Optimized Chaotic Heat Exchanger Configurations for Process Industry: A Numerical Study

Author(s):  
Akram Ghanem ◽  
Thierry Lemenand ◽  
Dominique Della Valle ◽  
Hassan Peerhossaini

A numerical investigation of chaotic laminar flow and heat transfer in isothermal-wall square-channel configurations is presented. The computations, based on a finite-volume method with the SIMPLEC algorithm, are conducted in terms of Péclet numbers ranging from 7 to 7×105. The geometries, based on the split-and-recombine (SAR) principle, are first proposed for micromixing purposes, and are then optimized and scaled up to three-dimensional minichannels with 3-mm sides that are capable of handling industrial fluid manipulation processes. The aim is to assess the feasibility of this mass- and heat-transfer technique for out-of-laboratory commercial applications and to compare different configurations from a process intensification point of view. The effects of the geometry on heat transfer and flow characteristics are examined. Results show that the flux recombination phenomenon mimicking the baker’s transform in the SAR-1 and SAR-2 configurations produces chaotic structures and promotes mass transfer. This phenomenon also accounts for higher convective heat transfer exemplified by increased values of the Nusselt number compared to the chaotic continuous-flow configuration and the baseline plain square-duct geometry. Energy expenditures are explored and the overall heat transfer enhancement factor for equal pumping power is calculated. The SAR-2 configuration reveals superior heat-transfer characteristics, enhancing the global gain by up to 17-fold over the plain duct heat exchanger.

2000 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Singh ◽  
P. K. Panigrahi ◽  
G. Biswas

Abstract A numerical study of rib augmented cooling of turbine blades is reported in this paper. The time-dependent velocity field around a pair of symmetrically placed ribs on the walls of a three-dimensional rectangular channel was studied by use of a modified version of Marker-And-Cell algorithm to solve the unsteady incompressible Navier-Stokes and energy equations. The flow structures are presented with the help of instantaneous velocity vector and vorticity fields, FFT and time averaged and rms values of components of velocity. The spanwise averaged Nusselt number is found to increase at the locations of reattachment. The numerical results are compared with available numerical and experimental results. The presence of ribs leads to complex flow fields with regions of flow separation before and after the ribs. Each interruption in the flow field due to the surface mounted rib enables the velocity distribution to be more homogeneous and a new boundary layer starts developing downstream of the rib. The heat transfer is primarily enhanced due to the decrease in the thermal resistance owing to the thinner boundary layers on the interrupted surfaces. Another reason for heat transfer enhancement can be attributed to the mixing induced by large-scale structures present downstream of the separation point.


2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (12) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yunfei Xing ◽  
Fengquan Zhong ◽  
Xinyu Zhang

Three-dimensional turbulent forced convective heat transfer and its flow characteristics in helical rectangular ducts are simulated using SST k–ω turbulence model. The velocity field and temperature field at different axial locations along the axial direction are analyzed for different inlet Reynolds numbers, different curvatures, and torsions. The causes of heat transfer differences between the inner and outer wall of the helical rectangular ducts are discussed as well as the differences between helical and straight duct. A secondary flow is generated due to the centrifugal effect between the inner and outer walls. For the present study, the flow and thermal field become periodic after the first turn. It is found that Reynolds number can enhance the overall heat transfer. Instead, torsion and curvature change the overall heat transfer slightly. But the aspect ratio of the rectangular cross section can significantly affect heat transfer coefficient.


Author(s):  
G. Bhaskaran ◽  
H. A. Mohammed ◽  
N. H. Shuaib

A numerical study is performed to study the effects of using various types of nanofluids on a triangular shaped microchannel heat exchanger (MCHE). The performance of an aluminum MCHE with various types of nanofluids such as Al2O3, CuO, SiO2, Ag and TiO2 and diamond particles with particle volume fraction of 2% using water as base fluid is comprehensively analyzed. The three-dimensional steady, laminar developing flow and conjugate heat transfer of a balanced MCHE were solved using finite volume method. In order to maintain laminar flow in the microchannels, Re number was ranged from 100 to 800. The other parameters tested in this study include the effects of Reynolds number towards the temperature, effectiveness and pressure drop of the MCHE. It is found that nanofluids have improved the temperature profile and heat transfer rate of the MCHE. The increase in pressure drop was minimal while the thermal and hydrodynamic performance of the heat exchanger was enhanced.


Author(s):  
Mahmoud Abdelmagied

In this study, the thermofluid characteristics of double spirally coiled tube heat exchanger (DSCTHE) were investigated numerically. A three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model was developed using ansys 14.5 software package. To investigate the heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics of DSCTHE, the Realize k–ε turbulence viscous model had been applied with enhanced wall treatment for simulating the turbulent thermofluid characteristics. The governing equations were solved by a finite volume discretization method. The effect of coil curvature ratio on DSCTHE was investigated with three various curvature ratios of 0.023–0.031 and 0.045 for inner tube side and 0.024–0.032–0.047 for annular side. The effects of addition of Al2O3 nanoparticle on water flows inside inner tube side or annular side with different volume concentrations of 0.5%, 1%, and 2% were also presented. The numerical results were carried out for Reynolds number with a range from 3500 to 21,500 for inner tube side and from 5000 to 24,000 for annular side, respectively. The obtained results showed that with increasing coil curvature ratio, a significant effect was discovered on enhancing heat transfer in DSCTHE at the expense of increasing pressure drop. The results also showed that the heat transfer enhancement was increased with increasing Al2O3 nanofluid concentration, and the penalty of pressure drop was approximately negligible.


Author(s):  
Basanta Kumar Rana ◽  
Amaresh Dalal ◽  
Gautam Biswas

A numerical study of three-dimensional flow and heat transfer from the annular finned tube heat exchanger with built-in delta winglets is carried out. The delta winglets type vortex generators which are placed on the annular fin surface in the neighborhood of the cylinder are used to enhance the heat transfer. The winglets are placed in common flow orientation. Longitudinal vortices develop along the side edge of the delta winglets due to the pressure difference between the front surface (facing the flow) and back surface. These vortices interact with thermal boundary layer and produce a three dimensional swirling flow that mixes near wall fluid with the midstream. Thus the thermal boundary layer is disrupted and heat transfer is enhanced. The investigations are carried out for four different Reynolds number (100, 500 and 1000) and four different angles of attack (35°, 40°, 45°, 50°) for common flow up (CFU) configuration. It is found that heat transfer increases about 11% for Re = 1000 with angle of attack 40°.


2021 ◽  
pp. 266-266
Author(s):  
Ceren Hasgül ◽  
Gülşah Çakmak

In this study, the effect of the design on the heat transfer is numerically investigated by using the "wavy inner tube" in a double-pipe heat exchanger. A wavy inner tube was used in the design to give a turbulent effect to the fluid along the inner tube of a double tube heat exchanger. In numerical study, ANSYS 12.0 Fluent code program was used, and the basic protection equations were solved for steady-state, three-dimensional and turbulent flow conditions. The study was examined at Reynolds numbers ranging from 2700 to 5300. The obtained results were compared with the experimental data performed under the same conditions. As a result of this comparison, after it was seen that the results obtained from the numerical analysis and the experimental results were compatible with each other, the wave number of the inner tube was increased and analyzed with the ANSYS fluent code program. When the data obtained as a result of the analyzes were evaluated, it was seen that the highest heat transfer was obtained from the 16 wave tube heat exchanger, which has the highest number of waves and under counter flow conditions. The increase in heat transfer increased by 270% compared to the straight tube.


Solar Energy ◽  
2005 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yan Su ◽  
Jane H. Davidson

A three-dimensional model and dimensionless scale analysis of the transient fluid dynamics and heat transfer in an inclined adiabatic water-filled enclosure with an immersed cylindrical cold sink is presented. The geometry represents an integral collector storage system with an immersed heat exchanger. The modeled enclosure has an aspect ratio of 6:1 and is inclined at 30 degrees to the horizontal. The heat exchanger is represented by a constant surface temperature horizontal cylinder positioned near the top of the enclosure. A scale analysis of the transient heat transfer process identifies four temporal periods: conduction, quasi-steady, fluctuating and decay. It also provides general formulations for the transient Nusselt number, and volume averaged water temperature in the enclosure. Insight to the transient fluid and thermal processes is provided by presentation of instantaneous flow streamlines and isotherm contours during each transient period. The flow field consists of two distinct zones. The zone above the cold sink is nearly stagnant. The larger zone below the sink is one of strong mixing and recirculation initiated by the cold plume formed in the boundary layer of the cylindrical sink. Correlations predicted with the model for the transient Nusselt number and the dimensionless volume averaged tank temperature expressed in terms of the initial Rayleigh number compare favorably to prior measured data.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document