Generalized constructal optimization for the secondary cooling process of slab continuous casting based on entransy theory

Based on constructal theory and entransy theory,a generalized constructal optimization of a solidification heat transfer process of slab continuous casting for a specified total water flow rate in the secondary cooling zone was carried out.A complex function was taken as the optimization objective to perform the casting.The complex function was composed of the functions of the entransy dissipation and surface temperature gradient of the slab.The optimal water distribution at the sections of the secondary cooling zone were obtained.The effects of the total water flow rate in the secondary cooling zone,casting speed,superheat and water distribution on the generalized constructal optimizations of the secondary cooling process were analyzed.The results show that on comparing the optimization results obtained based on the optimal water distributions of the 8 sections in the secondary cooling zone with those based on the initial ones,the complex function and the functions of the entransy dissipation and surface temperature gradient after optimization decreased by 43.25%,5.90%and 80.60%,respectively.The quality and energy storage of the slab had obviously improved in this case.The complex function,composed of the functions of the entransy dissipation and surface temperature gradient of the slab,was a compromise between the internal and surface temperature gradients of the slab.Essentially,it is also the compromise between energy storage and quality of the slab.The"generalized constructal optimization"based on the minimum complex function can provide an optimal alternative scheme from the point of view of improving energy storage and quality for the parameter design and dynamic operation of the solidification heat transfer process of slab continuous casting.     

Entransy dissipation minimization for liquid-solid phase change processes

The liquid-solid phase change process of a simple one-dimensional slab is studied in this paper.By taking entransy dissipation minimization as optimization objective,the optimal external reservoir temperature profiles are derived by using optimal control theory under the condition of a fixed freezing or melting time.The entransy dissipation corresponding to the optimal heat exchange strategies of minimum entransy dissipation is 8/9 of that corresponding to constant reservoir temperature operations,which is ...     

Constructal optimization for a solid-gas reactor based on triangular element

Entropy generation minimization for heat and mass transfer process in a solid-gas reactor is carried out based on constructal theory by using triangular elemental area. The aspect ratio of the triangular elemental area is optimized under constraint conditions. A number of optimal triangular elements are assembled to a new large rectangular area, which is optimised again. The procedure is repeated until the control-volume is covered, and the complete analytical results are obtained. The effects of some parameters on minimum entropy generation are analysed by numerical examples. The results show that smaller entropy generation can be obtained when the optimization for a given volume is carried out on the basis of triangular elements than those obtained on the basis of rectangular elements. Supported by the Program for New Century Excellent Talents in Universities of China (Grant No. NCET-04-1006) and Foundation for the Author of National Excellent Doctoral Dissertation of China (Grant No. 200136)     

Optimization of equimolar reverse constant-temperature mass-diffusion process for minimum entransy dissipation

The mass entransy describes the mass-diffusion ability of the solution system, and the mass-diffusion process with the finite concentration difference always leads to the mass-entransy dissipation. This paper studies the equimolar reverse constant-temperature mass-diffusion process with Fick's law( g∝Δ(c)). The optimal concentration paths for the MED(Minimum Entransy Dissipation) are derived and compared with those for the MEG(Minimum Entropy Generation) and CCR(Constant Concentration Ratio) operations. It is indicated that the strategy of the MED is equivalent to that of the CCD(Constant Concentration Difference) of the same component; whether the MED or the MEG is selected as the optimization objective, the strategy of the CCD is much better than that of the CCR.     

Thermal performance analysis of non-uniform height rectangular fin based on constructal theory and entransy theory

A model of non-uniform height rectangular fin, in which the variation of base’s thickness and width are taken into account, is established in this paper. The dimensionless maximum thermal resistance (DMTR) and the dimensionless equivalent thermal resistance (DETR) defined based on the entransy dissipation rate (EDR) are taken as performance evaluation indexes. According to constructal theory, the variations of the two indexes with the geometric parameters of the fin are analyzed by using a finite-volume computational fluid dynamics code, the effects of the fin-material fraction on the two indexes are analyzed. It is found that the two indexes decrease monotonically as the ratio between the front height and the back height of the fin increases subjected to the non-uniform height rectangular fin. When the model is reduced to the uniform height fin, the two indexes increase first and then decrease with increase in the ratio between the height of the fin and the fin space. The fin-material fraction has no effect on the change rule of the two indexes with the ratio between the height of the fin and the fin space. The sensitivity of the DETR to the geometric parameters of the fin is higher than that of the DMTR to the geometric parameters. The results obtained herein can provide some theoretical support for the thermal design of rectangular fins.     

Molten steel yield optimization of a converter based on constructal theory

Constructal theory is introduced into the molten steel yield maximization of a converter in this paper. For the specific total cost of materials, generalized constructal optimization of a converter steel-making process is performed. The optimal cost distribution of materials is obtained, and is also called as "generalized optimal construct". The effects of the hot metal composition contents, hot metal temperature, slag basicity and ratio of the waste steel price to the sinter ore price on the optimization results are analyzed.The results show that the molten steel yield after optimization is increased by 5.48% compared with that before optimization when sinter ore and waste steel are taken as the coolants, and the molten steel yield is increased by 6.84% when only the sinter ore is taken as the coolant. It means that taking sinter ore as coolant can improve the economic performance of the converter steelmaking process. Decreasing the contents of the silicon, phosphorus and manganese in the hot metal can increase the molten steel yield. The change of slag basicity affects the molten steel yield a little.     

Thermodynamic performance of Dual-Miller cycle (DMC) with polytropic processes based on power output,thermal efficiency and ecological function

This study reports a new model of an air standard Dual-Miller cycle (DMC) with two polytropic processes and heat transfer loss. The two reversible adiabatic processes which could not be realized in practice are replaced with two polytropic processes in order to more accurately reflect the practical working performance. The heat transfer loss is taken into account. The expressions of power output, thermal efficiency, entropy generation rate (EGR) and ecological function are addressed using finite-time thermodynamic theory. Through numerical calculations, the influences of compression ratio, cut-off ratio and polytropic exponent on the performance are thermodynamically analyzed. The model can be simplified to other cycle models under specific conditions, which means the results have an certain universality and may be helpful in the design of practical heat engines. It is shown that the entropy generation minimization does not always lead to the best system performance.     

Constructal entransy dissipation rate minimization for X-shaped vascular networks

Combining with entransy theory, constructal designs of the X-shaped vascular networks(XSVNs) are implemented with fixed total tube volumes of the XSVNs. The entransy dissipation rates(EDRs) of the XSVNs are minimized, and the optimal constructs of the XSVNs are derived. Comparison of the optimal constructs of the XSVNs with two optimization objectives(EDR minimization and entropy generation rate(EGR) minimization) is conducted. It is found that when the dimensionless mass flow rate(DMFR) is small, the optimal diameter ratio of the elemental XSVN derived by EDR minimization is different from that derived by EGR minimization. For the multilevel XSVN, when the DMFR is 100, compared the XSVN with the corresponding H-shaped vascular network(HSVN), the dimensionless EDRs of the elemental, second and fourth order XSVNs are reduced by 26.39%, 15.34% and 9.81%, respectively. Compared with the entransy dissipation number(EDN) of the second order XSVN before angle optimization, the EDN after optimization is reduced by 26.15%, which illustrates that it is significant to conduct angle optimization of the XSVN. Entransy theory is applied into the constructal design of the vasculature with heat transfer and fluid flow in this paper, which provides new directions for the vasculature designs.     

Performance optimization of thermionic refrigerators based on van der Waals heterostructures

In this paper, an irreversible thermionic refrigerator model based on van der Waals heterostructure with various irreversibilities is established by utilizing combination of non-equilibrium thermodynamics and finite time thermodynamics. The basic performance characteristics of the refrigerator are obtained. The effects of key factors, such as bias voltages, Schottky barrier heights and heat leakages, on the performance are studied. Results show that cooling rates and coefficients of performances(COPs) can attain the double maximum with proper modulation of barrier heights and bias voltages. Increasing cross-plane thermal resistance as well as decreasing electrode-reservoir thermal resistance and reservoir-reservoir thermal resistance can enhance the performance of the device. The optimal performance region is the interval between the maximum cooling rate point and the maximum COP point. By modulating the bias voltage, the working state of the device can fall into the optimal performance region. The optimal performance of the refrigerator when using single layer graphene and a few layers graphene as electrode material is also compared.     

Optimal performance regions of an irreversible energy selective electron heat engine with double resonances

A theoretical model for irreversible double resonance ESE(energy selective electron) device with phonon induced bypass heat leakage which is operating as heat engine system is proposed. The thermodynamic performance is optimized and the impacts of heat leakage and structure parameters of the electron system on its performance are discussed in detail by using FTT(finite time thermodynamics). Moreover, performances of the ESE system with multiple optimization objective functions, including power output, thermal efficiency, ecological function and efficient power, are explored by numerical examples. New optimal performance regions and the selection plans of optimization objective functions of the ESE system are obtained. It reveals that the characteristic of power versus efficiency behave as loop-shaped curves in spite of the heat leakage which will always decrease the efficiency of the electron engine. By properly choosing the design parameters, the ESE engine can be designed to operate at optimal conditions according to different design purpose. The preferred design area should be located between the optimal effective power condition and the optimal ecological function condition.