Use of citric and lactic acids in ice to enhance quality of two fish species during on-board chilled storage

This work focused on the on-board chilled storage of European hake (Merluccius merluccius) and megrim (Lepidorhombus whiffiagonis). To enhance fish quality, an aqueous solution including citric (1.25 g l⁻¹) and lactic (0.50 g l⁻¹) acids was prepared, frozen, ground and employed as icing medium. Its effect on sensory, microbiological and chemical changes was monitored after 9, 12 and 15 days of on-board storage. Lower (p < 0.05) bacterial growth was detected according to microbiological (aerobe, anaerobe, psychrotrophe, proteolytic, and Enterobacteriaceae counts) and chemical (trimethylamine content) assessments. An inhibitory effect (p < 0.05) on autolysis development (K value assessment) in hake was also detected. Finally, an enhancement of sensory scores (eyes, external odour and gills) in both species was obtained. Results described allow to conclude that on-board employment of such acid-mixture icing system can provide a profitable strategy to obtain higher quality and safe products while unloading.     

CFD simulation of coupled heat and mass transfer through porous foods during vacuum cooling process

A numerical simulation by using a computational fluid dynamics (CFD) code is carried out to predict heat and mass transfer during vacuum cooling of porous foods on the basis of mathematical models of unsteady heat and mass transfer. The simulations allow the simultaneous prediction of temperature distribution, weight loss and moisture content of the meats at low saturation pressure throughout the chilling process. The simulations are also capable of accounting for the effects of the dependent variables such as pressure, temperature, density and water content, thermal shrinkage, and anisotropy of the food. The model is verified by vacuum cooling of cooked meats with cylindrical shape within an experimental vacuum cooler. A data file for pressure history was created from the experimental pressure values, which were applied in the simulations as the boundary condition of the surface temperature.     

Heat transfer in the evaporator of an advanced two-phase thermosyphon loop

As heat generation from electronic components increase and the limit of air-cooling is reached, the interest for using liquid cooling for high heat flux applications has risen. Thermosyphon cooling is an alternative liquid cooling technique, in which heat is transferred as heat of vaporization from evaporator to condenser with a relatively small temperature difference.The effect of fluid properties, the structure of wall surfaces, and the effect of system pressure was investigated and reported previously by the author. In this paper, the influence of heat flux, system pressure, mass flow rate, vapor fraction, diameter of evaporator channel and tubing distance between evaporator and condenser on the heat transfer coefficient of an advanced two-phase thermosyphon loop is reported. The tested evaporators were made from small blocks of copper with 7, 5, 4, 3 and 2 vertical channels with the diameters of 1.1, 1.5, 1.9, 2.5, and 3.5 mm, respectively and the length of 14.6 mm. Tests were done with isobutane at heat fluxes ranging between 28.3 and 311.5 kW/m².     

The performance of a transcritical CO2 cycle with an internal heat exchanger for hot water heating

The main purpose of this study is to investigate the performance of a transcritical CO₂ cycle with an internal heat exchanger for hot water heating. Performance test and simulation have been carried out for a transcritical CO₂ cycle by varying secondary heat transfer fluid temperatures at evaporator and gas-cooler inlets as well as the discharge pressure. Variations of mass flow rate of refrigerant, compressor power, heating capacity, and co-efficient of performance (COP) with respect to the length of an internal heat exchanger are presented at various operating conditions. Good quantitative agreement between model predictions and experimental results has been found; most parameters have absolute average deviations of less than 4%. As the length of the internal heat exchanger increases, COP is enhanced but heating capacity tends to decrease due to the trade-offs between the effectiveness and pressure drop in the internal heat exchanger.     

Optimization of a magnetic refrigerator at room temperature for air cooling systems

The purpose of this study is to understand the optimum operating condition of magnetic refrigerator at room temperature for direct air-cooling. The basic components of the target system are a magnetic circuit including two permanent magnets, a test section, an air blower, and an associated instrumentation. The test section consists of 10 test cells which enclose gadolinium chips as a magnetic working substance in a prescribed packing rate. In order to change the applied magnetic field from 0 to 0.9 T, the magnetic circuit is installed on an electric slider which generates reciprocating motion. The system performances are widely investigated both experimentally and analytically for the variety of conditions such as a volumetric flow rate of air, a packing length of magnetic working substance, and a heat exchange cycle. The results reveal that the present magnetic refrigerator has a maximum value of the cooling rate in an appropriate operating condition.     

Effect of regeneration temperatures in the exergetic performances of the developed desiccant-evaporative air-conditioning system

The developed desiccant-evaporative air-conditioning system was evaluated using the exergetic method under controlled environmental conditions to determine the performances of the whole system and its components.Percentage contributions of exergy destruction of system components at different regeneration temperatures and reference temperatures were determined. Exergy destruction coefficient of different components at different regeneration and reference temperatures were presented. It was shown that exergetic performances varied with respect to the regeneration and reference temperatures. The exergetic performances based on thermal, electric, total exergy input, first definition and second definition efficiencies were shown.Based on the results, reference and regeneration temperatures affected the determination of the system performances and its components. It was shown that air-heating coil, air fans and desiccant wheel contributed to large percentage of exergy destruction. Hence, the mentioned components should be given attention for further improvement of the system performances.     

Thermodynamics cycle analysis and numerical modeling of thermoelastic cooling systems

To avoid global warming potential gases emission from vapor compression air-conditioners and water chillers, alternative cooling technologies have recently garnered more and more attentions. Thermoelastic cooling is among one of the alternative candidates, and have demonstrated promising performance improvement potential on the material level. However, a thermoelastic cooling system integrated with heat transfer fluid loops have not been studied yet. This paper intends to bridge such a gap by introducing the single-stage cycle design options at the beginning. An analytical coefficient of performance (COP) equation was then derived for one of the options using reverse Brayton cycle design. The equation provides physical insights on how the system performance behaves under different conditions. The performance of the same thermoelastic cooling cycle using NiTi alloy was then evaluated based on a dynamic model developed in this study. It was found that the system COP was 1.7 for a baseline case considering both driving motor and parasitic pump power consumptions, while COP ranged from 5.2 to 7.7 when estimated with future improvements.     

Exergoeconomic performances of the desiccant-evaporative air-conditioning system at different regeneration and reference temperatures

This paper presented the exergoeconomic evaluation of the developed desiccant-evaporative air-conditioning system. The developed system was evaluated based on the steady-state conditions at different regeneration and reference temperatures. The exergoeconomic evaluation method was implemented to the system components and the whole system to evaluate the exergy efficiency, exergy destruction ratios, cost rates, relative cost differences and exergoeconomic factors. The regeneration and reference temperatures affected the exergy efficiencies, exergy destruction ratios, cost rates, relative cost differences and exergoeconomic factors. The desiccant wheel, heating coil and evaporative cooler had a high cost rate (investment cost, operation and maintenance cost, and exergy destruction cost). The exit air fan, outdoor air fan and evaporative cooler had a high relative cost difference. The exit air fan, outdoor air fan and secondary heat exchanger had a high exergoeconomic factor. Replacement of the desiccant wheel with a higher dehumidification performance could decrease the high cost rate. A higher efficiency evaporative cooler and heating coil were needed. Cheaper air fans (outdoor air fans and exit air fans) were needed.     

Experimental analysis of a novel cooling system driven by liquid refrigerant pump and vapor compressor

This study introduced a novel energy saving cooling system, i.e. a combined cycle coupled with a traditional vapor compression cycle with a pumped liquid two-phase cooling cycle. The system has two operation modes, i.e. the compression cycle mode driven by compressor and the pump cycle mode driven by refrigerant pump. A multi-purpose test bench was constructed to experimentally evaluate the performance of the integrated cycle system under various operation conditions. The effects of cycle working condition and the shift temperature between the two operation modes on the overall cycle performance were investigated in detail. It is found that the novel cycle system has a higher EER compared to the traditional compressor system when the ambient temperature is relatively low. The further experimental results and comparative annual energy saving analysis also indicated that the proper shift temperature is about −5 °C from the system EER and cooling capacity point of view.