an inverse problem of parameter estimation involving heat and mass transfer in capillary porous media, as described by the dimensionless linear Luikov’s equations. The physical problem under picture involves the drying of a moist porous one-dimensional medium. The main objective of this paper is to simultaneously estimate the dimensionless parameters appearing in the formulation of the physical problem by using transient temperature and moisture content measurements taken inside the medium. The inverse problem is solved by using the Levenberg-Marquardt method of minimization of the least-squares norm with simulated measurements.     

场地有机污染土壤原位热修复过程中热质传递机制研究

针对现有原位热修复技术能耗较高且在修复过程中热质传递机制不明的问题,研究了现场试验过程中的土壤温度场变化、修复效果和能耗,采用数值模拟方法对温湿度场的变化进行了验证。结果表明：加热井呈正六边形排布时,修复区域的受热较为均匀,各测温点在修复35 d后,温度均达到200.0℃以上,修复后场地满足第二类用地筛选值;在标准状态下,试验过程中天然气用量总计685 664.0 m³,每修复1.0 m³污染土壤约消耗62.8 m³天然气;加热井热量主要为修复场地侧壁供能,对于位置低于加热井的土壤作用较小,加热井轴向土壤体积含水率分布较为均匀,但加热井底部体积含水率较高,修复区域底部水分不利于修复场地温度的提升,数值模拟和试验数据的吻合度较高,平均相对误差MRE为20%,为场地有机污染土壤原位热修复技术应用提供技术支撑。     

Optimization of heat transfer device and analysis of heat & mass transfer on the finned multi-tubular metal hydride tank

Based on the previous studies on heat and mass transfer characteristics of hydride tank, whether the reaction heat of hydride bed can be removed quickly is a determinant factor of the reaction rate. As the core part of reaction system, the heat transfer optimization in the tank can significantly enhance the reaction rate. In this paper, the optimization of heat transfer fins for a finned multi-tubular metal hydride tank is presented, and the heat transfer equations of tank with various configuration fins (radius, thickness and number) are derived. By analyzing the effects of fin configurations on the heat transfer device, we found that the thermal resistance of reaction system reduces with the increase of the fin radius, thickness and number. In order to study transient reaction process inside the hydride tank with various configuration and operation conditions, a 3-D mathematical model is developed and validated based on the experimental data from literature. Through simulation and optimization on hydride tank with different configurations, we got that the fin number has the most significant positive effect on the absorption reaction process. The numerical simulation results show that the hydrogen absorption rate is proportional to hydrogen pressure, heat transfer coefficient and fluid flow velocity, and the hydrogen pressure has the most remarkable impact among these factors. The H₂ absorption is accomplished in 1720 s at 1 MPa, and the absorption reaction is completed within 2000 s at the H₂ pressure of 0.8 MPa. Moreover, the maximum difference in absorption completion time is only 190 s under different heat transfer coefficients and fluid flow velocities.     

A two-dimensional fin efficiency analysis of combined heat and mass transfer in elliptic fins

This paper presents a two-dimensional analysis for the efficiency of an elliptic fin under the dry, partially wet and fully wet conditions of a range of value for axis ratios, Biot numbers, and air humidifies. It is shown that the fin efficiencies increase as the axis ratio Ar is increased. For a given axis ratio Ar, the fin efficiency decreases as the fin height l∗ or Biot number is increased. The conventional 1-D sector method overestimates the fin efficiency resulting in increasing error as the axis ratio Ar is increased. In addition, using experimentally determined heat transfer coefficients, it is found that both the fully dry and wet elliptic fin efficiencies are up to 4-8% greater than the corresponding circular fin efficiencies having the same perimeter.     

Numerical analysis of heat and mass transfer during absorption of hydrogen in metal hydride based hydrogen storage tanks

In this paper, hydriding in a cylindrical metal hydride hydrogen storage tank containing HWT5800 (Ti_0.98Zr_0.02V_0.43Fe_0.09Cr_0.05Mn_1.5) is numerically studied with a two-dimensional mathematical model. The heat and mass transfer of this model is computed by finite difference method. The effects of supply pressure, cooling fluid temperature, overall heat transfer coefficient and height to the radius ratio of the tank (H/R) on the hydriding in the hydrogen storage tank are studied. It is found that hydride formation initially takes place uniformly all over the bed and hydriding processes take place at a slower rate at the core region. Supply pressure, cooling fluid temperature and overall heat transfer coefficient play significant roles during the absorption of hydrogen. At the H/R = 2 both maximum bed temperature and the average bed temperature are the highest, and the hydride bed takes the longest time to saturate.     

Transient two-dimensional model of heat and mass transfer in a PEM fuel cell membrane

In the present work, a numerical study of heat and mass transfer within the membrane of a proton exchange membrane fuel cell is presented. The electrolyte membrane is considered an isotropic porous medium and ideal insulator for electrons and reactants. The adopted model in this study is based on the assumption of single-phase and multi-spices flow, supposed two-dimensional and unsteady. For the water transport, the major considered forces are; the convective force, resulting from the pressure gradient, the osmotic force, due to the concentration gradient and the electric force caused by the proton migration from the anode to the cathode. Based on a one-dimensional model, found in the literature, a transient two-dimensional one was proposed. The set of governing equations, written in velocity–pressure formulation, is solved by the implicit finite difference method. An alternating Direct Implicit scheme was used for the calculation. The numerical resolution gives the time- and space-dependent temperature and water concentration. The main focus lies on the influence of different cases of boundary conditions on water concentration and heat transfer variation with the intention of testing the reliability of the proposed computational fluid dynamic (CFD) code.     

Development of heat transfer coefficient correlation for concentric helical coil heat exchanger

The present study deals with developing a Correlation for heat transfer coefficient for flow between concentric helical coils. Existing Correlation is found to result in large discrepancies with the increase in gap between the concentric coils when compared with the experimental results. In the present study experimental data and CFD simulations using Fluent 6.3.26 are used to develop improved heat transfer coefficient correlation for the flue gas side of heat exchanger. Mathematical model is developed to analyze the data obtained from CFD and experimental results to account for the effects of different functional dependent variables such as gap between the concentric coil, tube diameter and coil diameter which affects the heat transfer. Optimization is done using Numerical Technique and it is found that the new correlation for heat transfer coefficient developed in this investigation provides an accurate fit to the experimental results within an error band of 3–4%.     

A transient analysis of three-dimensional heat and mass transfer in a molten carbonate fuel cell at start-up

In this paper, we investigate the time-dependent heat and mass transfer in a molten carbonate fuel cell at start-up. Thus, a three-dimensional, transient mathematical model is presented through a comprehensive inclusion of various physical, chemical and electrochemical processes that occur within the different components of molten carbonate fuel cells. The model is proposed as a predictive tool to provide a three-dimensional demonstration of variable variations at system start-up. The local distribution of field variables and quantities are showcased. It reveals that the electrochemical reaction rate is dominated by the over-potential, not by the reactants' molar fraction. Reversible heat generation and consumption mechanisms of the cathode and anode are dominant in the first 10 s while the heat conduction from the solid materials to the gas phase is negligible. Meanwhile, activation and ohmic heating have nearly the same impact within the anode and cathode. Based on these findings, the importance of heat conduction and its main features are finally assessed.     

A group of improved heat and mass transfer correlations in solar stills

Based on the analogy of heat and mass transfer and an empirical correlation, a group of improved heat and mass transfer correlations in basin type solar stills is established. In order to validate the correlation group, a multi-stage stacked tray solar still with basin area of 0.665×0.650 m² is constructed of aluminum sheets. By comparison of the calculated results with the measurement results, which were obtained from our steady state simulated experiments and reported in previous literature, it is found that the correlation group developed in this work can provide better predictions for the evaporation rate of basin type solar stills at the wide range of Rayleigh number (3.5×10³<Ra<2.26×10⁷) and temperature (35<T_w<86 °C).     

Simulation of transient heat and mass transfer during hydrogen sorption in cylindrical metal hydride beds

A CFD analysis of heat and mass transfer in cylindrical metal hydride beds is carried out using the commercial code Fluent 6.2. The effect of bulk diffusion is considered for mass transfer in the solid phase. Temporal and spatial variations of temperature and concentration in hydride bed are plotted. Emphasis is given to monitor the motion of hydrogen within the bed and to the influence of the L/D$L/D$ ratio and porosity. It is observed that a concentration variation in the bed is the driving force for hydrogen flow in hydride beds. The gas movement is observed to be from saturated cooler peripheral region towards the unsaturated hotter core region of the bed.     

Analytical solution of adiabatic heat and mass transfer process in packed-type liquid desiccant equipment and its application

This paper presents an integrated analytical solution of adiabatic heat and mass transfer in packed-type liquid desiccant equipment based on proposed mathematical models in both parallel-flow and counter-flow configurations. In the derivation process, the desiccant concentration at the inlet and outlet of the absorber is assumed to be constant. That means this solution is suitable for high desiccant flow rate conditions. This analytical solution has good accuracy when compared with reliable experimental data available in the literature. The moisture removal rate is derived from this solution and every factor that influences performance can be easily analyzed. Another benefit is that it can be used to discover the optimum air-to-solution flow rate ratio with which the driving force may be kept constant throughout the column. The optimum flow rate ratio may be used for optimal system design and to realize a reversible heat and mass transfer process.     

Numerical simulation of heat and mass transfer during the absorption of hydrogen in a magnesium hydride

This paper presents a numerical work aiming at the prediction of the characteristics of an industrial tank filled with hydrides for hydrogen storage. A validation of the method is given and is followed by the resolution of an example which shows the importance of achieving a three-dimensional modelling for the design of an industrial tank. Finally, recent results obtained on a magnesium hydride laboratory tank are given.     

Effects of porosity on heat and mass transfer in a granular adsorbent bed

In the present study, the mechanism of heat and mass transfer in an annulus adsorbent is handled. The heat and mass transfer equations for the adsorbent bed and the mass balance equation for the adsorbent granules are numerically solved to obtain the distributions of temperature, pressure, adsorptive density and adsorbate concentration in the adsorbent bed. The study is performed for the silica gel–water pair and for three different values of porosity as 0.1, 0.2 and 0.3. The distributions of temperature and adsorbate concentration are considerably influenced from the bed porosity. The adsorption period increases with the increase of the porosity value. The porosity affects the pressure and adsorptive density distributions at the beginning of the process and after a relatively short time, the averages of these dependent variables approach to the final equilibrium state.     

Heat and mass transfer in vacuum membrane distillation

In the membrane distillation (MD) literature, the heat transfer coefficients of the boundary layers are usually estimated from well known heat transfer empirical correlations developed for non-porous and rigid heat exchangers. A difference between the mechanism of heat transfer in MD systems, which is coupled with transmembrane mass transfer, and the mechanism of heat transfer in “pure” heat exchangers is expected to exist. Vacuum membrane distillation has been experimentally studied in a capillary membrane module and the heat transfer coefficients have been evaluated in both the lumen and the shell side of the membrane module. A critical review of the most frequently used heat transfer empirical correlations in MD systems is presented. Finally, the experimental results obtained in this paper are compared to those of literature, in order to test their applicability in membrane distillation systems.