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In order to make full use of the advantages of superheated steam (SHS), SHS injection in multi-point injection wells (MPIW) is proposed in this paper. Firstly, a mathematical model comprised of SHS flow model in inner tubing (IT) or long tubing (LT) and annulus, transient heat transfer model in oil layer is established. Secondly, type curves of SHS flow in MPIW is obtained by finite difference method on space and the iteration technique. Then, the effect of injection temperature on distributions of thermophysical properties of SHS in MPIW is discussed in detail. Results show that: (a) When the heat exchange between IT and annulus is taken into consideration. SHS temperature in IT has a decrease while SHS temperature in annulus has an increase. (b) With the help of MPIW, heating effect at both heel and toe points of the horizontal wellbores can be enhanced. (c) While the increase of SHS temperature certainly benefits the formation heating effect through the increase of both SHS temperature and superheat degree, the following decrease of SHS pressure in annulus will lead to the decrease of SHS absorption rate. This paper unravels some intrinsic flow characteristics of SHS in MPIW, which has a significant impact on the optimization of SHS injection parameters and analysis of heat transfer law in MPIW. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a computational heat transfer model of a rotary kiln used for the production of rutile titanium dioxide by the calcination of paste-like hydrous titanium dioxide. The work details the modelling of several chemical reactions occurring in the solid bed region along with turbulent convection of gas, radiation heat exchange among hot gas, refractory wall and the solid surface, and conduction in the refractory wall. Finite-difference techniques are used and the steady state thermal conditions are assumed. The kiln is divided into axial segments of equal length. The solution is of marching type and proceeds from the solid inlet to the solid outlet. The direction of gas flow is opposite to that of the solids. Mass balance of each species in the solid charge, and mass and energy balances of the solid and gas in an axial segment are used to obtain solids and gas temperatures, and species concentration at the exit of that segment. The kiln length predicted by the present model is 45.75 m as compared to 45 m of an actual kiln reported by Ginsberg and Modigell (2011). The steady-state axial gas and solid temperature profiles have been also satisfactorily validated with the numerical results of the aforementioned paper. The output data consist of refractory wall temperature distribution, the axial solids and gas temperature profiles, axial solids composition profile, the length required for drying of the solid charge and the total kiln length required to achieve 98% conversion of anatase TiO 2 to rutile TiO 2 . A detailed parametric study with respect to the controlling parameters such as percent water content (with respect to dry solids), solids flow rate, gas flow rate, kiln inclination angle and kiln rotational speed lent a good physical insight into the rutile-TiO 2 production process in a rotary kiln. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Normal mode stability analysis performed on counjugate heat transfer (CHT) 1D problem. • Stability analysis reveals existence of lower stability bound for coupling coefficient in Robin-Dirichlet interface boundary conditions. • Validity of stability analysis results is verified empirically. • Stability analysis is extended to more general CHT problems. This paper aims to evaluate and validate a mathematical coupling model, based on a normal mode stability analysis, for steady conjugate heat transfer problems. In order to achieve this goal, an aerothermal computational code was designed specifically ex novo to meet the needs of the current study. A large number of numerical simulations were carried out within the framework of the Dirichlet-Robin fluid-solid interface procedure and with conditions strictly identical to those adopted in the mathematical model. These coupled computations have been synthesized in five representative cases. The computed results show that the stability limit and the numerical Biot number derived from the coupling model are very reliable parameters. Many other physical and numerical aspects, such as the splitting of the coupling period are also considered in this work from which some interesting and promising results are obtained. At the end of this paper, we assess the general potential, limits and constraints of the mathematical model and its extension to multidimensional cases is discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Highlights • The optimal pitch ratio of the ribs mounted in a channel is provided based on inverse analysis. • The entransy dissipation was taken as the objective function in the inverse method. • Taking entransy dissipation as objective function leads to a fast and stable convergence process. Abstract The ribbed surface is a widely used convection heat transfer enhancement technology. The geometric parameters of the ribbed surface have great influences on its heat transfer performance. It is crucial to determine the optimum geometric parameters. In the present work, the optimal arrangement of ribs mounted in a rectangular channel is provided by solving the inverse optimization problem with the entransy dissipation as the objective function. The parameter analysis based on the direct solution is firstly carried out to get an approximate range near the optimal pitch ratio which can provide the initial value for the inverse optimization problem; afterwards, the inverse optimization problem is solved by a modified simplified conjugate gradient method, and the accurate optimal pitch ratio is obtained; finally the optimization results are discussed in detail. The results indicate that, (1) the inverse optimization analysis presented in this paper can provide an accurate optimal value of the pitch ratio; (2) taking the entransy dissipation as the objective function could lead to a faster converge process and give a more stable result than taking the temperature data as the objective function; (3) the optimal value under the fixed heat flux boundary condition is slightly larger than that under the fixed temperature boundary condition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A mathematical model based on non-equilibrium formulation was established. • The simulation results show better accordance with the experimental results compared with the model based on equilibrium formulation. • The heat and mass transfer during the drying stage were analyzed. • The effects of different operating parameters on the drying time were investigated. Spray freeze drying has been expanding its influence in many fields. However, the long duration dramatically hinders its further development. A model established based on non-equilibrium formulation was established in this paper. The accuracy of the model proposed with that established based on equilibrium formulation was compared. And the history of temperature, vapor concentration and ice saturation were then investigated. Lastly, the effects of product thickness, particle diameter on the drying time were investigated. The simulation results reproduce well with the experimental data, and show a better agreement with the increase rate of experimentally measured temperature curve than that based on equilibrium formulation. In addition, the temperature increases from the bottom to the top region while the vapor concentration distribution presents the opposite trend. The ice saturation first obtains a slight increase and then decreases. Lastly, the drying time decreases as: (i) the product thickness decreases, (ii) the packing porosity increases and (iii) the chamber temperature increases. The mathematical model proposed in this paper could offer better understanding of the process and guide the design and optimization for the process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In consideration of droplet flash evaporation and film flash evaporation, a comprehensive mathematical model of vacuum flash evaporation cooling (VFEC) was presented in this paper. Pure water was considered to be the working fluid. The droplet flash evaporation was modeled based on the diffusion-controlled evaporation model, while the film flash evaporation was modeled based on the film penetration theory. The droplet flash model coincided well with the experimental results reported in the literature and the comprehensive mathematical model was validated by experiment results in this paper. The droplet temperature and diameter after droplet flash evaporation were obtained numerically, and then analyzed. The effect of droplet flash evaporation on the surface temperature distribution, heat flux density, and heat transfer ratio of different mechanisms was studied based on the model. It can be concluded that the droplet flash evaporation, which can be expressed by the ratio of droplet-wall impaction heat transfer, had a great effect on vacuum flash evaporation cooling heat transfer. The droplet-wall impaction and film flash heat transfer were dominant in the vacuum flash evaporation cooling. The spray characteristics such as droplet diameter and temperature decreased a lot after droplet flash evaporation, compared to the initial parameters (measured by the PDA). After taking droplet flash into account, the surface temperature decreased and the heat flux increased. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Modeling subcooled flow boiling in vertical channels at low pressures requires not only the consideration of the dynamic behaviors of two-phase flow and bubbles undergoing coalescence, breakup and condensation in the bulk subcooled liquid but also the characterization of the single-phase and local boiling heat transfer phenomena in the near-wall region. The focus of this paper is the assessment of the heat flux partitioning model in handling the latter physics of subcooled flow boiling. In order to achieve closure to the model, the current prevailing approach has always been the utilization of empirical correlations particularly for the active nucleation site density, bubble departure diameter and bubble departure frequency. A comprehensive survey of existing empirical correlations is presented in the first part of this paper to assess the performance of these empirical models. Selected combinations of empirical correlations are compared and validated against axial and local radial experiments encompassing a wide range of different mass and wall heat fluxes and inlet subcooling temperatures for subcooled flow boiling at low pressures. Based on the comparisons made against the axial and local distributions of void fraction and bubble Sauter diameter, not one single combination of empirical correlations has shown the propensity of providing satisfactory predictions covering the entire axial and local conditions. For the modeling of subcooled flow boiling at low pressures to become an effective predictive tool, it must therefore be complemented with further consideration of first principal models of the underlying physical phenomena. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Despite the fact that the conventional one-dimensional model for counter-flow spray separation tower is advanced in reasonable accuracy as well as time and computational resources saving, it fails to describe the physical processes in details. In this paper, the concept of supersaturated state of the moist air was introduced, then a new sectional one-dimensional model was developed with a detailed derivation. A prototypic apparatus was set up and the reliability of the model was validated by the experimental study. When predicting the outlet solution temperature and outlet moist air wet bulb temperature, the relative errors would be more pronounced with a bigger heat and mass transfer driving potential, but they would not exceed 3.59% and 9.54% respectively under the experimental conditions. The simplifying assumptions, the ignored heat and mass transfer at cyclone region and the measuring errors are mainly blamed for the predicted errors. An in-depth heat and mass transfer investigation was conducted with the help of the validated model by studying the profiles of humidity ratio and moist air dry bulb temperature. The proposed model succeeded in capturing the state transformation of the air flow along the axis of the tower and the effects of the operating parameters on the process profiles are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Flow resistance and enhanced heat transfer characteristics of TiO 2 -water nanofluids in a stainless-steel corrugated tube and a circular tube are investigated by experimental and numerical methods respectively. The flow and heat transfer characteristics of TiO 2 -water nanofluids and deionized water in test tubes are compared in this paper. In addition, effects of Reynolds number ( Re ) and nanoparticle mass fraction ( ω ) on flow and heat transfer performances are discussed respectively, and Nusselt number ( Nu ) and resistance coefficient ( f ) are studied respectively. Finally, comprehensive performance of flow resistance and heat transfer enhancement is evaluated. It can be obtained that adding nanoparticle into deionized water doesn’t cause a large additional resistance loss in some degree, while the combination of corrugated tube and TiO 2 -water nanofluids shows an excellent heat transfer enhancement, which can enhance the heat transfer by 53.95% at maximum extent. In addition, the corrugated tube has a strong sustainability in enhancing heat transfer. The enhanced heat transfer rising part (6000 ≤ Re ≤ 10,000) has a large rising slope (about 7.90E−5), and the descending slope (about 7.16E−6) of enhanced heat transfer part (10,000 ≤ Re ≤ 12,000) is small. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Existence of magnetic field causes heat transfer to reduce in free convection but in several engineering uses for example: electronic application; enhancing heat transfer is a purpose. Thus, nanofluid should be selected as working fluid. Nanofluid is dispersion of very small metal particles in the base fluid. Two phase and single phase are two ways for estimating the behavior of nanofluid. At first model, nanofluid suppose as homogenous fluid without any slip mechanism. But in second method, slip velocities are included. Brownian motion and Thermophoresis impacts are taken into consideration in second approach. In this paper, previous publications about nanofluid hydrothermal treatment in existence of magnetic field are reviewed. Rely of variable and constant magnetic fields, Ferrohydrodynamic (FHD) and Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) can take role in simulations. Numerical and analytical methods are considered by authors. Results proved that temperature gradient augments with augment of solid particle concentration and buoyancy forces, while it decreases with augment of magnetic field. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, a numerical study of heat and mass transfer in counter-flow indirect evaporative air coolers is presented using an approach proposed by previous work. The mathematical model equations of continuity, momentum, energy and concentration are solved by the finite volume method to obtain the value of primary outlet dimensionless temperature. This mathematical model developed is validated against published data acquired from literature. The key target of presented analysis is to develop a performance correlation based on five dimensionless factors: ratio of channel length to half width of secondary air channel, ratio of water to secondary air mass flow rate, primary air inlet Reynolds number, secondary air inlet dimensionless temperature and water film inlet dimensionless temperature. Numerical simulations are performed by changing the value of each dimensionless factor under a constant value for other parameters. The simulation results are regressed to obtain the empirical constants of the correlation. The value of outlet dimensionless temperature is varied from 0.47 to 0.92. The developed correlation can predict the performance of the counter-flow indirect evaporative air coolers within a discrepancy of 12.6%. The correlation would be helpful to provide a simpler equation to improve the calculation speed within the engineering allowable accuracy range. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper deals with the development of convective flows in a complex system of thin liquid layers occurring under the effect of thermal load. To study this process a mathematical model which is based on the decomposition of complex problem into unitary elements (modules) with some set of rules allowing their linkage with each other was constructed. Each module represents a monotypic local model. The fluid flow and heat transfer in each of these modules are described by the Navier-Stokes and thermal conductivity equations. The boundary conditions required to solve these systems of equations are represented explicitly and written in the form of conservation laws. The numerical analysis of effect of thermal load on the characteristics of the liquid layers movement depending on the Marangoni number is carried out. It is shown that physical and thermophysical properties of liquid layers play the decisive role. It is exactly they control the convective flows in layers and determine the position and shape of interfaces. The results of model problem solutions are presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, mixed convection of non-Newtonian nanofluid, using the Buongiorno’s mathematical model in a cavity has been analyzed by Finite Difference Lattice Boltzmann method (FDLBM). The cavity is filled with nanofluid which the mixture shows shear-thinning behavior. The Prandtl number is fixed at Pr = 1. This study has been performed for the certain pertinent parameters of Richardson number ( Ri = 0.001, 0.01, and 1), buoyancy ratio number ( Nr = 0.1, 1, and 20), power-law index ( n = 0.2–1), Lewis number ( Le = 1, 5, and 10), Thermophoresis parameter ( Nt = 0.1, 0.5, 1), and Brownian motion parameter ( Nb = 0.1, 1, 5). Results indicate that the augmentation of the power-law index causes heat and mass transfer to drop at Ri = 0.001 and 0.01. The drop of Richardson number from Ri = 1 to 0.001 enhances heat and mass transfer for various power-law indexes. The increase in the Lewis number augments mass transfer while it causes heat transfer to drop. The rise of the Thermophoresis and Brownian motion parameters ameliorates mass transfer and declines heat transfer significantly. The augmentation of buoyancy ratio number enhances heat and mass transfer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The desirable operating conditions to achieve high operational efficiency are obtained. • The performance of the IEC under different operating conditions is investigated. • The mathematical model is validated against published data. • The optimal dimensions that give good efficiency in climates with moderate humidity are highlighted. [Display omitted] This paper presents a study investigating and analyzing the effect of heat and mass exchanger (HMX) dimensions and the flow parameters on the indirect evaporative cooler (IEC) system's performance. For this purpose, a mathematical model based on heat and mass transfer concepts was developed, and the model was verified using experimental and simulation results from published papers. Simulations were performed based on different operating and structural conditions affecting the outlet air temperature, cooling capacity, coefficient of performance, and wet-bulb efficiency. Results showed that the optimal dimensions that give good efficiency in climates with moderate humidity, the length of the duct should be between 0.6 to 1.0 m , the width of the channel between 0.3 to 0.5 m , and the channel gap between 0.004 to 0.008 m. It has also been observed that the increasing working air velocity has a positive effect on cooling performance, and its velocity should not be less than 1 m / s. As for increasing the product air velocity, it reduces the heat exchange period, which is undesirable, so it should not exceed 1 m / s. The prescribed flow rate ratio between product and working air should be 0.3 to 0.5. This analysis provides desirable operating conditions to achieve high operational efficiency as well as optimal dimensions for designing such a cooler. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper addresses the multi-scale modeling of human thermal regulation and the evaluation of human thermal comfort when the human body is dressed. A multi-scale model incorporating models of three-dimensional bioheat transfer, systemic arterial thermo-fluid dynamics, a thermoregulatory system and clothing is developed to predict body temperature and quantitatively evaluate human thermoregulatory responses. The results show good consistency with the available data, indicating that the present model is capable of accurately predicting human thermal regulation. The inverse problem of predicting comfortable clothing thermal resistance is solved by a bisection searching algorithm. Values for the thermal resistance of comfortable clothing in the human resting state are obtained under different environmental temperatures from −5 °C to 20 °C. This study is beneficial for the design and selection of clothing (especially functional clothing) and shows potential application in the evaluation of the thermal comfort of building and driving environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the most feasible solutions for reducing the global energy consumption and associated CO 2 emissions, is through usage of more efficient insulation systems in buildings and refrigeration units. Commercialization of high-performance thermal insulation will significantly contribute to environmentally sustainable future development. Aerogel composites provide superior thermal resistance and enable new design approaches for high performance insulation systems. This paper presents a theoretical and experimental study on the effective thermal conductivity of aerogel composites. The analytical model represents aerogel composites with a unit cell consisting of a cylindrical fiber surrounded by a packed bed of aerogel particles. The model accounts for various heat transfer mechanisms, namely conduction in the solid, gas conduction, and radiation. The properties and microstructure of two types of aerogel composites (Cryogel® Z and ThermalWrap™) were studied with scanning electron microscopy (SEM), mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The apparent thermal conductivity of the samples of aerogel blanket were measured using heat flow meter (HFM) at mean temperature ranging from −20 °C to 80 °C and the results polished thorough two-thickness method to de-convolute the effect of thermal contact resistance (TCR), between the sample and HFM hot and cold plates, from the apparent thermal conductivity values. The effective thermal conductivity results were found to increase from 0.0135 to 0.0175 W m −1 K −1 for Cryogel® Z and 0.0188 to 0.0271 W m −1 K −1 for ThermalWrap™ at mentioned temperature range. The analytically predicted variation in the effective thermal conductivity as a function of temperature agreed well with the experimental data. Using the proposed model, parametric studies were performed to investigate the effect of blanket porosity and fiber thermal conductivity on the effective thermal conductivity of aerogel composites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The subject of this paper was to develop a mathematical model of a non-contacting face seal describing the phenomenon of the heat transfer in the system: sealing rings – fluid film. The function of non-contacting face seals used in rotor machines is to separate the working agent from the external environment. The nature of operation of non-contacting face seals allows the fluid to leak through the clearance not bigger than a few micrometres. During the operation of the rotor machine between the co-operating rings, an intense conversion of mechanical energy into heat occurs. At first, the heat flux generated in the fluid film is channelled to the sealing rings and then to the surrounding fluid. The solution of the presented model was conducted with the use of analytical methods for the direct and the inverse heat transfer problem. The distribution of the temperature fields in the sealing rings for the direct heat transfer problem was determined with the use of Fourier–Bessel series as the surface function of two variables ( r , θ ) for the cross-section of a ring. The inverse heat transfer problem was solved with the use of Trefftz functions. The presented computational methods allow a more detailed identification of the phenomenon of the heat transfer in non-contacting face seals and indicate a direction of further research and preparation of new computational methods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper is focuses on the numerical simulation and analysis of coupled heat and mass transfer under ice formation conditions in the cross-flow plate heat exchanger. The simulation is performed using the original mathematical model. The presented model was validated against experimental data. The obtained results showed satisfactory agreement with the data obtained from the experimental measurements. Numerical simulation reveals many unique features of considered heat exchanger connected with the heat and mass transfer occurring in the return air channel under ice formation conditions. The results of computer simulation showed that the efficiency gains are sensitive to various inlet conditions, and allow for estimation of the safe operating conditions for different inlet return airflow parameters, based not only on the exhaust air temperature but also on its relative humidity and different thermal efficiency of the exchanger. Several goals were achieved, including: establishing the most unfavorable operating conditions (from the standpoint of ice formation on the plate surface of the return air channels) for cross-flow plate heat exchanger, which correspond to the inlet value of the return airflow dew point temperature equaled to 0 °C, impact of the ice formation on temperature effectiveness, impact of inlet relative humidity on temperature effectiveness and safe operating conditions and safe operating conditions for variety of inlet exhaust air parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Loosening local equilibrium assumptions in two-phase flow in porous media gives rise to new, unknown variables. More specifically, when loosening the local thermal equilibrium assumption, one has to describe the heat transfer between multiple phases, present at the same mathematical point. In this paper, we calibrate a macro-scale mathematical model which is free of local equilibrium assumptions to experimental observations. We emphasize the correct determination and upscaling of necessary input parameters from the experimental data achieved by image analysis. By choosing an appropriate scaling parameter, we are able to reproduce experimental measurements satisfactorily. This is a first step towards quantifying heat transfer in two-phase flow in porous media. Ultimately, our aim is to find the limits of the applicability of local equilibrium assumptions in two-phase flow in porous media. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The thermodynamic efficiencies of regenerative cooling cycles are directly linked to the heat transfer effectiveness and thermal losses in the regenerator. This paper proposes a performance analysis for regenerators based on the Entropy Generation Minimization (EGM) theory. The mathematical model consists of the one-dimensional Brinkman–Forchheimer equation to describe the fluid flow in the porous matrix and coupled energy equations to determine the temperatures in the fluid and solid phases. The cycle-average entropy generation contributions due to axial heat conduction, fluid friction and interstitial heat transfer are calculated. The influences of parameters such as the mass flow rate, operating frequency, regenerator cross sectional area, housing aspect ratio, utilization factor and particle diameter are evaluated according to the variable geometry ( VG ) and fixed face (cross-section) area ( FA ) performance evaluation criteria (PEC). Optimal regenerator configurations are found for each PEC for flow rates between 40 and 300 kg/h (0.01 and 0.083 kg/s) and frequencies between 1 and 4 Hz with constraints of regenerator effectiveness equal to 95% and temperature span of 40 K. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The steady natural convection in a two-dimensional porous square cavity filled with a nanofluid and including internal heat generation is presented in this paper. The mathematical model considered consists of the Darcy equation for the momentum, while a new model is proposed for the energy and nanoparticles’ concentration equations. The system of partial differential equations is written in terms of a dimensionless stream function, temperature and concentration of the nanoparticles and is solved numerically using the finite difference method. The effects of the governing parameters, such as: Rayleigh number Ra , the Lewis number Le and the dimensionless ratio between the thermophoretic and Brownian coefficients N BT on the velocity, temperature and nanoparticles’ concentration, Nusselt and Sherwood numbers are studied. It is found that the addition of the nanoparticles into the fluid saturated porous medium reduces the temperature and enhances the heat transfer when the value of the thermal conductivity of the nanoparticles is much higher than the thermal conductivity of the solid structure of the porous medium. This addition has almost no effect on the flow and heat transfer characteristics when the values of the thermal conductivity of the nanoparticles and the thermal conductivity of the solid structure of the porous medium have close values. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents a numerical study of heat and mass transfer in indirect evaporative air coolers with four air flow patterns: parallel-flow, counter-flow, cross-flow and regenerative. The numerical simulation was performed on the basis of original two-dimensional heat and mass transfer models (in the case of cross-flow heat exchanger the model was 3D). The mathematical models developed were validated against published experimental data presented in Appendix A . It was established, that heat and mass transfer processes in the wet channels of counter-flow, cross-flow and regenerative indirect evaporative coolers are characterized by creation of two particular heat and mass transfer zones. Detail analysis of the temperature and humidity ratio distributions and boundary conditions, characterizing the coupled heat and mass transfer process in each of these determined zones, revels the violation of the Lewis relation unity under a certain inlet and operation conditions. A theoretical method for estimating the Lewis factor was proposed. Using the developed models the thermal performances of the conventional designs of indirect evaporative air coolers were analyzed numerically and preferable climatic zones for considered heat exchanger were established. Four novel heat exchangers utilizing the advantages of the basic cycles heat exchangers were presented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates a mathematical simulation of the heat and mass transfer in the two different Maisotsenko Cycle (M-Cycle) heat and mass exchangers used for the indirect evaporative cooling in different air-conditioning systems. A two-dimensional heat and mass transfer model is developed to perform the thermal calculations of the indirect evaporative cooling process, thus quantifying the overall heat exchangers’ performance. The mathematical model was validated against the experimental data. Numerical simulations reveal many unique features of the considered units, enabling an accurate prediction of their performance. Results of the model allow for comparison of the two types of heat exchangers in different applications for air conditioning systems in order to obtain optimal efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Laminar and turbulent forced convection heat transfer and flow characteristics of nanofluids in small smooth tubes are numerically simulated using two kinds of multiphase-flow models. The simulated results are compared with the experimental results from the published papers and the traditional predicting correlations to investigate the applicability of these models for nanofluids. The multiphase-flow models including mixture model and Eulerian model, and both of them belong to the well-known Euler–Euler model. The effects of various parameters such as Reynolds number and nanoparticles concentration on the heat transfer and flow characteristics are investigated and discussed in each model. The study results show that little deviation exists between the simulated results and the traditional predicting correlations for low concentration nanofluid, which indicates that low concentration nanofluid has no meaningful nano-effect on forced convection heat transfer. While, non-traditional fluid characteristics occur and increase with increasing the nanoparticles concentration, and the simulated results using special models of multiphase flow are closer to the experimental data than that of the traditional correlations, which means the multiphase flow models are more accurate than traditional correlations for high concentration nanofluid. Moreover, the numerical results also indicate that the drag coefficients of simulated results have only little difference less than 0.4% with that of experimental results for nanofluids in the laminar flow region. However, the drag coefficients of simulated results have a increase by about 60–22% compared with the experimental results in the turbulent flow region. As conclusion, the present study indicates that the two-phase models, including mixture model and Eulerian model, can predict the forced convection heat transfer and flow characteristics of nanofluid well, and have important implications for the application of nanofluid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Liquid-to air membrane energy exchangers (LAMEEs) are novel membrane based energy exchangers that allow simultaneous heat and moisture transfer between salt solutions and air streams. The similarity between a small-scale (2.5 L/s) LAMEE and a full-scale (100 L/s) LAMEE is investigated, both experimentally and numerically, in this paper. Dimensional analysis of the coupled heat and mass transfer equations in the air-side, solution side and membrane of the LAMEE shows that five important dimensionless parameters affect the performance of LAMEEs: (1) number of heat transfer units, NTU, (2) thermal capacity ratio, Cr*, (3) number of mass transfer units, NTUm, (4) mass flow rate ratio, m*, and (5) operating factor, H*. The differences in the small-scale and full-scale LAMEEs effectivenesses are numerically investigated for these five important dimensionless parameters. The results show that in most cases the differences between the small-scale and full-scale LAMEE effectivenesses are less than 2%. The comparison between the experimental and numerical sensible, latent and total effectivenesses of the small-scale LAMEE and the full-scale LAMEE shows that there is a similarity between the small-scale and full-scale LAMEEs, and that the small-scale LAMEE effectiveness results can be used to predict the performance of the full-scale LAMEE. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we consider the fundamental problem of how to design the spacing between two plane and parallel tree structures buried in and transferring heat to a conducting medium. The Y and T tree-shaped structures are configured as two palms facing each other. The search for the optimal spacing is pursued in solid domains with three sizes. First, we studied a cube where the tree palms structure grow to the second level bifurcation. Second and third, we considered a small cube and a large cube where the tree structure consists of just the first level bifurcation. The results show that the best spacing between palms is half of the side of the cube, in order to avoid the interference between the two tree and adiabatic boundaries of the cube in which the trees structures are embedded. The spacing is possible to optimize, without being affected by the shape of the structure, the bifurcation level of the structure and the size of cube. The decision of optimal spacing is not affected by changes in the volume fraction occupied by tree structure in the conducting body. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In this paper, the improved heat flux partitioning model based on first principal models of the underlying physics in determining the active nucleation site density, bubble size and bubble frequency is evaluated for subcooled flow boiling in vertical heated channels at low pressures. Salient features of this model include the fractal approach in determining the active nucleation site density, the force balance model in determining bubble diameters at sliding and lift-off as well as bubble frequency through the consideration of growth and waiting times and the additional heat flux at the heated wall due to surface quenching of sliding bubbles. Model predictions, covering a wide range of different mass and heat fluxes and inlet subcooling temperatures, are compared against local and axial measurements. In comparison to the measured data and selected combinations of empirical correlations such as described in Part 1, the current model predictions clearly demonstrate the effect of the subcooling effect on the activation of nucleation sites at the heated wall. The selected combinations of empirical correlations consistently under-estimate the wall superheat temperature while the current model yields predictions that agree very well with experimentally measured temperatures. Bubble sliding along the heat wall and its influence on heat partitioning and surface quenching heat flux has been ascertained to play an important role during the subcooled flow boiling process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• Inverse method used to improve original T-history method equations to determine PCMs latent heat. • The method shown to be suitable method to calculate latent heat of low thermal conductivity bulk PCMs. • New transient modelling is more suitable for calculating latent heat with cooling rates than using original equations. High temperature phase change materials (PCMs) are being proposed as thermal energy storage media in concentrated solar power plants. The thermophysical properties of PCMs, such as the latent heat of fusion/solidification need to be defined to enable system design and evaluate system performance and cost analysis. Several methods have been used to measure the latent heat of fusion/solidification of PCMs including the T-history method. The original assumption of the T-history method is the Biot number should be less than 0.1 where the lumped capacitance method is applicable. However, when the Biot number is more than 0.1 then the original equations are not applicable to estimate the latent heat of PCM. This paper demonstrates how a one-dimensional heat transfer mathematical model can be used by applying an inverse method to overcome the limitation of the lumped capacitance method in the original T-history method to determine the latent heat of PCMs. The mathematical model demonstrates that variation of the temperature distributions inside the samples for the discharge curves. Furthermore, this model shows the errors in the latent heat values if the T-history method is used. It is evident from the discharge curves of low thermal conductivity PCMs that the original simplified equations used for interpreting the T-history test results are not applicable for calculating the latent heat at different ambient temperature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Integrated mathematical models for counter-flow heat and mass transfer process are built. • Thermodynamic balancing of simultaneous heat and mass transfer process is accomplished by water mass injection/extraction. • The total entropy generation can be minimized at the balance conditions of HCR = 1. • A minimum value of NEG = 0.0054 is obtained at the inlet relative humidity of 0.85. • Adjusting the injection height shows significant potential in reducing the total entropy generation, although the HCR is always 1. In this paper, a specific procedure is considered to reveal how the simultaneous heat and mass transfer process achieves thermodynamic balancing such that the total entropy generation can be minimized, in combination with the unsaturated state of inlet humid air. In view of the simultaneous heat and mass exchange with zero and single water mass injection/extraction, integrated mathematical models based on mass and energy conservation are established using the finite difference method. The novel proposed driving force criterions, heat transfer temperature difference (HTTD) and mass transfer pressure difference (MTPD), are balanced at off-design conditions, while the relevant influences from the critical parameters are investigated and analyzed. The simulation results demonstrate that the total normalized entropy generation (NEG) can be minimized at the balance condition of HCR = 1, meanwhile, the energy efficiency has a minimum value. It is found that single mass injection can better decrease the entropy generation at its minimum point and along the variation curve, compared to zero and single mass extraction. Specific injection ratio is given at the balance condition with fixed inlet liquid-gas ratio. Moreover, it is valuably observed that varying the injection height shows significant potential in reducing entropy generation, although the HCR keeps a constant value of one. Furthermore, a minimum value of NEG = 0.0054 is emerged at φ i = 0.85, as raising the relative humidity of inlet humid air can effectively reduce the total entropy generation and elevate the energy efficiency, simultaneously. Image, graphical abstract [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]