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• Algorithm for PLIC-based interfacial area concentration on 3D non-orthogonal grids. • Thermal phase change model with geometrical basis and free of empirical input. • Oscillating behavior of GOX jet plume in LOX crossflow is reproduced in simulation. • Imbalance between the mass transfer rate and the supply causes the oscillation. • Methodology developed is verified by the Stefan problem and the bubble experiment. In order to enhance the physical basis of the mass transfer model in numerical simulation of gas-liquid direct contact condensation and improve the fidelity, a set of methods and models are developed. Based on the concept of the piecewise-linear interface calculation (PLIC), an interface reconstruction algorithm is proposed to calculate the interfacial area concentration in three-dimensional non-orthogonal structured grids. The actual interface in the cell is replaced by a plane, whose position is determined iteratively to satisfy the local volume fraction and orientation of the actual interface. The area of the polygonal cut by the plane is taken as the interfacial area in the cell. The proposed algorithm is validated by calculating the surface area of a series of basic geometries. Obvious superiority of the proposed algorithm over the traditional models (gradient model and algebraic model) is seen. Then, the reconstructed area is used to determine the interfacial area concentration in the thermal phase change model. The process is implemented by ANSYS Fluent user-defined functions. The Stefan problem and steam bubble condensation experiment are used to test the performance of the developed methods and models. The simulation results agree well with the theoretical and experimental results with the quantitative relative errors no more than 4.3 % and 15 %, respectively. The oxygen jets condensation experiments are also used as test cases. The primary dominant frequencies predicted by the simulations are 163.01 Hz and 131.65 Hz, which agree well with the 139.72 Hz and 125.75 Hz in the experiments. The relative errors are only 17 % and 4.7 %. The unstable flow pattern of oxygen jet in liquid oxygen crossflow is explained based on the dynamic characteristics of turbulence, heat and mass transfer. The periodic variation of mass transfer rate is considered as the cause of condensation oscillation. The method for calculating the interfacial area proposed in this paper can serve as an optional and practical improvement to the numerical simulation of direct contact condensation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A Reference-Standard-Volume optimization method is proposed to improve CESPB. • The best aspect ratio of CESPB is 2–4 considering efficiencies and pressure drop. • The volume multiple is given at 1.1 with the highest exergy efficiency of 63.72 %. • The thermal and exergy efficiencies are increased by 2.03 % and 3.65 %, respectively. Cryogenic liquids (e.g., liquid air, liquid hydrogen, liquid carbon dioxide) have gained popularity in electricity storage due to their high energy density, no geographical constraints, and environmental friendliness. The cryogenic energy storage packed bed (CESPB) is widely employed as a cold recovery device to enhance the round-trip efficiency of cryogenic energy storage systems. Nonetheless, the cycle efficiencies of CESPB remain relatively low, with limited research investigating efficient methods for determining the design parameters. To address this, a novel optimization method named as the Reference-Standard-Volume (RSV) approach is introduced to enhance the thermodynamic performance of CESPB. In this paper, the complete optimization process of CESPB is illustrated, presenting the optimization outcomes in the view of heat and mass transfer. The findings reveal that a larger aspect ratio leads to the higher efficiencies but increased pressure drops. An optimal aspect ratio of 3 and a volume multiple of 1.1 is identified, achieving the highest exergy efficiency of 63.72 %. Meanwhile, increasing charging/discharging time enhances heat transfer in CESPB, however, it leads to an increase in external cold dissipation, which gives an optimal charging/discharging time of 3/3 h. By implementing the RSV optimization method, the percentage increase of discharging efficiency, thermal efficiency, and exergy efficiency of CESPB is 2.08 %, 2.03 %, and 3.65 %, respectively. These research outcomes offer valuable reference and guidance for future CESPB design and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• The process of melting-reconsolidation of the frost layer is considered. • Improvement of the existing Eulerian multiphase flow model of frost formation. • The whole process of frost layer growth under prolonged periods of time was studied. • Changes of ice-phase volume fraction and melt-reconsolidation region with time are discussed. Frost growth is a complex heat and mass transfer process, which involves the vapor-liquid-solid three-phase interconversion problem, and the investigation of the frost growth process helps to understand the mechanism of frost growth. In this paper, frost model is considered, taking into account the role of the frost layer melting-reconsolidation. The aim is to improve the existing Eulerian multiphase flow model. Using the improved frost model, the whole process of the frost layer growth is simulated. In addition, an investigation is presented dealing with, the frost layer growth in various stages of the ice phase volume fraction and melting-reconsolidation area, considering the change and the proportion of the situation. The results showed that the volume fraction of the ice phase increased with time. Additionally, the melting-reconsolidation process starts from the front area of the frost layer surface and then gradually spreads to the whole surface. Moreover, it is shown that the proportion of the melting area increases and then decreases with time before attaining a constant value. On the other hand, the proportion of the solidifying area increases with time and finally tends to 0. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Heat and mass transfer model of pyrolysis gases in a confined space was developed. • Growth rates of pyrolysis product concentrations were determined. • Synergistic effects were identified for different fire hazard sources. • Role of ventilation in the growth of pyrolysis gases concentrations was defined. • Correlation of room sizes with concentrations of pyrolysis gases was established. Numerical research findings are presented on the patterns of spread of thermal decomposition products of wood-based materials in confined spaces isolated from the external environment. Based on the experimental data, a physical problem statement was formulated and a mathematical model of heat and mass transfer was developed for rooms with the most typical sources of fire hazard. The experimental and numerical research findings were obtained for the conditions corresponding to compartments isolated from the external environment (e.g., rooms at dedicated facilities, like ships, small and medium-sized rooms) and to underventilated rooms. The performed experiments and calculations revealed satisfactory agreement in the findings and demonstrated the validity of the proposed model of heat and mass transfer. Wood was used as the main material in fires. A comparative analysis was also carried out for paper of different quality. The modeling was performed for the most frequent causes of fires: careless handling of fire, unsafe operation of heating equipment and electrical short circuits. The rates of growth of thermal decomposition product concentrations were determined for different distances from the material. The impact of a number of factors on the characteristics under study was determined. These are the fire and room sizes, fire cause, supply and exhaust ventilation. The data were extrapolated to the conditions corresponding to business, warehouse and residential premises. [Display omitted] [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A correct formulation of average Nusselt number for the case of linearly heated wall is derived. • Thermal balance analysis provides the verification of the correct formulation. • Comparison of the existing and the correct formulation is included. The comment below addresses an inaccurate formulation in the calculation of the Nusselt number for linear heating as presented in the paper titled "Steady natural convection flows in a square cavity with linearly heated side wall(s)" by M. Sathiyamoorthy, T. Basak, S. Roy, and I. Pop, Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 50 (2007) 766–775. Consequently, this analysis provides a mathematical reformulation for the local and mean Nusselt numbers of a linearly heated side wall. It regenerates a few quantitative results for a specific case solely intended for comparative purposes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• RBF-DG was a novel prediction for absorption process in falling film and membrane based absorbers. • RBF-DG method provided excellent solutions. • Comparison with analytical solutions and experiments provided good agreements. • It becomes possible to predict accurately the absorption rate of falling film and membrane. The present investigation is intended to develop an understanding of how the vapor pressure and inlet temperature of the solution affect the absorption rate, which is helpful for the design of absorption heat pump systems. Many conjugated heat and mass transfer processes in falling film and membrane during lithium bromide (LiBr) absorption have not been well addressed. This paper proposes combining the meshless Radial Basis Function (RBF) and Discontinuous Galerkin (DG) methods to solve the conjugated heat and mass transfer in falling film and membrane-based absorption problems. The derivatives in the transverse direction are discretized using the RBF method. Owing to the parabolic nature of the governing equations, the DG methods can be used to discretize the derivatives in the streamwise direction. The efficacy of the proposed method is shown by comparing its results with analytical solutions and experimental data available in the literature. Furthermore, the proposed method is used to evaluate the analytical solutions of the heat and mass transfer problem in a membrane-based absorber. The previous published works simplified the problem to obtain the analytical solutions by providing the mean temperature and concentration values as the boundary conditions at the membrane-solution interface. The comparison of the RBF-DG method and the analytical solutions reveals that there are minor changes in temperature and local concentration values along the streamwise direction, but the profiles and trends are relatively similar across the film. A comparison of mass absorption rate calculations shows that RBF-DG and analytical solutions are compatible. The advantage of the numerical method is that various types of boundary conditions can be handled easily without any simplifications. Moreover, the numerical results of the proposed method are compared with experimental data, and they present good agreement. As a results, the absorption rate of falling film and membrane becomes capable of being accurately predicted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]