Non-newtonian flow and pressure drop of pineapple juice in a plate heat exchanger

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Non-newtonian heat transfer on a plate heat exchanger with generalized configurations

For the configuration optimization of plate heat exchangers (PHEs), the mathematical models for heat transfer and pressure drop must be valid for a wide range of operational conditions of all configurations of the exchanger or the design results may be compromised. In this investigation, the thermal model of a PHE is adjusted to fit experimental data obtained from non-Newtonian heat transfer for eight different configurations, using carboxymethylcellulose solutions (CMC) as test fluid. Although it is possible to successfully adjust the model parameters, Newtonian and non-Newtonian heat transfer cannot be represented by a single generalized correlation. In addition, the specific heat, thermal conductivity and power-law rheological parameters of CMC solutions were correlated with temperature, over a range compatible with a continuous pasteurization process.

Development of a micro-heat exchanger with stacked plates using LTCC technology

A green ceramic tape micro-heat exchanger was developed using Low Temperature Co-fired Ceramics technology (LTCC). The device was designed by using Computational Aided Design software and simulations were made using a Computational Fluid Dynamics package (COMSOL Multiphysics) to evaluate the homogeneity of fluid distribution in the microchannels. Four geometries were proposed and simulated in two and three dimensions to show that geometric details directly affect the distribution of velocity in the micro-heat exchanger channels. The simulation results were quite useful for the design of the microfluidic device. The micro-heat exchanger was then constructed using the LTCC technology and is composed of five thermal exchange plates in cross-flow arrangement and two connecting plates, with all plates stacked to form a device with external dimensions of 26 x 26 x 6 mm(3).

A two phase flow nonlinear parameter estimation for capillary tube-suction line heat exchanger

Here we present two-phase flow nonlinear parameter estimation for HFC's flow through capillary tube-suction line heat exchangers, commonly used as expansion devices in small refrigeration systems. The simplifying assumptions adopted are: steady state, pure refrigerant, one-dimensional flow, negligible axial heat conduction in the fluid, capillary tube and suction line walls. Additionally, it is considered that the refrigerant is free from oil and both phases are assumed to be at the same pressure, that is, surface tension effects are neglected. Metastable flow effects are also disregarded, and the vapor is assumed to be saturated at the local pressure. The so-called homogeneous model, involving three, first order, ordinary differential equations is applied to analyze the two-phase flow region. Comparison is done with experimental measurements of the mass flow rate and temperature distribution along capillary tubes working with refrigerant HFC-134a in different operating conditions.

Development of a micro heat exchanger made with ceramic multi-layers (LTCC) and its setup to gas flow measurements

A green ceramic tape micro heat exchanger was developed using LTCC technology. The device was designed by using a CAD software and 2D and 3D simulations using a CFD package (COMSOL Multiphysics) to evaluate the fluid behavior in the microchannels. The micro heat exchanger is composed of five thermal exchange plates in cross flow arrangement and two connecting plates; heat exchanger dimensions are 26 × 26 × 6 mm3. Preliminary tests were carried out to characterize the device both in atmospheric pressure and in vacuum. The same techniques used in vacuum technology were applied to check the rotameters and to prevent device leakages. Thermal performance of the micro heat exchanger was experimentally tested. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Heat transfer in laminar flow of non-Newtonian fluids in ducts of elliptical section

Laminar forced convection inside tubes of various cross-section shapes is of interest in the design of a low Reynolds number heat exchanger apparatus. Heat transfer to thermally developing, hydrodynamically developed forced convection inside tubes of simple geometries such as a circular tube, parallel plate, or annular duct has been well studied in the literature and documented in various books, but for elliptical duct there are not much work done. The main assumption used in this work is a laminar flow of a power flow inside elliptical tube, under a boundary condition of first kind with constant physical properties and negligible axial heat diffusion (high Peclet number). To solve the thermally developing problem, we use the generalized integral transform technique (GITT), also known as Sturm-Liouville transform. Actually, such an integral transform is a generalization of the finite Fourier transform where the sine and cosine functions are replaced by more general sets of orthogonal functions. The axes are algebraically transformed from the Cartesian coordinate system to the elliptical coordinate system in order to avoid the irregular shape of the elliptical duct wall. The GITT is then applied to transform and solve the problem and to obtain the once unknown temperature field. Afterward, it is possible to compute and present the quantities of practical interest, such as the bulk fluid temperature, the local Nusselt number and the average Nusselt number for various cross-section aspect ratios. (C) 2006 Elsevier. SAS. All rights reserved.

Thermal performance of multipass parallel and counter-cross-flow heat exchangers

A thorough study of the thermal performance of multipass parallel cross-flow and counter-cross-flow heat exchangers has been carried out by applying a new numerical procedure. According to this procedure, the heat exchanger is discretized into small elements following the tube-side fluid circuits. Each element is itself a one-pass mixed-unmixed cross-flow heat exchanger. Simulated results have been validated through comparisons to results from analytical solutions for one- to four-pass, parallel cross-flow and counter-cross-flow arrangements. Very accurate results have been obtained over wide ranges of NTU (number of transfer units) and C* (heat capacity rate ratio) values. New effectiveness data for the aforementioned configurations and a higher number of tube passes is presented along with data for a complex flow configuration proposed elsewhere. The proposed procedure constitutes a useful research tool both for theoretical and experimental studies of cross-flow heat exchangers thermal performance.

A new approach for thermal performance calculation of cross-flow heat exchangers

A new numerical methodology for thermal performance calculation in cross-flow heat exchangers is developed. Effectiveness-number of transfer units (epsilon-NTU) data for several standard and complex flow arrangements are obtained using this methodology. The results are validated through comparison with analytical solutions for one-pass cross-flow heat exchangers with one to four rows and with approximate series solution for an unmixed-unmixed heat exchanger, obtaining in all cases very small errors. New effectiveness data for some complex configurations are provided. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Effectiveness-ntu computation with a mathematical model for cross-flow heat exchangers

Due to the wide range of design possibilities, simple manufactured, low maintenance and low cost, cross-flow heat exchangers are extensively used in the petroleum, petrochemical, air conditioning, food storage, and others industries. In this paper a mathematical model for cross-flow heat exchangers with complex flow arrangements for determining epsilon -NTU relations is presented. The model is based on the tube element approach, according to which the heat exchanger outlet temperatures are obtained by discretizing the coil along the tube fluid path. In each cross section of the element, tube-side fluid temperature is assumed to be constant because the heat capacity rate ratio C*=Cmin/Cmax tends toward zero in the element. Thus temperature is controlled by effectiveness of a local element corresponding to an evaporator or a condenser-type element. The model is validated through comparison with theoretical algebraic relations for single-pass cross-flow arrangements with one or more rows. Very small relative errors are obtained showing the accuracy of the present model. epsilon -NTU curves for several complex circuit arrangements are presented. The model developed represents a useful research tool for theoretical and experimental studies on heat exchangers performance.

Heat exchangers for cardioplegia systems: In vitro study of four different concepts

The aim of this work is the evaluation of four different heat exchangers used for myocardium during cardioplegic system in cardiac surgeries. Four types of shell and tube heat exchangers made of different exchange elements were constructed, as follows: stainless steel tubes, aluminium tubes, polypropylene hollow fiber, and bellows type. The evaluation was performed by in vitro tests of parameters such as heat transfer, pressure drop, and hemolysis tendency. The result has shown that all four systems tested were able to achieve the heat performance, and to offer low resistance to flow, and safety, as well as have low tendency to hemolysis. However, we can emphasize that the bellows type heat exchanger has a significant difference with regard to the other three types.

Experimental analysis of heat recoveries with heat pipes operating in low inclination angle

Heat recovery devices are important in the optimization of thermal systems, since they can be used to reduce thermal losses to the environment. The use of heat pipes in these types of equipment can provide heat recoveries of higher efficiency, since both fluid flows are external and there are less contamination risks between the hot and cold fluids. The objective of this work is to study a heat recovery unit constructed with heat pipes and mainly, to analyze the influence of the inclination of the heat pipes on the performance of the equipment. For this analysis, a heat recovery unit was constructed which possesses 48 finned heat pipes in triangular geometry, the evaporator and condenser being of the same length. This unit was tested in an air-air system simulating a heat recovery process in which heat was supplied to the hot fluid by electrical resistances. The results have shown that there exists an inclination at which the system has a better performance, but for higher inclinations there is no significant increase of the efficiency of the system. This paper also presents the influence of inclination of heat pipes on effectiveness and NTU parameters which are important in heat exchanger design.

Electricity, hot water and cold water production from biomass. Energetic and economical analysis of the compact system of cogeneration run with woodgas from a small downdraft gasifier

Wood gasification technologies to convert the biomass into fuel gas stand out. on the other hand, producing electrical energy from stationary engine is widely spread, and its application in rural communities where the electrical network doesn't exist is very required. The recovery of exhaust gases (engine) is a possibility that makes the system attractive when compared with the same components used to obtain individual heat such as electric power. This paper presents an energetic alternative to adapt a fixed bed gasifier with a compact cogeneration system in order to cover electrical and thermal demands in a rural area and showing an energy solution for small social communities using renewable fuels. Therefore, an energetic and economical analysis from a cogeneration system producing electric energy, hot and cold water, using wooden gas as fuel from a small-sized gasifier was calculated. The energy balance that includes the energy efficiency (electric generation as well as hot and cold water system; performance coefficient and the heat exchanger, among other items), was calculated. Considering the annual interest rates and the amortization periods, the costs of production of electrical energy, hot and cold water were calculated, taking into account the investment, the operation and the maintenance cost of the equipments. Crown Copyright (C) 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Continuous pasteurization of egg yolk: Thermophysical properties and process simulation

This article presents empirical correlations to predict the density, specific heat, thermal conductivity and rheological power-law parameters of liquid egg yolk over a temperature range compatible with its industrial thermal processing (0-61 C). Moreover, a mathematical model for a pasteurizer that takes into account the spatial variation of the overall heat transfer coefficient throughout the plate heat exchanger is presented, as are two of its simplified forms. The obtained correlations of thermophysical properties are applied for the simulation of the egg yolk pasteurization, and the obtained temperature profiles are used for evaluating the extent of thermal inactivation. A detailed simulation example shows that there is a considerable deviation between the designed level of heat treatment and that this is predicted through process simulation. It is shown that a reliable mathematical model, combined with specialized thermophysical property correlations, provide a more accurate design of the pasteurization equipment that ensures effective inactivation, while preserving nutritional and sensorial characteristics.

A case study of compact cogeneration using various fuels

A method for studying the technical and economic feasibility of absorption refrigeration systems in compact cogenerators is presented. The system studied consists of an internal combustion engine, an electric generator and a heat exchanger to recover residual heat from the refrigeration water and exhaust gases. As an application, a computer program simulates the cogeneration system in a building which already has 75 kW of installed electric power. The maximum electric and refrigeration demands are 45 kW and 76 kW respectively. This study simulates the system performance, utilizing diesel oil, sugar cane alcohol and natural gas as possible fuels. (C) 1997 Elsevier B.V. Ltd.

Simulação numérica de trocadores de calor multitubulares equipados com fitas helicoidais externamente aos tubos

Classical shell-and-tube heat exchangers are usually equipped with segmental baffles. These baffles serve two basic functions: (a) they provide tube supports, thereby preventing or reducing mechanical problems, such as sagging or vibration; (b) they direct the fluid flow over the tubes so as to introduce a cross-flow component, thereby increasing the heat transfer. Segmented baffles have several sources of performance loss, some due to various leakage flows and others caused by stagnation zones. A new concept of longitudinal flow heat exchanger - based on placing twisted tapes along the tube bundle subchannels - was developed to mitigate drawbacks of other types of tubular heat exchangers. In this paper, a numerical model has been implemented in order to simulate the thermal-hydraulic feature of tubular heat exchangers equipped either with segmental baffles or with subchannel twisted tapes. The tube bundle has been described by means of an equivalent porous medium type model, allowing a macroscopic description of the shell-side flow. The basic equations - continuity, momentum and energy - have been solved by using the finite volume method. Typical numerical results have been compared with experimental data, reaching a very good agreement. A comparative analysis of different types of heat exchangers has been carried out, revealing the satisfactory thermal-hydraulic efficiency level of the twisted tapes heat exchangers.