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Article
Publication date: 17 July 2019

Reza Azadbakhti, Farzad Pourfattah, Abolfazl Ahmadi, Omid Ali Akbari and Davood Toghraie

The purpose of this study is simulation the flow boiling inside a tube in the turbulent flow regime for investigating the effect of using a porous medium in the boiling procedure.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is simulation the flow boiling inside a tube in the turbulent flow regime for investigating the effect of using a porous medium in the boiling procedure.

Design/methodology/approach

To ensure the accuracy of the obtained numerical results, the presented results have been compared with the experimental results, and proper coincidence has been achieved. In this study, the phase change phenomenon of boiling has been modeled by using the Eulerian–Eulerian multi-phase Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI) wall boiling model.

Findings

The obtained results indicate using a porous medium in boiling process is very effective in a way that by using a porous medium inside the tub, the location of changing the liquid to the vapor and the creation of bubbles, changes. By increasing the thermal conductivity of porous medium, the onset of phase changing postpones, which causes the enhancement of heat transfer from the wall to the fluid. Generally, it can be said that using a porous medium in boiling flows, especially in flow with high Reynolds numbers, has a positive effect on heat transfer enhancement. Also, the obtained results revealed that by increasing Reynolds number, the created vapor phase along the tube decreases and by increasing Reynolds number, the Nusselt number enhances.

Originality/value

In present research, by using the computational fluid dynamics, the effect of using a porous medium in the forced boiling of water flow inside a tube has been investigated. The fluid boiling inside the tube has been simulated by using the multi-phase Eulerian RPI wall boiling model, and the effect of thermal conductivity of a porous medium and the Reynolds number on the flow properties, heat transfer and boiling procedure have been investigated.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 January 2015

Paul Stark and Udo Fritsching

The purpose of this paper is to develop a numerical model to simulate the flow field as well as the conjugate heat transfer during unsteady cooling of a flat plate with a single…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to develop a numerical model to simulate the flow field as well as the conjugate heat transfer during unsteady cooling of a flat plate with a single submerged water jet. At wall temperatures above the liquid boiling point, the vapor formation process and the interaction of the vapor phase with the developing jet-flow field are included.

Design/methodology/approach

The time-dependent flow and temperature distribution during all occurring boiling phases as well as the local and temporal distribution of the heat transfer coefficient on a flat plate can be simulated.

Findings

The influence of the liquid jet flow rate (10,800=Re_d=32,400) and the nozzle distance to the plate (4=H/d=20) on the transient cooling process are analyzed. This includes the time-dependant positions of the transition regions between the boiling phases on the plate as well as the temperatures at these transition regions. Additionally, the local heat transfer rates are a direct result of the unsteady cooling simulation.

Originality/value

A single model approach is developed and utilized to simulate the unsteady cooling process of a flat plate with an impinging water jet including all occurring boiling phases.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 25 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 3 June 2019

Farzad Pourfattah, Saeid Yousefi, Omid Ali Akbari, Mahsa Adhampour, Davood Toghraie and Maboud Hekmatifar

The purpose of this paper is to numerically simulate the nanofluid boiling inside a tube in turbulent flow regime and to investigate the effect of adding volume faction of CuO…

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to numerically simulate the nanofluid boiling inside a tube in turbulent flow regime and to investigate the effect of adding volume faction of CuO nanoparticles on the boiling process.

Design/methodology/approach

To make sure the accuracy of the obtained numerical results, the results of this paper have been compared with the experimental results and an acceptable coincidence has been achieved. In the current paper, by Euler–Euler method, the phase change of boiling phenomenon has been modeled. The presented results are the local Nusselt number distribution, temperature distribution of wall, the distribution of volume fraction of vapor phase and fluid temperature at the center of the tube.

Findings

The obtained results indicate that using nanofluid is very effective in the postponement of the boiling process. Hence, by change the amount of volume fraction of nanoparticles in base fluid, the location of phase change and bubble creation are changed. Also, at the Reynolds numbers of 50,000, 100,000 and 150,000 with the volume fraction of 2 per cent, the beginning locations of phase change process are, respectively, 2D, 10D and 13D, and for the volume fraction of 4 per cent, the beginning locations of phase change are 4D, 18D and 19D, respectively. These results indicate that, as the volume fraction of nanoparticles increases, the location of the start of the phase change process is postponed that this issue causes the increment of heat transfer from wall to fluid and the reduction of wall temperature. In general, it can be stated that, in boiling flows, using nanofluid because of the delay in boiling phenomenon has a good effect on heat transfer enhancement of heated walls. Also, the obtained results show that, by increasing Reynolds number, the created vapor phase reduces that leads to increase of the Nusselt number.

Originality/value

The paper investigates the effect of using nanofluid in phase change process of cooling fluid.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 29 April 2014

Sylwia Hożejowska, Robert Kaniowski and Mieczysùaw E. Poniewski

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the application of the Trefftz method to the calculation of the two-dimensional (2D) temperature field in the boiling refrigerant flow

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to focus on the application of the Trefftz method to the calculation of the two-dimensional (2D) temperature field in the boiling refrigerant flow through an asymmetrically heated vertical minichannel with a rectangular cross-section. The considerations were limited to determining the temperature of the continuous phase – liquid for bubbly and bubbly-slug flow. The numerical solution found with the Trefftz methods was compared with the simplified solution. For nucleate boiling, heat transfer coefficient at the heating foil – liquid contact was determined.

Design/methodology/approach

The Trefftz method was used to determine 2D temperature distributions for the glass pane, the heating foil and the boiling liquid. The temperature fields were approximated by the sum of the particular solution and the linear combination of suitable Trefftz functions. Coefficients of linear combination were computed using experimental data, including heating foil temperature measurements obtained with the liquid-crystal method and experimentally determined void fraction. The computations were based on the Trefftz method supplemented with the adjustment calculus.

Findings

The way of solving direct and inverse problems of heat conduction in solid bodies (isolating glass, heating foil) and in liquids (boiling refrigerant flowing through the minichannel) was presented. For the first time, both 2D temperature fields for the heating foil and the boiling liquid were calculated while simultaneously using the Trefftz method. The known temperature values of the foil and liquid allowed the calculation of the heat transfer coefficient and the heat flux at the heating foil-liquid contact. Adjustment calculus implemented into the Trefftz method was used to smooth the measurement data and to reduce their errors.

Practical implications

The approach proposed in the paper can be applied to determining 2D temperature field, heat flux and heat transfer coefficient in direct and inverse problems concerning two-phase flowing miniature compact heat exchangers.

Originality/value

The paper presents a novel implementation of the Trefftz method to simultaneous solving an inverse problem in the heating foil and the contacting flowing liquid.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 24 no. 4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 2 January 2018

Beata Maciejewska, Kinga Strak and Magdalena Piasecka

This paper aims to focus on flow boiling heat transfer in an asymmetrically heated minichannel. Two-dimensional inverse heat transfer problem was solved using the Trefftz and Beck…

Abstract

Purpose

This paper aims to focus on flow boiling heat transfer in an asymmetrically heated minichannel. Two-dimensional inverse heat transfer problem was solved using the Trefftz and Beck methods. The primary purpose was to find an enhanced surface that could help intensify heat transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

The experimental set-up and methodology for FC-72 boiling heat transfer in two parallel vertical rectangular minichannels with smooth or enhanced heated surfaces was presented. The heat transfer coefficient was calculated using the Trefftz and Beck methods.

Findings

The results confirm that considerable heat transfer enhancement takes place when selected enhanced heated surface is used in the minichannel flow boiling and that it depends on the type of surface enhancement. The analysis of the experimental data revealed that the values and distributions of the heat transfer coefficient obtained using the Beck and Trefftz methods were similar.

Practical/implications

Many studies have been recently devoted to flow boiling heat transfer in minichannels because of the rapid development of high-performance integrated systems generating large amounts of heat. Highly efficient small-size cooling systems for new-generation compact devices are thus in great demand.

Originality/value

The present results are original and new in the study of cooling liquid boiling in minichannels with enhanced heated surfaces that contribute to heat transfer enhancement. The paper allows the verification of state-of-the-art methods of solving the inverse problem by using empirical data from the experiment. The application of the Trefftz and Beck methods for finding a solution of the inverse heat transfer problem is promising.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 28 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 7 June 2019

Beata Maciejewska and Magdalena Piasecka

The purpose of this paper is to determine the time-dependent heat transfer coefficient during FC-72 flow boiling in a 1.7-mm-deep vertical and asymmetrically heated minichannel.

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to determine the time-dependent heat transfer coefficient during FC-72 flow boiling in a 1.7-mm-deep vertical and asymmetrically heated minichannel.

Design/methodology/approach

The temperature of the minichannel heated wall was recorded continuously with the use of thermocouples. The heat transfer coefficients for the subcooled and saturated boiling regions at the heated wall–fluid contact surface were calculated from the Robin boundary condition. Both the wall and fluid temperatures were obtained from the solution of the inverse nonstationary problems in two adjacent domains: the heated wall and flowing fluid. The FEM with Trefftz-type basis functions was applied to solve the inverse problem.

Findings

The obtained time-dependent heat transfer coefficient in subcooled boiling achieved rather low values, whereas in saturated boiling, the coefficient was the highest at the channel inlet. The boiling curves were plotted to illustrate the results.

Practical implications

The results of experiments are the best source of information for the design of minichannel cooling systems used for thermoregulation of components and heat exchangers. High-tech minichannel heat exchangers are applied in various industrial applications as microelectronics devices, gas turbines, internal combustion engines, nuclear reactors, X-ray sources and organic rankine cycle (ORC) modules.

Originality/value

In the study, the Trefftz functions for the nonstationary Fourier–Kirchhoff equation with the factor describing void fraction were determined and then used to construct the time-dependent basis functions in FEM.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 30 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 22 May 2008

Michael Z. Podowski

This paper seeks to discuss a mechanistic modeling concept for local phenomena governing two‐ and multi‐phase flows and heat transfer.

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Abstract

Purpose

This paper seeks to discuss a mechanistic modeling concept for local phenomena governing two‐ and multi‐phase flows and heat transfer.

Design/methodology/approach

An overview is given of selected issues concerning the formulation of multidimensional models of two‐phase flow and heat transfer. A complete computational multiphase fluid dynamics (CMFD) model of two‐phase flow is presented, including local constitutive models applicable to two‐phase flows in heated channels. Results are shown of model testing and validation.

Findings

It has been demonstrated that the overall model is capable of capturing various local flow and heat transfer phenomena in general, and the onset of temperature excursion (CHF) in low quality forced‐convection boiling, in particular.

Research limitations/implications

Whereas the multiphase model formulation is applicable to a large class of problems, geometries and operating conditions, the closure laws and results are focused on forced‐convection boiling in heated channels.

Practical implications

The proposed approach can be used to predict multidimensional velocity field and phase distribution in two‐phase flow devices and components used in thermal power plants, nuclear power plants and chemical processing plants.

Originality/value

A complete mechanistic multidimensional model of forced‐convection boiling in heated channels is given. The potential of a CMFD approach is demonstrated to perform virtual experiments that can be used in system design and optimization, and in safety analysis.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 18 no. 3/4
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 March 2008

M.K.M. Ho, G.H. Yeoh and J.Y. Tu

This study aims to examine both the population balance approach based on the MUltiple SIze Group (MUSIG) model and the average bubble number density transport equation (ABND…

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to examine both the population balance approach based on the MUltiple SIze Group (MUSIG) model and the average bubble number density transport equation (ABND) model for 3D, low pressure, gas‐liquid, subcooled boiling, vertical flows. The purpose is to assess the ability of both models to predict the radial profile of void fraction, bubble Sauter mean diameter and interfacial area concentration which characterise subcooled boiling.

Design/methodology/approach

Improvement in the ABND model to simulate gas‐liquid bubbly flows with heat transfer was achieved by combining the condensation expression with the gaseous mass transport equation within the CFD commercial code CFX4.4.

Findings

Overall, both the ABND model and the MUSIG model provided good results in terms of the above‐mentioned criteria when compared against experimental measurements. However, the ABND model was found to have limitations in predicting high‐subcooled boiling flows due to the lack of bubble size resolution to adequately capture the effect of condensation over a range of bubbles sizes.

Originality/value

It is shown that the ABND model provides an economic alternative to the MUSIG model in terms of complexity and computational time, as long as one is aware of the limitations in simulating high‐subcooling flow regimes.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 18 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 5 September 2023

Nikesh Chowrasia, Subramani S.N., Harish Pothukuchi and B.S.V. Patnaik

Subcooled flow boiling phenomenon is characterized by coolant phase change in the vicinity of the heated wall. Although coolant phase change from liquid to vapour phase…

Abstract

Purpose

Subcooled flow boiling phenomenon is characterized by coolant phase change in the vicinity of the heated wall. Although coolant phase change from liquid to vapour phase significantly enhances the heat transfer coefficient due to latent heat of vaporization, eventually the formed vapor bubbles may coalesce and deteriorate the heat transfer from the heated wall to the liquid phase. Due to the poor heat transfer characteristics of the vapour phase, the heat transfer rate drastically reduces when it reaches a specific value of wall heat flux. Such a threshold value is identified as critical heat flux (CHF), and the phenomenon is known as departure from nucleate boiling (DNB). An accurate prediction of CHF and its location is critical to the safe operation of nuclear reactors. Therefore, the present study aims at the prediction of DNB type CHF in a hexagonal sub-assembly.

Design/methodology/approach

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are performed to predict DNB in a hexagonal sub-assembly. The methodology uses an Eulerian–Eulerian multiphase flow (EEMF) model in conjunction with multiple size group (MuSiG) model. The breakup and coalescence of vapour bubbles are accounted using a population balance approach.

Findings

Bubble departure diameter parameters in EEMF framework are recalibrated to simulate the near atmospheric pressure conditions. The predictions from the modified correlation for bubble departure diameter are found to be in good agreement against the experimental data. The simulations are further extended to investigate the influence of blockage (b) on DNB type CHF at low operating pressure conditions. Larger size vapour bubbles are observed to move away from the corner sub-channel region due to the presence of blockage. Corner sub-channels were found to be more prone to experience DNB type CHF compared to the interior and edge sub-channels.

Practical implications

An accurate prediction of CHF and its location is critical to the safe operation of nuclear reactors. Moreover, a wide spectrum of heat transfer equipment of engineering interest will be benefited by an accurate prediction of wall characteristics using breakup and coalescence-based models as described in the present study.

Originality/value

Simulations are performed to predict DNB type CHF. The EEMF and wall heat flux partition model framework coupled with the MuSiG model is novel, and a detailed variation of the coolant velocity, temperature and vapour volume fraction in a hexagonal sub-assembly was obtained. The present CFD model framework was observed to predict the onset of vapour volume fraction and DNB type CHF. Simulations are further extended to predict CHF in a hexagonal sub-assembly under the influence of blockage. For all the values of blockage, the vapour volume fraction is found to be higher in the corner region, and thus the corner sub-channel experiences CHF. Although DNB type CHF is observed in corner sub-channel, it is noticed that the presence of blockage in the interior sub-channel promotes the coolant mixing and results in higher values of CHF in the corner sub-channel.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 33 no. 12
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 January 2005

Pradeep Hegde, K.N. Seetharamu, G.A. Quadir, P.A. Aswathanarayana, M.Z. Abdullah and Z.A. Zainal

To analyze two‐phase flow in micro‐channel heat exchangers used for high flux micro‐electronics cooling and to obtain performance parameters such as thermal resistance, pressure…

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Abstract

Purpose

To analyze two‐phase flow in micro‐channel heat exchangers used for high flux micro‐electronics cooling and to obtain performance parameters such as thermal resistance, pressure drop, etc. Both uniform and non‐uniform micro‐channel base heat fluxes are considered.

Design/methodology/approach

Energy balance equations are developed for two‐phase flow in micro‐channels and are solved using the finite element method (FEM). A unique ten noded element is used for the channel descritization. The formulation also automatically takes care of single‐phase flow in the micro‐channel.

Findings

Micro‐channel wall temperature distribution, thermal resistance and the pressure drop for various uniform micro‐channel base heat fluxes are obtained, both for single‐ and two‐phase flows in the micro‐channel. Results are compared against data available in the literature. The wall temperature distribution for a particular case of non‐uniform base heat flux is also obtained.

Research limitations/implications

The analysis is done for a single micro‐channel and the effects of multiple or stacked channels are not considered. The analysis needs to be carried out for higher heat fluxes and the validity of the correlation needs to be ascertained through experimentation. Effects of flow mal‐distribution in multiple channels, etc. need to be considered.

Practical implications

The role of two‐phase flow in micro‐channels for high flux micro‐electronics cooling in reducing the thermal resistance is demonstrated. The formulation is very useful for the thermal design and management of microchannels with both single‐ and two‐phase flows for either uniform or non‐uniform base heat flux.

Originality/value

A simple approach to accurately determine the thermal resistance in micro‐channels with two‐phase flow, for both uniform and non‐uniform base heat fluxes is the originality of the paper.

Details

International Journal of Numerical Methods for Heat & Fluid Flow, vol. 15 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0961-5539

Keywords

1 – 10 of over 2000