基于梯度翅片换热器的热电发电系统性能研究

本文建立了热电发电系统(TEG)多物理场数值模型,并充分考虑换热器流体影响,综合研究了具有不同热侧换热器翅片结构的TEG系统性能。在雷诺数为1000~10000范围内,分析了流体沿程温度分布特征、泵功及热电发电模块的能量转换特性.所研究的三种翅片结构包括:全流道等高度直翅片(Fin-1)、下游强化梯度翅片(Fin-2)以及上游强化梯度翅片(Fin-3).研究表明,通道长高比及热电材料覆盖率一定,热电发电功率及转换效率随流量呈二次曲线变化关系,存在最匹配流量使得系统发电性能最佳。等高度直翅片对流量的变化敏感,随流量增大,则压损增大,导致系统净输出功率及发电效率无收益.而梯度翅片可以在更大范围内产生正收益;下游强化梯度翅片具有最佳的流体沿程温度均匀性,但沿程局部热阻却最大.综合考虑沿程局部热阻分布及泵功消耗,上游强化梯度翅片TEG系统净转换效率最高,因此局部热阻分布及泵功综合因素应为TEG内的换热器合理设计的关键。     

Lattice Boltzmann simulation for hydrothermal analysis of free convection within dumbbell-shaped heat exchanger

The lattice Boltzmann simulation of nanofluid flow and heat transfer during natural convection within a dumbbell-shaped heat exchanger is carried out. The heat exchanger is filled with CuO–water. The KKL model is employed to predict the thermo-physical properties of nanofluid. In order to perform a comprehensive hydrothermal investigation, different post-processing approaches such as heatline visualization, total entropy generation, local entropy generation based on local fluid friction irreversibility and heat transfer irreversibility, average and local Nusselt variation are employed. In the present investigation, it is tried to present the impact of different influential parameters like Rayleigh number, solid volume fraction of nanofluid and thermal arrangement of internal fins-bodies on the fluid flow, heat transfer rate and entropy generation.     

Entropy Analysis of the Thermal Convection of Nanosuspension within a Chamber with a Heat-Conducting Solid Fin

Heat transport augmentation in closed chambers can be achieved using nanofluids and extended heat transfer surfaces. This research is devoted to the computational analysis of natural convection energy transport and entropy emission within a closed region, with isothermal vertical borders and a heat-conducting solid fin placed on the hot border. Horizontal walls were assumed to be adiabatic. Control relations written using non-primitive variables with experimentally based correlations for nanofluid properties were computed by the finite difference technique. The impacts of the fin size, fin position, and nanoadditive concentration on energy transfer performance and entropy production were studied. It was found that location of the long fin near the bottom wall allowed for the intensification of convective heat transfer within the chamber. Moreover, this position was characterized by high entropy generation. Therefore, the minimization of the entropy generation can define the optimal location of the heat-conducting fin using the obtained results. An addition of nanoparticles reduced the heat transfer strength and minimized the entropy generation.     

Entropy Generation Analysis of the Flow Boiling in Microgravity Field

Entropy generation analysis of the flow boiling in microgravity field is conducted in this paper. A new entropy generation model based on the flow pattern and the phase change process is developed in this study. The velocity ranges from 1 m/s to 4 m/s, and the heat flux ranges from 10,000 W/m² to 50,000 W/m², so as to investigate their influence on irreversibility during flow boiling in the tunnel. A phase–change model verified by the Stefan problem is employed in this paper to simulate the phase–change process in boiling. The numerical simulations are carried out on ANSYS-FLUENT. The entropy generation produced by the heat transfer, viscous dissipation, turbulent dissipation, and phase change are observed at different working conditions. Moreover, the Be number and a new evaluation number, E_P, are introduced in this paper to investigate the performance of the boiling phenomenon. The following conclusions are obtained: (1) a high local entropy generation will be obtained when only heat conduction in vapor occurs near the hot wall, whereas a low local entropy generation will be obtained when heat conduction in water or evaporation occurs near the hot wall; (2) the entropy generation and the Be number are positively correlated with the heat flux, which indicates that the heat transfer entropy generation becomes the major contributor of the total entropy generation with the increase of the heat flux; (3) the transition of the boiling status shows different trends at different velocities, which affects the irreversibility in the tunnel; (4) the critical heat flux (CHF) is the optimal choice under the comprehensive consideration of the first law and the second law of the thermodynamics.     

Constructal Optimization of Rectangular Microchannel Heat Sink with Porous Medium for Entropy Generation Minimization

A model of rectangular microchannel heat sink (MCHS) with porous medium (PM) is developed. Aspect ratio of heat sink (HS) cell and length-width ratio of HS are optimized by numerical simulation method for entropy generation minimization (EGM) according to constructal theory. The effects of inlet Reynolds number (Re) of coolant, heat flux on bottom, porosity and volume proportion of PM on dimensionless entropy generation rate (DEGR) are analyzed. From the results, there are optimal aspect ratios to minimize DEGR. Given the initial condition, DEGR is 33.10% lower than its initial value after the aspect ratio is optimized. With the increase of Re, the optimal aspect ratio declines, and the minimum DEGR drops as well. DEGR gets larger and the optimal aspect ratio remains constant with the increasing of heat flux on bottom. For the different volume proportion of PM, the optimal aspect ratios are diverse, but the minimum DEGR almost stays unchanged. The twice minimized DEGR, which results from aspect ratio and length-width ratio optimized simultaneously, is 10.70% lower than the once minimized DEGR. For a rectangular bottom, a lower DEGR can be reached by choosing the proper direction of fluid flow.     

Role of entropy generation minimization in thermal optimization

Thermal optimization is very important for improving the performances of thermal systems. In engineering, the entropy generation minimization(EGM) has been widely used to optimize and evaluate the performances of thermal systems.However, the consistency between the EGM and the optimization objective should be specified when the EGM is used.In this paper, we discuss the view angle of irreversibility of entropy generation, and show that entropy generation directly reflects the exergy destruction or the ability loss of doing work. As the design objective in a thermal system is not often consistent with the view angle of irreversibility of entropy generation, the EGM may not lead to the optimal value of the design objective. In heat transfer and heat-work conversion, the inconsistence between the design objectives and the EGM is shown with some examples, and the applicability of the EGM is found to be conditional. The "entropy generation paradox" in heat exchanger analyses is also discussed, and it is shown that there is no direct monotonic relation between the minimum entropy generation rate and the best heat transfer performance of heat exchangers.     

Optimization of fin geometry in heat convection with entransy theory

The entransy theory developed in recent years is used to optimize the aspect ratio of a plate fin in heat convection.Based on a two-dimensional model,the theoretical analysis shows that the minimum thermal resistance defined with the concept of entransy dissipation corresponds to the maximum heat transfer rate when the temperature of the heating surface is fixed.On the other hand,when the heat flux of the heating surface is fixed,the minimum thermal resistance corresponds to the minimum average temperature of the heating surface.The entropy optimization is also given for the heat transfer processes.It is observed that the minimum entropy generation,the minimum entropy generation number,and the minimum revised entropy generation number do not always correspond to the best heat transfer performance.In addition,the influence factors on the optimized aspect ratio of the plate fin are also discussed.The optimized ratio decreases with the enhancement of heat convection,while it increases with fin thermal conductivity increasing.     

Entropy resistance analyses of a two-stream parallel flow heat exchanger with viscous heating

Heat exchangers are widely used in industry, and analyses and optimizations of the performance of heat exchangers are important topics. In this paper, we define the concept of entropy resistance based on the entropy generation analyses of a one-dimensional heat transfer process. With this concept, a two-stream parallel flow heat exchanger with viscous heating is analyzed and discussed. It is found that the minimization of entropy resistance always leads to the maximum heat transfer rate for the discussed two-stream parallel flow heat exchanger, while the minimizations of entropy generation rate, entropy generation numbers, and revised entropy generation number do not always.     

错排环布圆管翅片式换热板芯的实验研究

本文利用传热传质之间的比拟关系研究了错排环布圆管换热板芯的平均传热特性及阻力特性。实验中我们采用了三种翅片间距(Tp)、三种管排数(Nrow)以及三种管数(Ntube)组成的27种板芯结构,传质实验采用萘升华的方法来进行。然后通过三种限制条件对不同翅片间距、不同管排数和不同管数下的换热板芯的传热性能进行了比较。最后利用最小二乘法得出了具有工程指导意义的准则关联式。     

平直开缝翅片传热特性的三维数值模拟及场协同原理分析

本文用数值模拟的方法对翅片管换热器中广泛使用的平直开缝翅片的传热特性进行了数值模拟。结果表明在平翅片后部开缝与在翅片前部开缝相比,换热增强更多,并用场协同理论分析说明,在速度场和温度场协同比较差的区域开缝要比在场协同比较好的区域开缝对传热强化更有效。     

Numerical Study of Fin-and-Tube Heat Exchanger in Low-Pressure Environment: Air-Side Heat Transfer and Frictional Performance,Entropy Generation Analysis,and Model Development

Heat transfer and frictional performance at the air-side is predominant for the application and optimization of finned tube heat exchangers. For aerospace engineering, the heat exchanger operates under negative pressure, whereas the general prediction models of convective heat transfer coefficient and pressure penalty for this scenario are rarely reported. In the current study, a numerical model is developed to determine the air-side heat transfer and frictional performance. The influence of air pressure (absolute pressure) is discussed in detail, and the entropy generation considering the effect of heat transfer and pressure drop are analyzed. Furthermore, prediction models of air-side thermal and frictional factors are also developed. The results indicate that both the convective heat transfer coefficient and pressure penalty decrease significantly with decreasing air pressure, and the air-side heat transfer coefficient is decreased by 64.6~73.3% at an air pressure of 25 kPa compared with normal environment pressure. The entropy generation by temperature difference accounts for the highest proportion of the total entropy generation. The prediction correlations of Colburn j-factor and friction factor f show satisfactory accuracy with the absolute mean deviations of 7.48% and 9.42%, respectively. This study can provide a reference for the practical application of fined tube heat exchangers under a negative pressure environment.     

An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation into the Thermal Performance Characteristics of a Staggered Vertical Pin Fin Array Heat Sink with Assisting Mixed Convection in External and In-Duct Flow Configurations

A theoretical and experimental study was carried out on the thermal performance of a pin fin array heat sink. A theoretical model was utilized based on the success of prior research that has the capability of predicting the influence of various geometrical, thermal, and flow parameters on the effective thermal resistance of the heat sink. An experimental investigation was carried out for measuring the thermal performance of the heat sink, and the overall convective heat transfer coefficient for the fin bundle, including the thermal and flow bundle effect. Utilizing the new empirical correlations, theoretical predictions were made and experimentally validated for a wide range of parameters for combined forced and natural convection in the assisting flow configuration. Both the theoretical model and experimental data indicated the existence of optimal fin spacing.     

Reprint of : Thermoelectricity without absorbing energy from the heat sources

We analyze the power output of a quantum dot machine coupled to two electronic reservoirs via thermoelectric contacts, and to two thermal reservoirs – one hot and one cold. This machine is a nanoscale analogue of a conventional thermocouple heat-engine, in which the active region being heated is unavoidably also exchanging heat with its cold environment. Heat exchange between the dot and the thermal reservoirs is treated as a capacitive coupling to electronic fluctuations in localized levels, modeled as two additional quantum dots. The resulting multiple-dot setup is described using a master equation approach. We observe an “exotic” power generation, which remains finite even when the heat absorbed from the thermal reservoirs is zero (in other words the heat coming from the hot reservoir all escapes into the cold environment). This effect can be understood in terms of a non-local effect in which the heat flow from heat source to the cold environment generates power via a mechanism which we refer to as Coulomb heat drag. It relies on the fact that there is no relaxation in the quantum dot system, so electrons within it have a non-thermal energy distribution. More poetically, one can say that we find a spatial separation of the first-law of thermodynamics (heat to work conversion) from the second-law of thermodynamics (generation of entropy). We present circumstances in which this non-thermal system can generate more power than any conventional macroscopic thermocouple (with local thermalization), even when the latter works with Carnot efficiency.     

Thermoelectricity without absorbing energy from the heat sources

We analyze the power output of a quantum dot machine coupled to two electronic reservoirs via thermoelectric contacts, and to two thermal reservoirs – one hot and one cold. This machine is a nanoscale analogue of a conventional thermocouple heat-engine, in which the active region being heated is unavoidably also exchanging heat with its cold environment. Heat exchange between the dot and the thermal reservoirs is treated as a capacitive coupling to electronic fluctuations in localized levels, modeled as two additional quantum dots. The resulting multiple-dot setup is described using a master equation approach. We observe an “exotic” power generation, which remains finite even when the heat absorbed from the thermal reservoirs is zero (in other words the heat coming from the hot reservoir all escapes into the cold environment). This effect can be understood in terms of a non-local effect in which the heat flow from heat source to the cold environment generates power via a mechanism which we refer to as Coulomb heat drag. It relies on the fact that there is no relaxation in the quantum dot system, so electrons within it have a non-thermal energy distribution. More poetically, one can say that we find a spatial separation of the first-law of thermodynamics (heat to work conversion) from the second-law of thermodynamics (generation of entropy). We present circumstances in which this non-thermal system can generate more power than any conventional macroscopic thermocouple (with local thermalization), even when the latter works with Carnot efficiency.     

(火积)耗散理论在换热器设计中的应用

本文首先说明(火积)耗散理论避免了最小熵产原理和傅里叶定律间的矛盾,显示了其在处理导热问题上的优越性.然后利用热力学(火积)和熵的关系,推出了换热器中由流体阻力引起的(火积)耗散表达式.     

Numerical modeling of nanofluid flow and heat transfer in a quartered gearwheel-shaped heat exchanger using FVM

The numerical modeling of natural convection fluid flow and heat transfer in a quarter of gearwheel-shaped heat exchanger is carried out. The heat exchanger is included with internal active square bodies. These bodies have hot and cold temperatures with different thermal arrangements. Three different thermal arrangements are considered and showed with Case A, Case B and Case C. The CuO-water nanofluid is selected as operating fluid. The Koo-Kleinstreuer-Li (KKL) correlation is utilized to estimate the dynamic viscosity and thermal conductivity. In addition, the shapes of nanoparticles are taken account in the analysis. The Rayleigh number, nanoparticle concentration and thermal arrangements of internal active bodies are the governing parameters. The impacts of these parameters on the fluid flow, heat transfer rate, local and total entropy generation and heatlines are studied, comprehensively. The results show that the heat transfer rate enhances with increasing of Rayleigh number and nanoparticle concentration. Moreover, the thermal arrangement of internal active bodies has considerable effect on the heat transfer between heat sources and heat sinks. On the other hand, the total entropy generation enhances and decreases with increasing of Rayleigh number and nanoparticle concentration, respectively.     

翅片长度对纵向翅片扁管换热器换热性能的影响

纵向翅片扁管换热器是一种新型换热器。气体沿扁管轴向方向流动,与管内介质的流动路径平行,可强化传热,减少气侧阻力,不易积灰结垢,维护方便。利用数值模拟方法,以纵向翅片扁管换热器为研究对象,分析翅片长度对换热性能的影响,对换热器的翅片长度进行优化。研究表明,不同进口风速对应不同的有效纵向翅片长度。随着进口风速的增大,翅片的有效长度越大。     

Assessment of thermal performance of the functionally graded materials in annular fins

Heat transfer enhancement in the annular fins with uniform profile is investigated in the present study. Conventional fin materials are replaced with the functionally graded materials in order to increase the rate of heat transfer and corresponding fin efficiency. Here, the fin material properties, such as conductivity, are assumed to be graded along the annular fin radius, R, as a linear function. The governing equation of the annular fin is computed with an approximate analytical method using the mean value theorem. It is revealed that the in-homogeneity index, β, of the fin material plays an important role on the thermal characteristics of the annular fins. Alternatively, heat dissipation between the fin surface and surrounding fluid in the annular fins increases with increasing the inhomogeneity indices, β. Finally, it is stated that application of the functionally graded material in the annular fins enhances the fin efficiency in comparison to the annular fins with homogeneous material. It is hoped that the results obtained from this study arouse interest among thermal designers and heat exchanger industries.     

填充打洞函数法优化换热网络

换热网络综合问题是带约束条件的非凸问题,存在多个极值,在优化的过程中经典优化算法很容易陷入局部极小值点。本文结合填充函数法和打洞函数法的优点,构造一个新的跨越局部极值的函数应用于换热网络优化问题中,在搜寻最佳物流匹配和换热面积的过程中,跳出次优的换热网络结构,寻找更优的网络结构,直至最优网络结构。实例表明,该方法能够找到比文献更好的换热网络结构。     

Finite-Time Thermodynamic Modeling and Optimization of Short-Chain Hydrocarbon Polymerization-Catalyzed Synthetic Fuel Process

The short-chain hydrocarbon polymerization-catalyzed synthetic fuel technology has great development potential in the fields of energy storage and renewable energy. Modeling and optimization of a short-chain hydrocarbon polymerization-catalyzed synthetic fuel process involving mixers, compressors, heat exchangers, reactors, and separators are performed through finite-time thermodynamics. Under the given conditions of the heat source temperature of the heat exchanger and the reactor, the optimal performance of the process is solved by taking the mole fraction of components, pressure, and molar flow as the optimization variables, and taking the minimum entropy generation rate (MEGR) of the process as the optimization objective. The results show that the entropy generation rate of the optimized reaction process is reduced by 48.81% compared to the reference process; among them, the component mole fraction is the most obvious optimization variable. The research results have certain theoretical guiding significance for the selection of the operation parameters of the short-chain hydrocarbon polymerization-catalyzed synthetic fuel process.