Heat Exchanger System Research Articles

Estimating the impact of the thermo-physical properties of the multilayer soil on earth-air heat exchanger system performance

This study developed a new method for experimentally measuring and estimating multilayer soil thermo-physical properties. It also tested how multi-layered soil influences an earth-air heat exchanger (EAHE) system in Gödöllő, Hungary. Thus, this research has introduced these combination characteristics that increase EAHE system performance by properly estimating soil multi-layer properties and thermal gradients and their thermal performance effects. New laboratory and theoretical methods can evaluate multilayer soil thermal and physical properties depending on moisture content and density. The first layer had the lowest soil moisture content (6.10 %), the fifth layer had the highest (12.8 %), and the mixed layer had the middle value (9.12 %). The densities of these soil types ranged from 930.49 to 1184.03 kg/m3. When installing the EAHE system, the second layer is better for cooling purposes. Third-layer soil pipe air is 3.74 % hotter than second-layer air. Mixed soil heats and cools moderately. It is 1.74 % hotter and 2 % colder than the second and third layers of soil, respectively.

Cost-Effective Control of Hybrid Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) System Coupled with District Heating

Hybrid ground source heat pump systems (GSHP) offer energy flexibility in operation. For hybrid GSHP systems coupled with district heating, limited studies investigated control strategies for reducing system energy costs from the perspective of building owners. This study proposed a cost-effective control strategy for a hybrid GSHP system integrated with district heating, investigating how power limits of district heating/GSHP, COP value for control (COPctrl), and control time horizon impact the system annual energy cost, CO2 emissions, and long-term borehole heat exchanger system performance. The simulations were performed using the dynamic building simulation tool IDA ICE 4.8. The results indicate that to realize both the energy cost savings and the long-term operation safety, it is essential to limit the heating power of district heating/GSHP and select an appropriate COPctrl. The control time horizon insignificantly affected the annual energy cost and long-term borehole heat exchanger system performance. The recommended COPctrl was 3.6, which is near the GSHP seasonal performance factor. Eventually, the cost-effective control reduced the system’s annual energy cost by 2.2% compared to the GSHP-prioritized control. However, the proposed control increased the CO2 emissions of the hybrid GSHP system due to the higher CO2 emissions from district heating.

Analysis of carbon nanotubes-based nanofluid with paraffin oil in 3D MHD Darcy-Forchheimer flow through a bi-directional stretchable surface: Application to heat exchanger systems

In this paper, a three-dimensional Darcy-Forchheimer flow model is considered to investigate the flow behavior of conducting paraffin oil with carbon nanotubes. The governing partial differential equations of the model are converted into a system of ordinary differential equations by using a similarity transformation. Then, a conversion numerical method along with a shooting technique is used to obtain the solutions to the governing ordinary differential equations. The study reveals significant effects of the porosity, radiation, thermophoresis and the Brownian motion on the flow and heat transfer characteristics. Also, the influences of the physical parameters on the bi-directional velocity, temperature and fluid concentration are discussed in detail. Since carbon nanotubes have high thermal conductivity, it has a high impact on the temperature profiles. Furthermore, as the paraffin oil has well-defined thermal properties, it can be used as a fluid to augment the heat transfer. The presence of carbon nanotubes in the fluid enhanced the thermal conductivity which in turn increased the temperature of the fluid. The magnetic field reduced the bi-directional velocity of the fluid but increased the temperature due to the stimulating effect of the Lorentz force. Hence, this heat transfer study of paraffin oil with carbon nanotubes has a wide range of industrial applications to steam generation, thermal management, heat-treated material and engine cooling.

Model based fault detection diagnosis and classification in shell and tube heat exchanger using intelligent techniques

A method for Model-Based Approach for Fault Detection and Diagnosis has been put forth in this research. The purpose of this study is to build a heat exchanger model and to locate, categorize faults in the heat exchanger system. One of the known methods for fault control in industrial processes is fault detection and diagnosis (FDD). Both linear and non-linear systems can benefit from the FDD technique; this work describes fault identification and diagnosis for the non-linear system, the heat exchanger. A realistic mathematical model of the heat exchanger with its set of inputs and outputs has therefore been constructed, as the fault detection of the heat exchanger is related to the mathematical model for its operation. Once the mathematical model has been realized using the formulated equation, the process passes on to fault detection. Residual, which defines the failure symptoms of the system, is used to detect faults. In order to prevent failures and defective circumstances from occurring in existing systems, observer design is employed as one of the most powerful and reliable approaches residual generation. Fault diagnosis is carried out using a Fuzzy logic controller (FLC), which is designed based on the residuals obtained, and fault classification is made using the FLC via a fixed threshold. The paper's primary goals are to reduce errors and enhance non-linear systems' overall performance in industrial processes. According to the findings of the simulation, errors in sensors, processes, and actuators can be classified according to a set threshold, and they can be controlled using a traditional PID controller.

Thermo-convection driven Sodium Alginate-based Darcy–Forchheimer EMHD Williamson hybrid nanofluid flow with varying thermal distribution

A computational investigation is furnished to explore the responses of a Darcy–Forchheimer EMHD Williamson flow of a Sodium Alginate [Formula: see text]-based Ag-Al2O3 hybrid nanofluid passing over a vertically exponentially stretching cylinder emerged through a porous region. The prime focus of this research is to encompass the inclusion of nonlinear variations in heat distribution, Newtonian boundary heating (NBH) effects, and the influence of thermo-convection alongside suction effects. Key parameters, including thermal buoyancy, Darcy porous medium effects, heat source/sink effects, Biot number, variable thermal index, and thermal convection factor, are comprehensively analyzed as these combining factors can play a crucial role in optimizing the efficacy of several systems such as heat exchanger, material processing and geothermal system that involve the concept of thermo-transportation mechanism. The physical flow dynamics are modeled, employing suitable similarity transformations, and subsequently translated into a dimensionless form. The ensuing collection of modified nonlinear ordinary differential equations is solved by employing the Bvp4c solver bundled into the MATLAB program. Several parameters are scrutinized through graphical presentations to elucidate their impacts on the velocity curve, temperature curve, skin friction coefficient, and Nusselt index. It is worth mentioning that the heat distribution profile significantly escalated for the rising values of several factors such as electric field parameter, varying thermal index, Biot number and shape factor, but the reverse is the pattern with suction and thermo-convection effect. Also, the thermal transportation rate at the proximity of the vertical cylindrical wall appears to exhibit an increment of about an average of 47% in SA-based Williamson hybrid nanofluid compared to Williamson fluid for thermo-convective effect, NBH, and thermal buoyancy. Furthermore, the proximate shear stress rate appears to be amplified by approximately 39% in Williamson hybrid nanofluid when contrasted with Williamson fluid for electric field parameter and thermo-convection effect alongside the raised Darcy–Forchheimer factor.

Numerical modeling and thermal performance analysis of deep borehole heat exchangers considering groundwater seepage

Exploitation of deep geothermal energy based on a deep borehole heat exchanger (DBHE) system significantly promotes green and low-carbon development. The DBHE is the core apparatus of this system, and many mathematical models have been proposed to investigate its thermal performance. However, groundwater seepage which is one of the most important factors has not been considered in most previous numerical models. In addition, the temperature distribution of rock and soil with different seepage velocities during the thermal recovery period is still unclear. Therefore, to fill this research gap, there is a strong need to propose a novel numerical model for DBHEs that considers groundwater seepage and can be solved quickly. In this paper, a computationally efficient numerical model that considers groundwater seepage is proposed. Compared with the experimental data from a field test, the model’s root mean square error is 1.33 °C. Moreover, the time required for the simulation of DBHE operation for one year using this model is only 47.3 s. Then, the effects of groundwater seepage on the DBHE and rocky soil are investigated. The findings demonstrate that when the seepage velocity is high, the thermal performance of the DBHE will be underestimated if groundwater seepage is neglected. At the seepage velocities of 1 × 10-7, 3 × 10-7 and 5 × 10-7 m/s, the heat extraction rate of the DBHE increased by 4.92 %, 10.83 %, and 15.34 %, respectively, compared to the heat extraction rate of the DBHE calculated without taking the groundwater seepage into account. Furthermore, groundwater seepage can increase the temperature recovery capacity of rock and soil. The natural temperature recovery rate of rock and soil without seepage is 86.20 %, and the temperature recovery rate is 93.11 % if the seepage velocity reaches 1 × 10-7 m/s. This study provides essential theoretical guidance for DBHE system design in areas with high groundwater seepage velocities.

Equivalent Enthalpy Model and Log-Mean Enthalpy Difference Method for Heat-Mass Transfer in Cooling Towers

Abstract In industrial processes involving both heat and mass transfer, the enthalpy or total energy difference, not the temperature difference, is a more comprehensive driving-force potential for heat exchanger systems, such as a cooling tower. However, the common practice of current enthalpy methods based on Merkel integral requires numerical integration with implied linear distributions of air enthalpy and water temperature. If the cooling range is relatively small, the outcome of the integration may carry little error. But for a large cooling range and a substantially increased temperature, the error involved may be significant. Like log-mean temperature difference, a log-mean enthalpy difference method may require only the inlet and outlet conditions without prior knowledge of the enthalpy distributions of the fluids within the heat exchanger. The known Berman's enthalpy difference method requires correction factors, which was derived based on the linearization of the interfacial enthalpy and the enthalpy difference between the interfacial moist-air enthalpy and the bulk air enthalpy without underlying interpretation to demonstrate that the method could be broadly used. In this paper, an equivalent enthalpy model is proposed, and the log-mean enthalpy difference is derived without any constraints for broad uses. The derived method is compared with the results of Merkel's method from literature with excellent agreement. Thus, the work in this paper would open the possibility for broad uses of the log-mean enthalpy difference method for many industrial processes involving mass transfer.

Super‐liquid‐repellent thin film materials for low temperature latent heat thermal energy storage: A comprehensive review of materials for dip‐coating

AbstractWhen discharging latent heat thermal energy storage (LHTES) systems, performance is influenced by the formation and adherence of a solid layer of phase change material (PCM) on heat eXchange (HX) surfaces. Super‐liquid‐repellent thin films (STFs) may be able to reduce solidifying PCM adhesion on HX surfaces during discharging, delay PCM solidification to lower temperatures, and by modifying nucleation sites potentially enable long‐term seasonal thermal storage. Techniques employed previously to fabricate sintered polymeric STF coatings include chemical vapour deposition, dip‐coating, spray‐coating, spin‐coating, layer‐by‐layer (LbL) assembly, sol‐gel, anodizing, electrodeposition, electrospinning, so on. Dip‐coating is considered attractive for fabricating thin films on simple and complex surface geometries due to process maturity, scalability, flexibility and cost‐effectiveness. To identify suitable materials for preparing STFs on metal HX surfaces using the dip‐coating process, more than 200 journal articles published in English during the period 2010 to 2022 were reviewed and the potential role of STFs in LHTES applications was assessed. The review identified key areas and applications stimulating STF material developments and formulations. The dip‐coating of potential STF materials was classified under three major themes driving current research and development (R&D) activities, that is, high performance thin films, eco‐friendly thin films and fundamental research formulations. This review provides a platform from which to develop coatings and HX systems to enable the cost‐effective implementation of STFs for improved heat transfer in future mobile/stationery LHTES systems.

Advancing Thermal Performance in PCM-Based Energy Storage: A Comparative Study with Fins, Expanded Graphite, and Combined Configurations

Phase Change Material (PCM) thermal energy storage systems have emerged as a promising solution for efficient thermal energy storage from low to very high-temperature applications. This paper presents an investigation into the utilization of medium temperature range PCM-based systems for domestic hot water application, focusing on different techniques to overcome the low thermal conductivity of the PCM. Five shell and tube heat exchangers were fabricated employing different heat transfer enhancement methods including fin, expanded graphite (EG), and a combination of fin and EG. The combination of EG and circular fins exhibited the best performance in terms of charging and discharging, maintaining a uniform temperature distribution throughout the system due to extensive conductive network provided by the combination of EG and circular fins. When the PCM/EG/fin heat exchanger system is fully charged, the energy stored in the system is 109% higher than that of the PCM heat exchanger at the same elapsed time. Furthermore, the PCM/EG/fin system demonstrated a faster discharging response compared to other thermal energy storage (TES) configurations, with over 160% higher discharging power than a system without any enhancement methods. These findings emphasize the practical viability of integrating PCM/EG composite materials into thermal energy storage systems, offering a viable solution for meeting high heat demand requirements in domestic hot water applications. Furthermore, the enhanced discharging response observed in the PCM/EG/fin system has significant implications for improving energy efficiency and reducing operational costs in real-world applications.

Use of electrical resistivity tomography measurements for investigation of different grouting materials for very shallow geothermal applications within varying seasonal conditions; Applied on a geothermal earth-air heat exchanger system

To achieve the current climate targets, heat pump systems like very shallow geothermal applications are gaining ground. However, the dimensioning of these ground coupled systems is soil-dependent and thus subject to significant differences in efficiency. Furthermore, the thermal properties of the grouting materials are essential for heat transfer in the direct vicinity of the geothermal application. To provide a non-invasive assessment of relevant soil and grouting characteristics, electrical resistivity tomography (ERT) measurements were performed.In this case, the surrounding of an Earth Air-Heat Exchanger – system (EAHE) with different grouting materials (fine sand and fine sand with bentonite) was investigated. For investigation the electrical resistivity (ER) of initial and modified soil conditions were measured regarding soil texture and moisture content. Thereby, the different grouting materials are clearly identified. Thus, based on the ERT measurements, a characterisation of key soil and grouting material properties for applications focusing on heat transfer in soil has been carried out.Furthermore, the depth of soil disturbance due to the EAHE installation could have been traced.Due to a monitoring over different season (February and May) changes in raw ER data could have been ascribed to temperature changes.

Coupled system for underground heating exchange and solar heat-humidity regulation in greenhouse: Experimental study and simulation analysis

In winter, greenhouses located in mid to high latitudes are required a function of dehumidification and warming due to the low outdoor temperature. Focusing on small spires greenhouses, this study regulates the low temperature and high humidity environment inside the greenhouse and proposes a new-type of greenhouse heat and humidity regulation system by combining composite solid desiccant dehumidification with ground heat exchange system. The greenhouse internal environment is warmed and dehumidified at night by utilizing the adsorption effect of the compound dehumidifier and the sensible heat exchange between the heat exchange system in the ground and the greenhouse. Solar thermal energy is collected during the day using multi-curved tank collector (MTC) for thermal storage in the geothermal system and desiccant desorption. The rationality of pipeline layout is verified through CFD simulation, and the indoor temperature and humidity distribution during the system operation is explored. The experimental results show that the moisture adsorption capacity of the composite desiccant SG-CaCl2 for 10h is 0.511 g/g. The optimal regeneration temperature is 80–100 °C. This system can reduce the nighttime relative humidity of the greenhouse in winter from 96.5 % to 83.6 %, and the average indoor air temperature after warming is 12.8 °C. The heat exchange efficiency of the underground heating exchange system is 0.38. During the desorption phase on daytime, the maximum outlet temperature of MTC is 103.8 °C, and the average heat collection efficiency is 0.42. The system can effectively regulate the air environment in the greenhouse to the appropriate zone for crop growth by combining solar thermal collector technology with recyclable solid dehumidification technology.

Correlations on heat-transfer rate and friction factor using radial and axial v-cut geometry on a twisted tape in a double-pipe heat exchanger

This study explores the transformative potential of varying radial and axial v-cut angles within twisted tape inserts in the context of heat transfer enhancement within a double-pipe heat exchanger. The research is driven by the need to enhance energy efficiency in heat exchange systems, with a focus on understanding how v-cut angles influence heat-transfer rates, friction factors, and overall performance. Using water as the working medium, a comprehensive experimental investigation is conducted across a Reynolds number range of 5500–10,000. The findings reveal compelling correlations between the Nusselt number (Nu), friction factor ( f), and performance evaluation criteria concerning different v-cut angles within the twisted tape inserts. Remarkably, the study underscores the pivotal role of radial v-cut twisted tapes in elevating heat exchanger performance, surpassing even axial v-cut configurations. The Nusselt number achieves its pinnacle (96.51) at a Reynolds number of 10,000, whereas the highest friction factor (0.0582) and performance evaluation criteria (1.65) emerge at a Reynolds number of 5500, specifically with a 45-degree radial v-cut angle. This configuration showcases remarkable enhancements in the Nusselt number (98.68%), friction factor (38.87%), and performance evaluation criterion (39.36%) compared to a plain tube, underlining the transformative potential of optimized twisted tape inserts. The presented study offers more than theoretical insights; it provides practical guidelines for designing heat exchangers with superior performance. Derived correlations for the Nusselt number and friction factor, established through regression analysis involving key parameters such as Reynolds number (Re), Prandtl number (Pr), radial v-cut angle ( ϕ), and axial v-cut angle ( θ), demonstrate robust results within a narrow range of ± 5% for the Nusselt number and ±7% for the friction factor. In summary, this investigation not only advances our understanding of heat transfer enhancement but also presents tangible pathways for implementing enhanced heat exchanger designs, contributing significantly to energy-efficient thermal systems.

Improving sensible heat storage in a vertical annular pipe subject to variable inlet boundary condition using TiO2/water nanofluid: Numerical study

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis is conducted to investigate the thermal performance of unsteady free convection of TiO2/water nanofluids. The study process within a coaxial heat exchanger system. The model is based on the mixture Buongiorno approach. Due to the axisymmetric conditions, the study is carried out in two dimensions, and the conservation equations are reformulated in dimensionless form. The obtained PDE system is Discretized using the finite element method. The TiO2 concentration heterogeneity, resulting from thermophoresis and Brownian motion is considered. The presentation of the results encompassed isotherms, nanoparticle volume fraction distributions, and streamlines. The validation of the model shows a good agreement with the experimental results. The impact of the mass fraction’s nanoparticles ( 0.01 ≤ ϕ ≤ 0.04 ) and the Rayleigh number ( 10 3 ≤ Ra ≤ 10 8 ) on the heat transfer performance are analyzed. The parametric study shows that an increase in the Rayleigh number has no effect on heat transfer enhancement. Unlike for Ra = 10 6 where an increase in Nusselt number is observed. It was found also that the effect of nanofluid concentration on the Nusselt number was more noticeable in high Rayleigh cases due to the convection-driven heat transfer.

Enhancing thermal conductivity of sinterized bronze (Cu89/Sn11) by 3D printing and thermal post-treatment: Energy efficiency and environmental sustainability

Enhancing the thermal conductivity of bronze is essential to enhance the efficiency of heat transfer and reduce energy consumption in systems such as heating, cooling, and heat exchangers systems. This study investigates the feasibility of producing sinterized bronze (Cu89/Sn11) using low-cost 3D printing Fused Deposition Modeling (FDM) technology and thermal post-treatment processes. The intention is to identify optimal printing parameters and sintering temperatures to maximize thermal conductivity, while focusing on minimizing energy consumption, raw material usage, and environmental impact. The thermal conductivity of twenty-seven samples was evaluated according to the ASTM E1530:2019 standard. A statistical analysis revealed significant effects of nozzle diameter and flow rate on thermal conductivity and density. The optimal results were obtained with a sintering temperature of 845 °C, a 1.0 mm nozzle diameter, and a 110 % flow rate. These conditions yield the highest thermal conductivity (87.61 W/m·K) and density (7.52 g/cm3). The lowest values were observed at a sintering temperature of 865 °C, a 0.6 mm nozzle diameter, and a 100 % flow rate. A Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) using the ReCiPe Endpoint (E) methodology was employed to compare the environmental impact of the resulting thermal conductivities. The results suggest that sintered bronze produced by FDM and thermal post-treatment provide superior performance and a smaller environmental impact than conventional methods. This study underscores the potential for more efficient and sustainable manufacturing practices in the production of sintered bronze.

Optimized model predictive control for solar assisted earth air heat exchanger system in greenhouse

Agricultural greenhouses play a crucial role in addressing the threat of climate change to agricultural systems. The greenhouse systems control exhibits nonlinear characteristics and large lag, both affecting the regulation of the greenhouse thermal environment. In this paper, a control strategy was designed to set the dynamic reference value of the control objective of the greenhouse model, considering factors such as solar radiation and the heating capacity of water body. A complete greenhouse model was developed using TRNSYS, and then the model predictive control building and optimization were implemented through MATLAB. The control effects of traditional proportional-integral-differentiation control, initial model predictive control, and optimized model predictive control were compared. The results showed that the regulation of greenhouse temperature was improved by 10.6 % in the coldest mouth compared to the conventional proportional-integral-differentiation control by the optimized model predictive control. During a typical cold month, the violation of constraints was reduced by 29.7 % by dynamically setting the target of the greenhouse with the optimized model predictive control. The performance of greenhouse climate control is enhanced by the proposed optimized model predictive control method, ensuring a stable regulation of the crop growth environment.

Influence of Shear Strain on the Deflection of Girders

Numerical calculations are a standard part of modern structural design. Engineers remain particularly interested in real problems where analytical and numerical solutions can be compared with experimental results. Such cases are typical examples of benchmarks because they are used to verify the assumptions introduced. This study shows in detail how shear stresses affect the deflection of a relatively short and high cantilever when the span-to-height ratio of the cross-section is less than five. Such models are frequently used in the design of cantilevers that support heavily loaded beams, for example in the cement industry (e.g., often as structural elements for a heat exchanger system) or for the assessment of short cantilever limit states that appear during excavation in rock sediments. The models are also suitable for designing the various details and joints in the industry of prefabricated elements. This work analyzes in depth the analytical solutions for the displacement field of the linear elastic plane stress theory with two displacement boundary conditions. Also, the solutions were compared with the beam, two-, and three-dimensional numerical models using SAP2000. The results highlight the fundamental principles and solutions behind plane stress and beam theories, with an insight into the advantages and limitations of such models. Doi: 10.28991/CEJ-2024-010-05-04 Full Text: PDF

Numerical Study of a Latent Heat Storage System’s Performance as a Function of the Phase Change Material’s Thermal Conductivity

The thermal conductivities of most commonly used phase change materials (PCMs) are typically fairly low (in the range of 0.2 to 0.4 W/m·K) and are an important consideration when designing latent heat energy storage systems (LHESSs). Because of that, material scientists have been asking the following question: “by how much does the thermal conductivity of a PCM needs to be increased to positively impact the design and performance of a LHESS?” The answer to this question is not straightforward as the performance of a LHESS depends on the PCM’s thermal conductivity, other PCM thermophysical properties, the type of heat exchange system geometry used, the mode of operation, and the targeted power/energy storage of the LHESS. This paper presents work related to this question through a numerical study based on a simplified 2D model of an experimental setup studied previously in the authors’ laboratory. A model created in COMSOL Multiphysics, based on conduction and accounting for the solid-liquid phase change process, was initially validated against experimental results and then used to study the impact of the PCM’s thermal conductivity (dodecanoic acid) on the discharging power of the LHESS. The results show that even increasing the thermal conductivity of the PCM by a factor of 50 only leads to a maximum instantaneous power increase by a factor of 2 or 3 depending on the LHESS configurations.

Study on thermal radius and capacity of multiple deep borehole heat exchangers: Analytical solution, algorithm and application based on Response Factor Matrix method (RFM)

The deep borehole heat exchanger systems (DBHE) are offering potential low carbon heating for buildings. However, the study of DBHE is hindered by both modeling and system complexity. Although some analytical models of DBHE are presented in literature, the involved expression of complex integral calculation on the contrary slows down the computation speed and many calculations are redundant in algorithm. In this study, a Response Factor Matrix method (RFM) is proposed based on simple analytical expression and well-designed data structure for DBHE. The RFM can be prefabricated and then used in each time step updates of temperature field. A superposition algorithm is designed for fast computation of DBHE array. The proposed model and algorithms are verified by measurements from two independent engineering projects. Based on the new tool, both thermal radius and heating capacity of DBHE array are investigated in details. The step-ascending pattern of thermal radius is recognized. The correlation of borehole spacing and system heating capacity is identified. In the end, the computational efficiency of the new tool is justified and some outlooks are proposed for a further development and applications.

Research on the Mechanism and Preventive Measures of Heat Transfer and Coking in Boilers

Boilers are one of the most important power supply sources in the chemical industry. The irreplaceable nature of its products requires boilers to maintain stable long-cycle operation during the production process. However, boiler failures occur from time to time and necessary measures need to be taken to reduce the chances of failure. Among these failures, metal corrosion and tube failures are particularly prominent. Due to the fact that the thermal calculation results do not match the actual; the coefficients in the design are not reasonably selected, and the hearth and boiler shape are not properly selected; the structural design of the superheater system and the arrangement of the heated surface are not reasonable; and the wall temperature calculation method is not perfect, which leads to the improper selection of materials and so on. These will make the fire-side heat exchange system produce wall temperature super-high, tube bundle burst and other failure phenomena. These phenomena cause a certain degree of hidden danger to the safe production of the boiler.

Numerical simulation of fluid dynamics and mixing in headers of sodium-air heat exchangers

The paper presents the results of a numerical simulation for sodium fluid dynamics and mixing in the tubing system of an air-cooled heat exchanger (AHX), which is a part of the emergency cooldown system (ECS) of sodium fast reactors (SFRs). Non-uniform sodium flows in the AHX tubing system may lead to the mixing of different-temperature sodium flows, temperature fluctuations and tube breaks. It was found in the course of investigating accidents involving breaks in the PFR and Phénix reactor AHX tubing systems that the failure was caused by the metal temperature fluctuations (Cruickshank and Judd 2005). The numerical simulation used three- and one-dimensional computer codes. It has been found that the calculations of the AHX sodium flow rate distribution with a practically acceptable accuracy can be performed using a one-dimensional code. The factors that influence the non-uniform distribution of sodium flows in the AHX tubing system have been analyzed. Calculations have been performed for the AHX sodium flow distributions and for the mixing of different-temperature sodium flows in the AHX outlet header. The results are presented from calculating the amplitude of sodium fluctuations near the AHX header walls. The effect from shutting down several modules on the non-uniform flow distribution and temperature fluctuations in the AHX has been investigated. Approximations of numerical solutions have been obtained for the sodium flow distribution as a function of the number of the modules shut down.