Augmentation of Heat Transfer in a Circular Channel with Inline and Staggered Baffles

This numerical investigation presents the effects of the position of baffles in the shape of a circle’s segment placed inside a circular channel to improve the thermal and flow performance of a solar air heater. Three different baffles’ positions with Reynolds number varying between 10,000 to 50,000 were investigated computationally. The k-omega SST model was used for solving the governing equations. Air was taken as the working fluid. Three pitch ratios (Y = 3, 4, and 5) were considered, while the height of the baffles remained fixed. The result showed an enhancement in Nusselt number, friction factor, j-factor, and thermal performance factor. Staggered exit-length baffles showed maximum enhancement in heat transfer and pressure drop, while inline inlet-length baffles showed the least enhancement. For a pitch ratio of Y = 3.0, the enhancement in all parameters was the highest, while for Y = 5.0, the enhancement in all parameters was the least. The highest thermal performance factor of 1.6 was found for SEL at Y = 3.0.

Cooling Seasonal Performance Factor (CSPF) Application in Indonesia for Residential Air Conditioning (AC) Unit

As an archipelago country located around the equator line, Indonesia has a broad ambient temperature range of varying atmospheric conditions. This issue should be concerned with applying ISO 16358-1 to calculate Seasonal Energy Efficient Ratio (SEER) on cooling, or so-called the Cooling Seasonal Performance Factor (CSPF). The ISO 16358-1 recommend a set of bin temperature which can be used as the basis for calculating the CSPF. The research objectives are to compare the local ambient temperature of four cities in Indonesia (Jakarta, Bandung, Pontianak, and Palembang) with the ISO bin temperature. The normal distribution graph of temperature for every four cities in Indonesia shows a remarkable difference from the ISO bin temperature. Jakarta’s most occurring temperature range is 25 – 30 °C, Bandung is 21 – 23 °C, Pontianak is 24 – 26 °C, and Palembang is 24 – 26 °C, annually. Those numbers were compared to the ISO, which has the most occurring temperature range around 24 - 28 °C. The result on CSPF calculation of AC unit sample in the range of 4,000 – 17,000 Btu/hr (both non-inverter and inverter) using Indonesia local bin temperature compared with the ISO bin temperature has an average range of 5.10%. It was concluded that Indonesia’s local ambient temperature affects the CSPF value, especially on the AC inverter unit. On the other hand, the relatively small difference value of CSPF has an advantage in applying the ISO bin temperature for future Indonesia’s energy conservation policy. It could lead to harmonizing with other South-East Asian (ASEAN) countries specifically, and another country also applying the ISO 16358-1, in general.

A survey of current practices, attitudes and demands of anaesthesiologists regarding the depth of anaesthesia monitoring in China

Background In this study, we aimed to analyse survey data to explore two different hypotheses; and for this purpose, we distributed an online survey to Chinese anaesthesiologists. The hypothetical questions in this survey include: (1) Chinese anaesthesiologists mainly use the depth of anaesthesia (DoA) monitors to prevent intraoperative awareness and (2) the accuracy of these monitors is the most crucial performance factor during the clinical daily practice of Chinese anaesthesiologists. Methods We collected and statistically analysed the response of a total of 12,750 anesthesiologists who were invited to participate in an anonymous online survey. The Chinese Society of Anaesthesiologists (CSA) trial group provided the email address of each anaesthesiologist, and the selection of respondents was random from the computerized system. Results The overall response rate was 32.0% (4037 respondents). Only 9.1% (95% confidence interval, 8.2-10.0%) of the respondents routinely used DoA monitors. Academic respondents (91.5, 90.3-92.7%) most frequently used DoA monitoring to prevent awareness, whereas nonacademic respondents (88.8, 87.4-90.2%) most frequently used DoA monitoring to guide the delivery of anaesthetic agents. In total, the number of respondents who did not use a DoA monitor and whose patients experienced awareness (61.7, 57.8-65.6%) was significantly greater than those who used one or several DoA monitors (51.5, 49.8-53.2%). Overall, the crucial performance factor during DoA monitoring was considered by 61.9% (60.4-63.4%) of the respondents to be accuracy. However, most respondents (95.7, 95.1-96.3%) demanded improvements in the accuracy of the monitors for DoA monitoring. In addition, broad application in patients of all ages (86.3, 85.2-87.4%), analgesia monitoring (80.4, 79.2-81.6%), and all types of anaesthetic agents (75.6, 74.3-76.9%) was reported. In total, 65.0% (63.6-66.5%) of the respondents believed that DoA monitors should be combined with EEG and vital sign monitoring, and 53.7% (52.1-55.2%) believed that advanced DoA monitors should include artificial intelligence. Conclusions Academic anaesthesiologists primarily use DoA monitoring to prevent awareness, whereas nonacademic anaesthesiologists use DoA monitoring to guide the delivery of anaesthetics. Anaesthesiologists demand high-accuracy DoA monitors incorporating EEG signals, multiple vital signs, and antinociceptive indicators. DoA monitors with artificial intelligence may represent a new direction for future research on DoA monitoring.

Heat Dissipation by Streams of Bifurcated Tubes

There is a need for solutions to provide sufficient cooling from power devices, which produce large amounts of heat. This paper focuses on the influence of design of bifurcated fluid streams to dissipate heat. In this study, a single Y-tubes, a double Y-tubes, and an X-tubes designs are studied numerically under space constraints. For a comprehensive and in-depth performance analysis, both heat dissipation and hydraulic performances are analyzed. The distributions of velocity and temperature in the fluid streams is simulated, also the flow resistances and dissipated heat are calculated. Based on the results obtained, a thermo-hydraulic performance factor is introduced for the designs under study. In addition, the accumulation of undesired substances on the wall surface (fouling) that may influence the heat exchanging capability is studied.

Turbulent heat transfer enhancement in tubular heat exchangers with different twisted tape inserts

Experimental and numerical analyses are carried out to investigate the influence of twisted tape inserts on the heat transfer and the flow behavior in double tube heat exchangers. First, all the performance factors, namely the Nusselt number, friction factor, and thermal performance factor, were studied for a basic heat exchanger (BHE). Afterwards, twisted tapes with three different twist ratios (7.5, 6, and 4.5) were inserted inside the inner tube of the BHE, which resulted in three different modified heat exchangers (MHEs). For the numerical study, a 3D numerical model is developed with the k-ε RNG turbulent model to visualize the flow and the heat transfer behavior inside the heat exchangers. In both studies, turbulent flow field is maintained, ranging Reynolds number from 15000 to 50000. From the experimental result, an enhanced heat transfer, characterized by the performance factors, is found for all the MHEs compared to the BHE. The most enhanced thermal performance factor is achieved for the MHE with the lowest twist ratio. Finally, a good agreement between obtained numerical and experimental results reveals that the present numerical model can reliably predict the flow and heat transfer behavior in double tube heat exchangers.

Numerical Studies on Thermo-Hydraulic Characteristics of Turbulent Flow in a Tube with a Regularly Spaced Dimple on Twisted Tape

Heat transfer augmentation is an important concern due to the increase in heat management problems in thermal systems. There are many techniques for enhancement of heat transfer, by active and passive techniques. A commonly used passive technique to enhance heat transfer is by inserting twisted tapes in tubes. This work presents a numerical study on Nusselt number, friction factor, and thermal performance characteristics through a circular pipe built-in with/without dimples on twisted tape. The analysis results for a turbulent flow range of 4500≤Re≤20000 are obtained with a twist ratio of the strip is 3.0. The analysis is carried for full-length tape with constant heat flux. The governing equations are numerically solved by a finite volume method using the RNG κ–ε model. The simulation results of Nusselt number versus Reynolds number of the plain, plain twisted tape and dimple twisted tape tube with the experimental data give a variation of 4.15%, 3.89%, and 7.65%. The friction factor of the dimple twisted tape tube is 60 to 70% higher than that of the plain twisted tube at different Reynolds numbers. The thermal performance factor of the dimple twisted tape and plain twisted tape tube is 30 to 35% respectively higher than that of the plain tube. Due to thermal performance factor is above unity yields a promising heat transfer enhancement. By the present study, an optimum geometrical parameter can be selected for use in heat exchangers.