The Uncertainties of Continuum-Based CFD Solvers to Perform Microscale Hot-Wire Anemometer Simulations in Flow Fields Close to Transitional Regime

In this study, we simulate the flow and heat transfer during hot-wire anemometry and investigate its thermal behavior and physics using the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) tool. In this regard, we use the finite-volume method and solve the compressible Navier-Stokes equations numerically in slightly non-continuum flow fields. We do not use any slip flow model to include the transitional flow physics in our simulations. Using the CFD method, we simulate the flow over hot–wire and evaluate the uncertainty of CFD in thermal simulation of hot-wire in low transitional flow regimes. The domain sizes and the mesh distributions are carefully chosen to avoid boundary condition error appearances. Following the past researches, we do not take into account the conduction heat transfer passing through hot-wire mounting arms in our simulations. Imposing a fixed temperature condition at the face of hot-wire, we simulate the flow over and the heat transfer from hot-wire and calculate the convection heat transfer coefficient and the local Nusselt number values. To be sure of the accuracy of our CFD code, we simulate a number of similar test cases and compare our numerical solutions with the available numerical solutions and/or experimental data.

Experimental Investigation of Ultrasonic Frequency Effect on an Oscillating Heat Pipe

The heat transport capability in an oscillating heat pipe (OHP) significantly depends on the oscillating frequency. An external frequency directly affects the natural frequency in the system. In this investigation, the ultrasound sound effect on the heat transport capability in an OHP was conducted with focus on the ultrasonic frequency effect on the oscillating motion and heat transfer capacity in an OHP. The ultrasonic sound was applied to the evaporating section of the OHP by using the electrically-controlled piezoelectric ceramics. The heat pipe was tested with or without the ultrasonic sound with different frequencies. In addition, the effects of operating temperature, heat load from 25 W to 150 W were investigated. The experimental results demonstrate that the heat transfer capacity enhancement of the OHP depends on the frequency of the ultrasound field, and there exists an optimum combination of the frequencies which will lead to the largest enhancement of the heat transfer capacity of the OHP.

Preparation and Photocatalysis of a Glass Coated With Nanometer TiO2 Codoped With N, F and Fe Elements

Indoor air pollution seriously threats the life and health of human beings. The improvement of indoor air quality has become a focus that people pay more and more attentions to. The photocatalytic of pollutants based on TiO2 is a promising air purification technology. In order to overcome the disadvantages of nanometer powder TiO2 catalyst and to enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2, series of glass plates covered with doped-TiO2 were prepared and the photocatalysis them were studied. The glass plates covered with TiO2 which was doped in advance with N, F, or/and Fe were prepared by a sol-gel method. The doping content of N, F, Fe and heat treatment temperature were determined using the orthogonal array of the Taguchi quality design. The prepared gel was coated on the glass by spin-coating method. The effects of doping level of N, F and Fe and heat treatment temperature on the photocatalytic capabilities were investigated. The photocatalytic capabilities of prepared glass plates were investigated by degrading the solution of methylene blue (MB,C16H18ClN3S). The results show that appropriate addition of N, F and Fe and temperaturae are effective for improving the photocatalytic activities of TiO2 under visible light. The optimal TiO2 was prepared under the condition that the doping amount of F element was 9at %, that of N is 7at %, and none of Fe under 400 °C calcination temperature. The degradation rate of the sample for methylene blue solution reaches 23.49% under visible light irradiation for 5 hours. The influence order of the factors was the calcination temperature > F > N > Fe.

The Effect of Inlet Turbulence Intensity on Nano-Particulate Soot Formation in Kerosene-Fueled Combustors

In this work, we numerically study the effects of turbulence intensity at the fuel and oxidizer stream inlets on the soot aerosol nano-particles formation in a kerosene fuel-based combustor. In this regard, we study the turbulence intensity effects specifically on the thermal performance and nano-particulate soot aerosol emissions. To construct our computer model, we simulate the soot formation and oxidation using the Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons PAHs-inception and the hydroxyl concept, respectively. Additionally, the soot nucleation process is described using the phenyl route, in which the soot inception is described based on the formations of two-ringed and three-ringed aromatics from acetylene, benzene, and phenyl radical. We use the two-equation soot model in which the soot mass fraction and the soot number density transport equations are solved considering the evolutionary process of soot nanoparticles, where all the nucleation, coagulation, surface growth, and oxidation phenomena are suitable considered in calculations. For the combustion modeling part, we benefit from the flamelets library, i.e., a lookup table, considering a detailed chemical kinetic mechanism consisting of 121 species and 2613 elementary reactions and solve the transport equations for the mean mixture fraction and its variance. We take into account the turbulence-chemistry interaction using the presumed-shape probability density functions PDFs. We apply the two-equation high-Reynolds-number k-ε turbulence model with round-jet corrections and suitable wall functions in performing our turbulence modeling. Solving the transport equations of turbulence kinetic energy and its dissipation rate, the turbulence closure problem can be resolved suitably. Furthermore, we take into account the radiation heat transfer of soot and gases assuming optically-thin flame, in which the radiation heat transfer of the most important radiating species is determined locally through the emissions. To evaluate our numerical solutions, we first solve an available well-documented experimental test, which provides the details of a kerosene-fueled turbulent nonpremixed flame. Then, we compare the achieved flame structure, i.e., the distributions of mean mixture fraction, temperature, and soot volume fraction, with those measured in the experiment. Next, we change the turbulence intensities of the incoming fuel and oxidizer streams gradually. So, we become able to evaluate the effects of different turbulence intensities on the achieved temperature and soot aerosol concentrations. Our results show that using moderate turbulence intensities at both fuel and oxidizer stream inlets would effectively increase the maximum temperature inside the combustor and this would reduce the exhaust gases temperature. It also reduces the concentrations of soot in the combustor and its emission to the exhaust gases effectively.

Effect of Nanoparticles on H2O/LiBr Falling Film Absorption Process

Absorber is an important component in absorption refrigerating system. Its performance plays a significant role on the overall efficiency of absorption refrigerating system. The nanofluids which can enhance the heat and mass transfer will be utilized to absorber for enhancing the water vapor absorption process and improving the absorber efficiency. The software CFD-FLUENT is used to analyze the falling film absorption process of the nanofluids, which consists of H2O/LiBr solution with Fe3O4 nanoparticles in this paper. The results indicate that the enhancing heat and mass transfer of nanofluids is related to the nanoparticle concentration and size. The stronger the nanoparticle concentration, the greater enhancement of heat and mass transfer of falling film; while the smaller the nanoparticle size, the greater enhancement of heat and mass transfer of falling film. It is also found that the enhancement ratio of heat and mass transfer flux reach 1.48 and 1.37, respectively, as the Fe3O4 nanoparticles mass concentration of 0.01wt% and the size of 50nm.

Numerical Simulation of Flow and Heat Transfer in Rectangular Channel With Different Aspect Ratios

Turbulent flow and heat transfer in rectangular channel has an important significance in engineering. Conventional approach to caculate Nusselt number of rectangular channel approximately is to take the equivalent diameter as the characteristic length and use the classic circular channel turbulent heat transfer coefficient correlations. However, under these conditions, the caculation error of Nusselt number can reach to 14% and thus this approach can not substantially describe the variation of Nusselt number of rectangular cross-sections with different aspect ratios. Therefore, caculation by using equivalent diameter as the characteristic length in classic experiment formula needs to be corrected. Seven groups of rectangular channel models with different aspect ratios have been studied numerically in this paper. By using standard turbulence model, the flow and heat transfer law of air with varing properties has been studied in 4 different sets of conditions in Reynolds number. The simulation and experimental results are in good agreement. The simulation results show that with the increase of aspect ratio, the cross-sectional average Nusselt number increased, Nusselt number of circumferential wall distributed more evenly and the difference between the infinite plate channel and square channel went up to 25%. The effects of corner region and long\short sides on heat transfer have also been investigated in this paper. Results show that in rectangular channel, heat transfer in corner region is significantly weaker than it in other region. With the increase of aspect ratio, effect on the long side of heat transfer of the short side is gradually reduced, and then eventually eliminates completely in the infinite flat place. Based on the studies above, correction coefficient for rectangular channels with different aspect ratios has been proposed in this paper and the accuracy of the correction coefficient has been varified by numerical simulations. This can reflect the variation of Nusselt number under different aspect ratios more effectively and thus has current significance for project to calculate Nusselt number of heat transfer in rectangular channel.

Uncertainty Analysis of Melting and Resolidification of Gold Film Irradiated by Nano- to Femtosecond Lasers Using Stochastic Method

A sample-based stochastic model is presented to investigate the effects of uncertainties of various input parameters, including laser fluence, laser pulse duration, thermal conductivity constants for electron, and electron-lattice coupling factor, on solid-liquid phase change of gold film under nano- to femtosecond laser irradiation. Rapid melting and resolidification of a free standing gold film subject to nano- to femtosecond laser are simulated using a two-temperature model incorporated with the interfacial tracking method. The interfacial velocity and temperature are obtained by solving the energy equation in terms of volumetric enthalpy for control volume. The convergence of variance (COV) is used to characterize the variability of the input parameters, and the interquartile range (IQR) is used to calculate the uncertainty of the output parameters. The IQR analysis shows that the laser fluence and the electron-lattice coupling factor have the strongest influences on the interfacial location, velocity, and temperatures.

An Ultra Fast Cooling Method for Cell Vitrification Cryopreservation Utilizing Thin Film Evaporation

Ultra-fast cooling is the key to successful cell vitrification cryopreservation of lower concentration cryoprotective solution. This research develops a cell cryopreservation methodology which utilizes thin film evaporation and achieves vitrification of relatively low concentration cryoprotectant with an ultra-fast cooling rate. Experimental results show that the average cooling rate of dimenthylsulphoxide cryoprotective solution reaches 150,000°C/min in a temperature range from 10°C to −180°C. The ultra-fast cooling rate can remarkably improve the vitrification tendencies of the cryoprotective solution. This methodology opens the possibility for more successful cell vitrification cryopreservation.

Research on R245fa Condensation Heat Transfer Characteristic Inside Horizontal Tubes

Condensation heat transfer of R245fa in horizontal copper pipe is studied in this paper. In the experimental study, the pipe inner diameter is 4.38 mm, the condensing temperature range from 50∼60°C, mass flow rate ranges from 3.132kg/h to 11.988kg/h, and inlet ranges from 0.89∼1. The research results indicate that the condensation coefficient is rose with the condensing; and it will rise when the inlet quality ranges from 0.89 to 1. Experimental value and the existing two-phase flow correlation are compared in this paper. It shows that the condensation heat transfer coefficient predicted by Haraguchi correlation has a high accuracy relatively. The research provides a foundation to promote development of microchannel high efficiency heat exchanger and it is useful to practical engineering.

Numerical Analysis of the Natural Convection in a Cylinder With an Internal Slotted Annulus

The heat dissipation of current busbur in power plant is one of the important issues in power transmission, usually through the cylinder slotted to strengthen heat dissipation. Natural convection in a cylinder with an internal slotted annulus is the computational model abstracted from it. Natural convection in a cylinder with an concentric slotted annulus is concerned. Attention is focused on the effects of different slotted sizes on natural convection. Numerical results showed that, the equivalent thermal conductivity increases with the increase of Rayleigh number. At high Ra, the system heat transfer exhibit rich nonlinear characteristics. When the slotted direction or the slotted degree changed, it would have an important impact on the flow and heat transfer in the system, and also influence the related nonlinear characteristics.