Abstract
Heat exchangers are general equipment for energy exchange in the industrial field. Enhancing the heat transfer of a heat exchanger with low pump energy consumption is beneficial to the maximum utilization of energy. The optimization design for enhanced heat transfer structure is an effective method to improve the heat transfer coefficient. Present research shows that the biomimetic structures applied in different equipment could enhance heat transfer and reduce flow resistance significantly. Firstly, six biomimetic structures including the fractal-tree-like structure, conical column structure, hybrid wetting structure, scale structure, concave-convex structure and superhydrophobic micro-nano structure were summarized in this paper. The biomimetic structure characteristics and heat transfer enhancement and drag reduction mechanisms were analyzed. Secondly, four processing methods including photolithography, nanoimprinting, femtosecond laser processing and 3D printing were introduced as the reference of biomimetic structure machining. Finally, according to the systemic summary of the research review, the prospect of biomimetic heat transfer structure optimization was proposed.
Highlights
Tip size and interspace of conical column structures (Figure 3(d1–d4)), Wang et al [47] obtained 320% enhancement on the condensation heat transfer coefficient compared with the smooth hydrophobic surface
It is reasonable to distribute and regulate the wettability structures for reThe Namib desert beetle, which lives in an arid area,nucleation has of a special hydrophilic and ducing condensate droplets nucleation barrier and increasing nucleation density
The flow resistance in the heat exchanger is mainly attributed to the internal friction caused by the viscosity of the fluid and the form drag caused by the shape of the fixed wall
Summary
Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. The heat transfer efficiency of a heat exchanger directly affects the energy utilization efficiency. As an emerging interdisciplinary subject combining biology, materials science and engineering technology, the bionics provides a new thinking way for energy conservation and consumption reduction [8,9]. The phenomena of heat transfer enhancement in nature and nonsmooth surface structures of organisms have inspired many researchers. Micronano processing technologies have been developed to satisfy the machining precision of the biomimetic structures. The research progress was summarized for six biomimetic structures applied in heat transfer enhancement and drag reduction, and four micro-nano machining technologies were introduced. The prospect of biomimetic heat transfer structure optimization was proposed, hoping to provide a design reference for enhanced heat transfer structures of heat exchangers, especially miniature heat exchangers
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