Search

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]

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]

Abstract: The paper addresses results for the case of convective drying of particulate solids in a packed and in a fluid bed, analyzing agreement between the numerical results and the results of corresponding experimental investigation, as well as the differences between packed and fluid bed operation. In the fluid bed simulation model of unsteady simultaneous one-dimensional heat and mass transfer between solids, gas phase and bubble phase during drying process, based on two-phase bubbling model, it is assumed that the gas–solid interface is at thermodynamic equilibrium. The basic idea is to calculate heat and mass transfer between gas and particles (i.e., the drying process) in suspension phase as for a packed bed of particles, where the drying rate (evaporated moisture flux) of the specific product is calculated by applying the concept of a “drying coefficient”. Mixing of the particles (i.e., the impact onto the heat and mass transfer coefficients) in the case of fluid bed is taken into account by means of the diffusion term in the differential equations, using an effective particle diffusion coefficient. Model validation was done on the basis of the experimental data obtained with narrow fraction of poppy seeds characterized by mean equivalent particle diameter (dS , d =0.75mm), re-wetted with required (calculated) amount of water up to the initial moisture content (X 0 =0.54) for all experiments. Comparison of the drying kinetics, both experimental and numerical, has shown that higher gas (drying agent) temperatures, as well as velocities (flow-rates), induce faster drying. This effect is more pronounced for deeper beds, because of the larger amount of wet material to be dried using the same drying agent capacity. Bed temperature differences along the bed height are significant inside the packed bed, while in the fluid bed, for the same drying conditions, are almost negligible due to mixing of particles. Residence time is shorter in the case of a fluid bed drying compared to a packed bed drying. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: This paper developed a mathematical model for the coupled heat and mass transfer in porous media based on the fractal characters of the pore size distribution. According to Darcy’s law and Hagen–Poiseuille’s law for liquid flows, the diffusion coefficient of the liquid water, a function of fractal dimension, is obtained theoretically. The liquid flow affected by the surface tension and the gravity, the water vapor sorption/desorption by fibers, the diffusion of the water vapor and the phase changes are all taken into account in this model. With specification of initial and boundary conditions, distributions of water vapor concentration in void spaces, volume fraction of liquid water, distribution of water molecular content in fibers and temperature changes in porous fibrous media are obtained numerically. Effects of porosity of porous fibrous media on heat and mass transfer are analyzed. The theoretical predictions are compared with experimental data and good agreement is observed between the two, indicating that the fractal model is satisfactory. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: This paper presents a heat and mass transfer simulation of an adsorber, taking into consideration the geometry of the heat exchanger and the diffusion in the adsorbent medium. In this model, an increment in the direction of heating/cooling fluid containing one (or more) fin pitch was considered. In the domain of this increment, the distribution of the adsorbent temperature was evaluated in the radial and axial directions. The model is validated by experimental data of different adsorbents, volume flows and temperatures. All data were collected in an adsorber test-bench at Fraunhofer ISE. As a result it was found a coefficient of multiple determination of around 0.94 and an error of 20% during the transient. Finally, the model was run on typical operation for cooling application and compared with data from literature. A numerical energy balance was also evaluated. In summary, the results obtained by a independent group shows the same range of confidence of the model developed here, in terms of the tendency of the curves and even the absolute values. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The paper presents the geometry of infinite regular polyhedrons that can be used to construct the heat exchange units. The basic structural component of the infinite solid consists of six hexagons, which meet in the common vertex. The mathematical model of heat and mass transfer inside the labyrinth heat exchanger is shown. The first and the second Kirchhoff’s laws are used to simulate fluid flow distribution at hydraulic network created with connected basic solids. Heat balance equations are adopted to describe forced convection heat transfer inside developed heat exchanger. Good accordance among the experimental data and calculation results over whole simulation range is obtained. The efficiency and thermal characteristic of the labyrinth heat exchanger is presented in the form of graphs. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

• 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]