Hossein Arasteh, Mohammad Reza Salimpour and Mohammad Reza Tavakoli
In the present research, a numerical investigation is carried out to study the fluid flow and heat transfer in a double-pipe, counter-flow heat exchanger exploiting metal foam…
Abstract
Purpose
In the present research, a numerical investigation is carried out to study the fluid flow and heat transfer in a double-pipe, counter-flow heat exchanger exploiting metal foam inserts partially in both pipes. The purpose of this study is to achieve the optimal distribution of a fixed volume of metal foam throughout the pipes which provides the maximum heat transfer rate with the minimum pressure drop increase.
Design/methodology/approach
The governing equations are solved using the finite volume method. The metal foams are divided into different number of parts and positioned at different locations. The number of metal foam parts, their placements and their volume ratios in each pipe are sought to reach the optimal conditions. The four-piece metal foam with optimized placement and partitioning volume ratios is selected as the best layout. The effects of the permeability of metal foam on the Nusselt number, the performance evaluation criteria (PEC) and the overall heat transfer coefficient are investigated.
Findings
It was observed that the heat transfer rate, the overall heat transfer coefficient and the effectiveness of the heat exchanger can be improved as high as 69, 124 and 9 per cent, respectively, while the highest value of PEC is 1.36.
Practical implications
Porous materials are widely used in thermo-fluid systems such as regenerators, heat sinks, solar collectors and heat exchangers.
Originality/value
Having less pressure drop than fully filled heat exchangers, partially filled heat exchangers with partitioned metal foams distributed optimally enhance heat transfer rate more economically.
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The aim is to study numerically the heat transfer enhancement in a double pipe heat exchanger by using porous fins attached at the external wall of the inner cylinder.
Abstract
Purpose
The aim is to study numerically the heat transfer enhancement in a double pipe heat exchanger by using porous fins attached at the external wall of the inner cylinder.
Design/methodology/approach
The Brinkman‐Forchheimer extended Darcy model is used in the porous regions. The differential equations subjected to the boundary conditions are solved numerically using the finite volume method. Numerical calculations are performed for a wide range of Darcy number (10−6≤Da≤10−1), porous fins height (0≤Hp≤1) and spacing (0≤Lf≤39) and thermal conductivity ratio (1≤Rk≤100). The effects of these parameters are considered in order to look for the most appropriate properties of the porous fins that allow optimal heat transfer enhancement.
Findings
The results obtained show that the insertion of porous fins may alter substantially the flow pattern depending on their permeability, height and spacing. Concerning the heat transfer effect, it is found that the use of porous fins may enhance the heat transfer in comparison to the fluid case and that the rate of improvement depends on their geometrical and thermo‐physical properties. Performance analysis indicated that more net energy gain may be achieved as the thermal conductivity ratio increases especially at high Darcy numbers and heights.
Research limitations/implications
The results obtained in this work are valid for double pipe heat exchangers with the same fluid flowing at the same flow rate in the two ducts and for the case of an inner cylinder of negligible thermal resistance.
Practical implications
The results obtained in this study can be used in the design of heat exchangers.
Originality/value
This study provides an interesting method to improve heat transfer in a double pipe heat exchanger by use of porous fins.
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Samer Ali, Zein Alabidin Shami, Ali Badran and Charbel Habchi
In this paper, self-sustained second mode oscillations of flexible vortex generator (FVG) are produced to enhance the heat transfer in two-dimensional laminar flow regime. The…
Abstract
Purpose
In this paper, self-sustained second mode oscillations of flexible vortex generator (FVG) are produced to enhance the heat transfer in two-dimensional laminar flow regime. The purpose of this study is to determine the critical Reynolds number at which FVG becomes more efficient than rigid vortex generators (RVGs).
Design/methodology/approach
Ten cases were studied with different Reynolds numbers varying from 200 to 2,000. The Nusselt number and friction coefficients of the FVG cases are compared to those of RVG and empty channel at the same Reynolds numbers.
Findings
For Reynolds numbers higher than 800, the FVG oscillates in the second mode causing a significant increase in the velocity gradients generating unsteady coherent flow structures. The highest performance was obtained at the maximum Reynolds number for which the global Nusselt number is improved by 35.3 and 41.4 per cent with respect to empty channel and rigid configuration, respectively. Moreover, the thermal enhancement factor corresponding to FVG is 72 per cent higher than that of RVG.
Practical implications
The results obtained here can help in the design of novel multifunctional heat exchangers/reactors by using flexible tabs and inserts instead of rigid ones.
Originality/value
The originality of this paper is the use of second mode oscillations of FVG to enhance heat transfer in laminar flow regime.
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Kiran Kumar K, Kotresha Banjara and Kishan Naik
This study aims to present the numerical analysis of exergy transfer and irreversibility through the discrete filling of high-porosity aluminum metal foams inside the horizontal…
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to present the numerical analysis of exergy transfer and irreversibility through the discrete filling of high-porosity aluminum metal foams inside the horizontal pipe.
Design/methodology/approach
In this study, the heater is embedded on the pipe’s circumference and is assigned with known heat input. To enhance the heat transfer, metal foam of 10 pores per inch with porosity 0.95 is filled into the pipe. In filling, two kinds of arrangements are made, in the first arrangement, the metal foam is filled adjacent to the inner wall of the pipe [Model (1)–(3)], and in the second arrangement, the foam is located at the center of the pipe [Models (4)–(6)]. So, six different models are examined in this research for a fluid velocity ranging from 0.7 to7 m/s under turbulent flow conditions. Darcy Extended Forchheimer is combined with local thermal non-equilibrium models for forecasting the flow and heat transfer features via metal foams.
Findings
The numerical methodology implemented in this study is confirmed by comparing the outcomes with the experimental outcomes accessible in the literature and found a fairly good agreement between them. The application of the second law of thermodynamics via metal foams is the novelty of current investigation. The evaluation of thermodynamic performance includes the parameters such as mean exergy-based Nusselt number (Nue), rate of irreversibility, irreversibility distribution ratio (IDR), merit function (MF) and non-dimensional exergy destruction (I*). In all the phases, Models (1)–(3) exhibit better performance than Models (4)–(6).
Practical implications
The present study helps to enhance the heat transfer performance with the introduction of metal foams and reveals the importance of available energy (exergy) in the system which helps in arriving at optimum design criteria for the thermal system.
Originality/value
The uniqueness of this study is to analyze the impact of discrete metal foam filling on exergy and irreversibility in a pipe under turbulent flow conditions.
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Younes Menni, A. Chamkha, Chafika Zidani and Boumédiène Benyoucef
A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis has been carried out on the aerodynamic and thermal behavior of an incompressible Newtonian fluid having a constant property and…
Abstract
Purpose
A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis has been carried out on the aerodynamic and thermal behavior of an incompressible Newtonian fluid having a constant property and flowing turbulently through a two-dimensional horizontal high-performance heat transfer channel with a rectangular cross section. The top surface of the channel was kept at a constant temperature, while it was made sure to maintain the adiabatic condition of the bottom surface. Two obstacles, with different shapes, i.e. flat rectangular and V-shaped, were inserted into the channel; they were fixed to the top and bottom surfaces of the channel in a periodically staggered manner to force vortices to improve the mixing and consequently the heat transfer. The first fin-type obstacle is placed on the heated top channel surface, and the second baffle-type one is placed on the insulated bottom surface. Five different obstacle situations were considered in this study, which are referred as cases FF (flat fin and flat baffle), FVD (flat fin and V-downstream baffle), FVU (flat fin and V-upstream baffle), VVD (V-downstream fin and V-downstream baffle) and VVU (V-Upstream fin and V-upstream baffle).
Design/methodology/approach
The flow model is governed by Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes equations with the k-epsilon turbulence model and the energy equation. These governing equations are discretized by the finite volume method, in two dimensions, using the commercial CFD software FLUENT software with the Semi Implicit Method for Pressure Linked Equations (SIMPLE) algorithm for handling the pressure-velocity coupling. Air is the test fluid with the flow rate in terms of Reynolds numbers ranging from 12,000 to 32,000.
Findings
Important deformations and large recirculation regions were observed in the flow field. A vortex causes a rotary motion inside the flow field, which enhances the mixing by bringing the packets of fluid from the near-wall region of the channel to the bulk and the other way around. The largest value of the axial variations of the Nusselt number and skin friction coefficient is found in the region facing the baffle, while the smallest value is in the region near the fin, for all cases. The thermal enhancement factor (TEF) was also introduced and discussed to assess the performance of the channel for various obstacle situations. It is found that the TEF values are 1.273-1.368, 1.377-1.573, 1.444-1.833, 1.398-1.565 and 1.348-1.592 for FF, FVD, FVU, VVD and VVU respectively, depending on the Re values. In all cases, the TEF was found to be much larger than unity; its maximum value was around 1.833 for FVU at the highest Reynolds number. Therefore, the FVU may be considered as the best geometrical configuration when using the obstacles to improve the heat transfer efficiency inside the channel.
Originality/value
This study can be a real application in the field of shell-and-tube heat exchangers and flat plate solar air collectors.
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R. Askari, M.F. Ikram and S. H. Hejazi
Thermal conduction anisotropy, which is defined by the dependency of thermal conductivity on direction, is an important parameter in many engineering and research studies such as…
Abstract
Purpose
Thermal conduction anisotropy, which is defined by the dependency of thermal conductivity on direction, is an important parameter in many engineering and research studies such as the design of nuclear waste depositional sites. In this context, the authors aim to investigate the effect of grain shape in thermal conduction anisotropy using pore scale modeling that utilizes real shapes of grains, pores and throats to characterize petrophysical properties of a porous medium.
Design/methodology/approach
The authors generalize the swelling circle approach to generate porous media composed of randomly arranged but regularly oriented elliptical grains at various grain ratios and porosities. Unlike previous studies that use fitting parameters to capture the effect of grain–grain thermal contact resistance, the authors apply roughness to grains’ surface. The authors utilize Lattice Boltzmann method to solve steady state heat conduction through medium.
Findings
Based on the results, when the temperature field is not parallel to either major or minor axes of grains, the overall heat flux vector makes a “deviation angle” with the temperature field. Deviation angle increases by augmenting the ratio of thermal conductivities of solid to fluid and the aspect ratios of grains. In addition, the authors show that porosity and surface roughness can considerably change the anisotropic properties of a porous medium whose grains are elliptical in shape.
Originality/value
The authors developed an algorithm for generation of non-circular-based porous medium with a novel approach to include grain surface roughness. In previous studies, the effect of grain contacts has been simulated using fitting parameters, whereas in this work, the authors impose the roughness based on the its fractal geometry.
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Adam Targui and Wagdi George Habashi
Responsible for lift generation, the helicopter rotor is an essential component to protect against ice accretion. As rotorcraft present a smaller wing cross-section and a lower…
Abstract
Purpose
Responsible for lift generation, the helicopter rotor is an essential component to protect against ice accretion. As rotorcraft present a smaller wing cross-section and a lower available onboard power compared to aircraft, electro-thermal heating pads are favored as they conform to the blades’ slender profile and limited volume. Their optimization is carried out here taking into account, for the first time, the highly three-dimensional (3D) nature of the flow and ice accretion, in contrast to the current state-of-the-art that is limited to two-dimensional (2D) airfoils.
Design/methodology/approach
Conjugate heat transfer simulation results are provided by the truly 3D finite element Navier–Stokes analysis package-ICE code, embedded in a proprietary rotorcraft simulation toolkit, with reduced-order modeling providing a time-efficient evaluation of the objective and constraint functions at every iteration. The proposed methodology optimizes heating pads extent and power usage and is versatile enough to address in a computationally efficient manner a wide variety of optimization formulations.
Findings
Low-error reduced-order modeling strategies are introduced to make the tackling of complex 3D geometries feasible in todays’ computers, with the developed framework applied to four problem formulations, demonstrating marked reductions to power consumption along with improved aerodynamics.
Originality/value
The present paper proposes a 3D framework for the optimization of electro-thermal rotorcraft ice protection systems, in hover and forward flight. The current state-of-the-art is limited to 2D airfoils.
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The purpose of this monograph is to present the first English translation of a unique French colonial report on women living under colonial rule in West Africa.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this monograph is to present the first English translation of a unique French colonial report on women living under colonial rule in West Africa.
Design/methodology/approach
The issue begins with a discussion of the contribution this report makes to the history of social development policy in Africa, and how it serves the on‐going critique of colonisation. This is followed by the English translation of the original report held in the National Archives of Senegal. The translation is accompanied by explanatory notes, translator’s comments, a glossary of African and technical terms, and a bibliography.
Findings
The discussion highlights contemporary social development policies and practices which featured in identical or similar forms in French colonial social policy.
Practical implications
As the report demonstrates, access to basic education and improving maternal/infant health care have dominated the social development agenda for women in sub‐Saharan Africa for over a century, and will continue to do so in the foreseeable future in the Millennium Development Goals which define the international community’s agenda for social development to 2015. The parallels between colonial and post‐colonial social policies in Africa raise questions about the philosophical and cultural foundations of contemporary social development policy in Africa and the direction policy is following in the 21st century.
Originality/value
Though the discussion adopts a consciously postcolonial perspective, the report that follows presents a consciously colonial view of the “Other”. Given the parallels identified here between contemporary and colonial policy‐making, this can only add to the value of the document in exploring the values that underpin contemporary social development practice.
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– The purpose of this paper is to present a proportional-integral (PI) observer design on a linear system with stochastic noises.
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to present a proportional-integral (PI) observer design on a linear system with stochastic noises.
Design/methodology/approach
The noised disturbances are modeled as independent Brownian motions for various affections, such as radiation, heat, and material fatigue. These phenomena are common in applications, such as biomolecules, nonlinear control, and biochemical networks. Under this framework, this paper proposes a new approach on a PI observer in terms of four crucial theorems, and an illustrative numerical example is given to verify the proposed design.
Findings
The results provide potential solutions for system fault tolerance and isolation.
Originality/value
This paper proposes a design, solvability, and controllability analysis on a PI observer in terms of four crucial theorems.
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Fernando Tejero, David MacManus, Josep Hueso-Rebassa, Francisco Sanchez-Moreno, Ioannis Goulos and Christopher Sheaf
Aerodynamic shape optimisation is complex because of the high dimensionality of the problem, the associated non-linearity and its large computational cost. These three aspects…
Abstract
Purpose
Aerodynamic shape optimisation is complex because of the high dimensionality of the problem, the associated non-linearity and its large computational cost. These three aspects have an impact on the overall time of the design process. To overcome these challenges, this paper aims to develop a method for transonic aerodynamic design with dimensionality reduction and multifidelity techniques.
Design/methodology/approach
The developed methodology is used for the optimisation of an installed civil ultra-high bypass ratio aero-engine nacelle. As such, the effects of airframe-engine integration are considered during the optimisation routine. The active subspace method is applied to reduce the dimensionality of the problem from 32 to 2 design variables with a database compiled with Euler computational fluid dynamics (CFD) calculations. In the reduced dimensional space, a co-Kriging model is built to combine Euler lower-fidelity and Reynolds-averaged Navier stokes higher-fidelity CFD evaluations.
Findings
Relative to a baseline aero-engine nacelle derived from an isolated optimisation process, the proposed method yielded a non-axisymmetric nacelle configuration with an increment in net vehicle force of 0.65% of the nominal standard net thrust.
Originality/value
This work investigates the viability of CFD optimisation through a combination of dimensionality reduction and multifidelity method and demonstrates that the developed methodology enables the optimisation of complex aerodynamic problems.