HEAT TRANSFER ENHANCEMENT USING HELICAL PIPES

The enhancement of laminar forced convection inside helical pipes is studied numerically and compared with plain pipes. The study is achieved numerically using the (Fluent-CFD 6.3.26) software program for solving the governing equations. The heat transfer factor and friction factor are calculated using the enhancement technique and compared with the plain tube. In this research the factors that affect the enhancement technique using helical pipes are studied, these factors are the ratio of (pitch /pipe length) (SL), Reynolds number and the heat flux applied to the external surface of the pipe. The results showed that there is an increasing in the heat transfer factor is related to the decreasing of (SL), increasing of Reynolds number and heat flux. The performance of the helical pipes is evaluated depending on the calculation of (Enhancement ratio), and its found that the enhancement ratio increases as Reynolds number increases and (SL) decreases. It is found that the best enhancement ratio was (200%) at (SR=0.05), (Re=2000),(Heat flux=3000W/m2).The results are compared with the literature and there is a good agreement.

A Mathematical Model on Linkage Leakage in Sewage Pipes Laid in a Porous Ground Using Computation Fluid Dynamics.

This study describes the linkage leakage in sewage pipes through a porous media using computational fluid dynamics with the presence of one leak through fluid simulations using the Ansys fluent 17.2 commercial software based on standard k-ε model under steady-state condition. The pipe section is three-dimensional with a pipe length of 40 mm, a pipe diameter of 20 mm, and leak orifice diameter of 2 mm with a porous media of length 25 mm and width 30 mm. The interest of this study was to reduce the rate of sewage leakage in pipes laid underground by use computational fluid dynamics. The simulation results obtained shows that when the flow is subjected to an outlet pressure between 100000 Pa to 275000 Pa the sewage leaks at pressures of 99499 Pa to 278799.8 Pa indicating that increase of outlet pressures increases the pressure at the leak point and also an increase in the inlet velocity resulted into an increase of velocity at the leak point and no significant change in sewage flow rate with increased inlet velocities. Therefore, monitoring of the pressure and velocity fields along the pipeline is an extremely important tool to identify leaks since these fields are affected by perturbations both before the leak point and after the leak point.

Computational fluid dynamic simulations to improve heat transfer in shell tube heat exchangers

Improving the thermal efficiency of shell-tube heat exchangers is essential in industries related to these heat exchangers. Installing heat transfer boosters on the side of the converter tube is one of the most appropriate ways to enhance heat transfer and increase the efficiency of this equipment. In this article, spring turbulence is studied using the computational fluid dynamics tool. The displacement heat transfer coefficient and the friction coefficient were selected as the primary target parameters, and the effect of using spring tabulators on them was investigated. The ratio of torsion step length to turbulence pipe length, wire diameter to pipe diameter ratio, and flow regime was studied as the main simulation variables, and the simulation results were compared with a simple pipe. The effect of water-acting fluid, R22, and copper Nanofluid on tubes containing turbidity was compared and investigated. This study showed that due to the pressure drop, the pipe with a torsional pitch to pipe length ratio of 0.17, a turbulent diameter to pipe diameter ratio of 0.15, and a Reynolds number of 50,000 with fluid R22 has the best performance for heat transfer.

Modeling the time evolution of geothermal boreholes during peak heating and cooling demands

A geothermal heat exchanger requires special care in its design when it comes to peak heating and cooling demands of the building as the installation may incur in material damages due to the extreme temperatures reached by the heat carrying liquid. The peak demands tend to last a few days at most and the theoretical model used to predict the thermal response of the geothermal heat exchanger has, therefore, to consider the thermal inertia of the heat carrying liquid, the grout, and the ground close to the boreholes. With this in mind, the present work discusses a theoretical model that provides, among other things, the heat injection rates per unit pipe length of the different pipes in the borehole in terms of the bulk temperatures of the heat carrying liquid during those peak heating and cooling demands.

Development of a model of the optimal temperature mode of the main gas pipeline operation

The influence of the ambient air temperature on changes in the parameters and thermophysical characteristics of the gas pumped through the underground pipeline was investigated. This was done because there are no scientifically sound recommendations for the optimal gas temperature after coolers at the compressor station. The presence of the site of inversion of heat exchange between gas and soil – a change in the direction of heat exchange along the length of the gas pipeline was revealed. It was proved that the air temperature above the soil surface should be substituted into the formula for calculating the change in gas temperature along the length of the pipeline between compressor stations. This made it possible to determine quantitative changes in the thermophysical and hydraulic characteristics of the gas along the pipe length, in particular, the change in density, viscosity, heat capacity, flow regime. It is shown that the change in air temperature during the year leads to a change in the gas pressure at the end of the gas pipeline section up to 0.15 MPa. A change in air temperature by 10 °С leads to a change in gas temperature by approximately 5 °С. Analytical studies made it possible to develop practical recommendations for the power-saving operation of air coolers at compressor stations. It was determined that the optimum gas temperature at the cooler outlet will be the temperature at which the heat exchange inversion point along the length of the gas pipeline coincides with the location of the subsequent station. It is shown how to control gas cooling in air coolers. In particular, by shutting down one of several operating devices and changing the speed of the fan drive. The developed recommendations will make it possible to quickly regulate the temperature mode of the underground gas pipeline operation at optimal power consumption for the operation of the gas cooling system after gas compression

A Three-Dimensional Model of Turbulent Core Annular Flow Regime

In this study, three-dimensional (3D) turbulent core annular flow (CAF) regime is investigated numerically. The proposed model is based on the 3D Reynolds average Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations combined with a pure convective transport equation of the volume of fluid (VOF) to predict the interface between the oil and water phases. The k-ω turbulence model is adopted to better reproduce the oil and water flow characteristics. The two-phase (CAF) regime can be predicted by two inlet configurations: the T-junction (3D-T) and the straight pipe (3D-S). These two configurations are simulated and compared for pipe diameter D = 0.026 m and pipe length L = 4 m . For these two inlet configurations, the computed mixture velocity profile and the water volume fraction at a test section z = 100 D were compared to experimental measurements. The 3D-T configuration gives more appropriate results. The 3D-S slightly overestimates the maximum velocity at the test section and the lower and upper water layer of the (CAF) flow is shifted in the upward direction. For the 3D-T, the relative error in the pressure drop is 3.3%. However, for the 3D-S, this error is 13.0%.

Development of a Pipe Crawler Inspection Tool for Fossil Energy Power Plants

Fossil fuel power plants are complex systems containing multiple components that create extreme environments for the purpose of extracting usable energy. Failures in the system can lead to increased down time for the plant, reduction of power and significant cost for repairs. In the past, inspections and maintenance of the plant's superheater tubes has been predominantly manual, laborious, and extremely time consuming. This is due to the pipe's small diameter size (between 1.3 and 7.6 cm) and the coiled structure of the tubing. In addition, the tubes are often stacked close to each other, limiting access for external inspection. Detection of pipe degradation, such as increased levels of corrosion, creep, and the formation of micro-cracks is possible using standard non-destructive evaluation (NDE) methods, including ultrasonic, radiography and electromagnetic methods. However, when the access to the sub-systems is limited or the configuration of the structure is prohibitive, alternative methods are needed for deploying the NDE tools. This research effort considers a novel robotic inspection system for the evaluation of small pipes found in typical boiler superheaters that have limited access. The pipe crawler system is an internal inspection device that can potentially navigate through the entire pipe length using linear actuators to grip the walls and inch along the pipe. The modular nature of the system allows it to traverse through straight sections and multiple 90-degree and 180-degree bends. The crawler is also capable of providing visual inspections, ultrasonic thickness measurements, and generating inner diameter surface maps using LiDAR (light detection and ranging). Ultimately, the development of this robotic inspection tool can provide information regarding the structural integrity of key pipeline components in fossil fuel power plants that are not easily accessible

Heat Loss Due to Domestic Hot Water Pipes

Domestic hot water (DHW) system energy losses are an important part of energy consumption in newly built or in reconstructed apartment buildings. To reach nZEB or low energy building targets (renovation cases) we should take these losses into account during the design phase. These losses depend on room and water temperature, insulation and length of pipes and water circulation strategy. The target of our study is to develop a method which can be used in the early stages of design in primary energy calculations. We are also interested in how much of these losses cannot be utilised as internal heat gain and how much heat loss depends on the level of energy performance of the building. We used detailed DHW system heat loss measurements and simulations from an nZEB apartment building and annual heat loss data from a total of 22 apartment buildings. Our study showed that EN 15316-3 standard equations for pipe length give more than a twice the pipe length in basements. We recommend that for pipe length calculation in basements, a calculation based on the building’s gross area should be used and for pipe length in vertical shafts, a building’s heating area-based calculation should be used. Our study also showed that up to 33% of pipe heat losses can be utilised as internal heat gain in energy renovated apartment buildings but in unheated basements this figure drops to 30% and in shafts rises to 40% for an average loss (thermal pipe insulation thickness 40 mm) of 10.8 W/m and 5.1 W/m. Unutilised delivered energy loss from DHW systems in smaller apartment buildings can be up to 12.1 kWh/(m2·a) and in bigger apartment buildings not less than 5.5 kWh/(m2·a) (40 mm thermal pipe insulation).

Optimal Design of Water Distribution Network Using Neuro – Fuzzy Technique

Present paper is intended to develop optimal policy for Water Distribution Network using Neuro- Fuzzy Technique in an effective manner. Hydraulic simulation of the Real Network is performed in Water Gems and is used for the evaluation of the system performance measure. The real network is revised by adding certain Hydraulic parameters such as PBV’s (Pressure Break Valves) and Pumps and the results are found to be within standard limits for velocity and pressure specified by CPHEEO (Central Public Health and Environmental Engineering Organization). The networks are optimized using ANFIS (Adaptive Neuro Fuzzy Interactive System) to achieve the optimal cost and to obtain maximum reliability of the network. The pipe length and diameters are considered as fuzzy variables in the model and given as inputs to the model and pressure and velocities are outputs of the model. A comparison is made which marks the proposed network optimized using ANFIS is more reliable than the real network with slight increase in cost. Chota Govindpur – Baghbera Water Supply System is used as Case Study which is located in East Singhbhum District Jharkhand, India and the source of water is Subarnarekha river originated from Nagri village in Ranchi district of Jharkhand.