Hot Fluid Research Articles

Influence of W-cut twisted tape inserts on heat transfer characteristics of a counter flow heat exchanger using CeO2 nanofluid – an experimental and numerical investigations

The motive of the study is to determine the influence of W-cut twisted tape (TT) inserts on heat transfer rate (HTR) and the pressure drop of a TTCFHEx. The TT inserts involved a constant twist ratio (TR = 3) with variations in width ratio (WR) and the depth ratio (DR), respectively. Cold fluid (CeO2 nanofluid) Reynolds number (Re) varied from 2,436 to 11,626 while the hot fluid Re (Re = 8,322) is kept constant. From the study, insertion of TT insets in a TTCFHEx creates a swirl flow along with secondary vertex flow in the flow direction, leads to disruption of boundary layer thickness and which helps in improve the heat dissipation rate. Further, important findings from the study is noted that the Nusselt number (Nu) increases significantly at higher WR and DR with considerable increase in the pressure drop. However, at ϕ = 0.3% with insertion of TT inserts in a TTCFHEx, Nu number advanced by 71.52%, 80.40%, 127.65% than the base fluid without inserts. Further, at higher WR and DR the augmentation of HTR is found to be 1.5-times higher than the plain tube (PT) with considerable increase in the pressure drop. In the presence of nanofluid with W-cut TT inserts, the overall heat transfer coefficient (HTC) is enhanced by 34.68%, 41.82%, 52.65% and 36.26%, 44.25%, 50.14% for WR (4/15, 8/15, 12/15) and DR (2/15, 4/15, 6/15) compared to base fluid water with PT for both numerical and experimental investigations are considered in range of Re studied. Also, the computed experimental and numerical performance evaluation criteria (PEC) is found to be 2.16 and 2.09 for WR = 12/15 and DR = 6/15, respectively, at higher values of Re number.

Review of Recent Applications of Heat Pipe Heat Exchanger Use for Waste Heat Recovery

With the reduction in fossil fuels and growing concerns about global warming, energy has become one of the most important issues facing humanity. It is crucial to improve energy utilization efficiency and promote a low-carbon transition. In comparison with traditional heat exchangers, heat pipe heat exchangers indicate high compactness, a flexible arrangement, complete separation of hot and cold fluids, good isothermal operations, etc. As a result, heat pipe heat exchangers have attracted wide attention and application in various fields in recent years. This paper provides an overview of the application of heat pipe heat exchangers, with a focus on the application in waste heat recovery, and analyzes the opportunities and challenges of heat pipe heat exchanger applications based on existing publications.

Characteristics of rock fissure fillings and their relationship with the accumulation of uranium and associated elements in the Kailu Sag of the southern Songliao Basin, Northeast China

The relationship between deep fluids and the enrichment of uranium and associated elements in sedimentary basins remains unclear. Sandstone-type uranium deposits in the southern Songliao Basin exhibit abundant fault systems, and evidence of hot fluid activity is present in the ore-bearing strata, including the presence of hydrothermal minerals such as galena and sphalerite. To elucidate this relationship, we conducted detailed thin-section observations and micro-X-ray fluorescence spectroscopic analysis on the fissure fillings of mafic rocks, granite, sandstone, and mudstone in or near the ore-bearing strata. Our findings indicate that rock fissures are filled with minerals such as pyrite, quartz, ankerite, and calcite, suggesting that deep fluids have multiple sources and stages. Specifically, ankerite, rich in Fe and Mn, is closely associated with uranium mineralization, and is observed in both the fissure fillings and the ore-bearing strata. Fluids enriched in elements such as Tb and Dy likely originate from or are related to the mantle, while fluids with few other components may come from deep strata. However, U and Re contents are low in the fissure fillings, being insufficient for their mineralization. Furthermore, given the high content of carbonate minerals in the ore-bearing strata and their close association with uranium mineralization, we analyzed fluid inclusions and carbon–oxygen isotope composition of the carbonate minerals present in the rock fissures. Fluid inclusions in carbonate minerals indicate moderate to low temperatures (ranging from 145.5 to 298.5 ℃, with an average of 215.3 ℃) and low salinities (ranging from 0.18 to 7.99 wt%, with an average of 2.22 wt%). δ13CV-PDB values of carbonate minerals ranges from − 15.1 ‰ to 0.4 ‰, and δ18OV-SMOW values range from 0.5 ‰ to 14.4 ‰, suggesting a composite genesis of carbonate fluids involving magma and atmospheric precipitation. These test results on fissure fillings match roughly with those of the ore-bearing strata, indicating that deep fluids have infiltrated into the ore-bearing strata and contributed to uranium mineralization. Therefore, we propose that the U and Re enrichment in the ore-bearing strata originates from supergene fluids, whereas deep fluids may provide ore-forming materials such as ankerite, reducing fluids, and heat sources for uranium mineralization.

Numerical analysis of the effect of wave amplitude on thermohydraulic performance in a heat exchanger with sinusoidal wavy channels

With the increasing application of heat exchangers, the research has become increasingly comprehensive. Previous studies mainly focused on comparing the amplitudes to investigate the performance of heat exchangers, while the study of variable amplitude channel structures was limited. This study investigated the thermal-hydraulic performance of seven different sinusoidal channels with inclination angles of 20° and 30°, and their combinations. Using the CFD solver, simulations were conducted to assess the heat transfer capabilities of sinusoidal channels under various Reynolds numbers and different amplitude conditions, compared to straight channels and single amplitude sinusoidal channels. The results indicated that within one period, both the pressure drop and temperature difference exhibited a ripple trend of gradually decreasing amplitude. When evaluating the comprehensive performance of the channels, three trends emerged across the seven models, with the performance of the cold fluid and the hot fluid within the same group showing opposite trends. This suggested that more variations could enhance the overall performance of the hot fluid while reducing the performance of the cold fluid. For structures with the same amplitude, in terms of amplitude variation frequency, models with six periods per group exhibited higher overall heat transfer performance than those with three periods per group, with an average increase of 36.37%. For the arrangement of amplitudes (taking the hot fluid inlet as an example), configurations with a smaller amplitude at the inlet outperformed those with a larger amplitude, indicating that in combined amplitude models, a structure with a larger group and a smaller amplitude at the inlet (taking the hot fluid as an example) should be designed.

Strength in numbers: A multiphase wind model with multiple cloud populations

ABSTRACT Galactic outflows have a multiphase nature making them challenging to model analytically. Many previous studies have tried to produce models that come closer to reality. In this work, we continue these efforts and describe the interaction of the hot wind fluid with multiple cold cloud populations, with their number density determined by different probability density functions. To do so, we introduced realistic cloud-wind interaction source terms and a time varying cooling area. We find that the model reproduces well results from small-scale hydrodynamic simulations, but exhibits a general destructive behaviour both for a single cloud population as well as multiple ones. We show that including multiple cloud populations can alter the evolution of the wind drastically. We also compare our model to observations and show that the differential acceleration of multiple clouds can lead to a non-negligible velocity ‘dispersion’ relevant for down-the-barrel studies. Furthermore, we compute the emitted cooling surface brightness and find it generally too faint to explain observed Lyman α haloes.

Thermal performance of a chaotic heat exchanger: an experimental study

Improving the efficiency of heat exchangers requires innovative approaches that reconcile performance and sustainability. This study examines the potential of a curved geometry employing chaotic advection as a passive technique for improving internal heat transfer. The Chaotic Heat Exchanger (CHE) studied was constructed using 18 bends at 90 degree angles, and by simply turning each bend at a 90-degree angle to the previous one. The aim is to investigate the chaotic heat exchanger by focusing on heat transfer efficiency. A comparative analysis is carried out between the chaotic heat exchanger and a conventional Helical Heat Exchanger (HHE), using an experimental approach with water as the internal hot fluid. The Reynolds number examined ranges from 250 to 3500. It is found that the CHE outperforms the HHE both in terms of heating capacity and of inner Nusselt number, particularly in the intermediate Reynolds number range.

Karakteristik Kimia Fisik Fluida Mata Air Panas dan Estimasi Temperatur Reservoir di Sekitar Rano Raindang Desa Leilem, Kecamatan Sonder, Kabupaten Minahasa

To meet future energy needs, the Indonesian government has developed alternative energy sources: geothermal energy. Rano Raindang is one of the areas with a geothermal field due to several geothermal manifestations, such as hot springs. This study aims to examine the fluid type, the reservoir temperature estimation, and the functional group of hot springs. The method used is a geoindicator of Na, K, Mg, Cl, SO4, and HCO3, combining spectrophotometry and FTIR spectroscopy. Research results show that the type of hot spring fluid around Rano Raindang with geoindicators Na, K, Mg is immature waters, this is because the type of hot spring fluid around Rano Raindang has undergone a mixing process, while the geoindicators Cl, SO4, HCO3 are bicarbonate (HCO3) types. This corresponds to the results of measurements using FTIR spectroscopy. The estimated reservoir temperature in the area is 193.66 °C and is included in the medium-temperature geothermal system, as the temperature around Rano Raindang is between 125–225 °C. The functional group of hot spring molecules around Rano Raindang has functional groups C=O and O-H.

Experimental investigation and optimization of heat pipe heat exchanger performance under two distinct heat transport mediums through TOPSIS approach

This paper presents a comprehensive thermal performance analysis of the heat pipe heat exchanger by varying the input process parameters and optimizing the best condition for waste heat recovery through the TOPSIS technique. In this work, the heat pipe is constructed with a copper tube and segmented into evaporator and condenser sections carrying hot and cold fluids with a half-fill ratio. The heat pipe is oriented in 0° horizontally with the wick material made from stainless steel and works based on the capillary principle. The efficiency of the HPHE is evaluated by varying the input operational parameters, namely heat input, mass flow rate of hot fluid, inlet temperature of hot fluid, and mass flow rate of cold fluid, on response variables, specifically thermal resistance, energy balance ratio, universal heat transfer coefficient, and effectiveness. The experiment was designed for four factors at three levels as per Taguchi’s L27 orthogonal array, and the best optimising condition was determined by employing the multi-objective technique for order preference by similarity to ideal solution (TOPSIS) approach. The best input condition found was A3B1C1D3, in which the heat input was at 90 W, the mass flow rate of hot fluid was at 0.2 kg min−1, the mass flow rate of cold fluid was at 0.1 kg min−1, and the inlet temperature was at 60 °C. The effect of process parameters and their significance on output responses was analysed by executing an analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistical method. The mathematical regression model was generated, and validation was made to investigate the prediction error percentage.

Numerical investigation of bubble dynamics and flow boiling heat transfer in cylindrical micro-pin-fin heat exchangers

Micro-pin-fin evaporators are a promising alternative to multi-microchannel heat sinks for two-phase cooling of high power-density devices. Within pin-fin evaporators, the refrigerant flows through arrays of obstacles in cross-flow and is not restricted by the walls of a channel. The dynamics of bubbles generated upon flow boiling and the associated heat transfer mechanisms are expected to be substantially different from those pertinent to microchannels; however, the fundamental aspects of two-phase flows evolving through micro-pin-fin arrays are still little understood. This article presents a systematic analysis of flow boiling within a micro-pin-fin evaporator, encompassing bubble, thin-film dynamics and heat transfer. The flow is studied by means of numerical simulations, performed using a customised boiling solver in OpenFOAM v2106, which adopts the built-in geometric Volume of Fluid method to capture the liquid–vapour interface dynamics. The numerical model of the evaporator includes in-line arrays of pin-fins of diameter of 50μm and height of 100μm, streamwise pitch of 91.7μm and cross-stream pitch of 150μm. The fluid utilised is refrigerant R236fa at a saturation temperature of 30 °C. The range of operating conditions simulated includes values of mass flux G=500–2000kg/(m2s), heat flux q=200kW/m2, and inlet subcooling ΔTsub=0–5K. This study shows that bubbles nucleated in a pin-fin evaporator tend to travel along the channels formed in between the pin-fin lines. Bubbles grow due to liquid evaporation and elongate in the direction of the flow, leaving thin liquid films that partially cover the pin-fins surface. The main contributions to heat transfer arise from the evaporation of this thin liquid film and from a cross-stream convective motion induced by the bubbles in the gap between the cylinders, which displace the hot fluid otherwise stagnant in the cylinders wakes. When the mass flow rate is increased, bubbles depart earlier from the nucleation sites and grow more slowly, which results in a reduction of the two-phase heat transfer. Higher inlet subcooling yields lower two-phase heat transfer coefficients because condensation becomes important when bubbles depart from the hot pin-fin surfaces and reach highly subcooled regions, thus reducing the two-phase heat transfer.

Geothermal resource potentials estimation from the interpretation of aeromagnetic data over parts of Southwestern Nigeria

In a bid to explore unconventional electricity generation sources and reduce effects of fossil fuels, this study evaluates geothermal resource potentials over parts of Southwestern Nigeria, precisely depth to the bottom of magnetic source (DBMS), heat flow, geothermal gradient and their relationships. Regional-residual anomaly separation was conducted, and spectral analysis was applied on the residual anomaly component of 14 aeromagnetic data sheets. Depth to the bottom of magnetic source varies between 1.87 and 6.26 km, with average value of 3.50 km, heat flow varies between 23.18 and 77.38 mWm−2, with average value of 43.79 mWm−2, while geothermal gradient varies between 9.27 and 30.95 oC/km with average value of 17.52 oC/km. Northcentral region has the highest heat flow (77.4 mWm−2), followed by Northeast (68.3 mWm−2), Southwest has the least (< 40.0 mWm−2) while Southeast has values in between the extremes. A comparison between the average heat flow and that of ‘thermally stable’ continental regions of the world (60 or 65) mW/m2 gives 72.98 or 67.37% respectively. The estimated heat is probably from mantle plumes, radioactive sources or heat generated from pressures within basements that are overlaid by thick thermally insulated sediments, hence hot magmatic fluid flows into fractured basement and cause hydrothermal alterations of surrounding rocks. Since most geodynamic operations depends on thermal structure of the earth’s crust, the result of this study has undoubtedly contributed significantly to the body of existing thermal knowledge and closed the information gap regarding crustal temperature distribution at depth in Southwest part of Nigeria and Nigeria in general.

Topological optimization of structures with thermomechanical loading under compliance constraints for 3D printing applications

Currently, due to the high costs of production and expensive raw materials, approaches, including, making models smaller and lighter, are especially considered in the design of structures. In order to better describe the capabilities, efficiency, and limitations of an innovative field called topology optimization, various practical problems under different loadings and boundary conditions were evaluated in this study. Optimization algorithms were used in ANSYS software for the optimization of a cantilever beam under static loading, double-girder beam and a dome-shaped geometry under static and thermal loading, a hot fluid transfer tee and an engine exhaust manifold under static loading and convection heat transfer. The results showed that the reduced volume in the final models were equal to 66.29%, 52.88%, 50.05%, 51.85%, and 35.02%, respectively. Consequently, this reduced volume causes some increase in the tension, and displacement of the final model, which can adjust them according to the limitations governing the problem. Furthermore, the amount of increase in the average value of the stress in the cantilever beam, double-girder beam, and dome-shaped geometry were 88, 800, and 6 MPa, and the average amount of displacement in these samples increased by 10.2%, 200%, and 3.3%, respectively. Challenges, and manufacturability of optimized problems were investigated by 3D printing of a dome-shaped model using the FDM method, which illustrated that the output product has a suitable level of accuracy and smoothness. Subsequently, by using supporting structures, three-dimensional holes were created with proper precision in the 3D-printed sample, which satisfied the manufacturability of relatively complex models.

Novel hybrid coaxial-U-shaped closed-loop geothermal system for enhanced energy extraction: a numerical analysis

ABSTRACT Insulated U-shaped closed-loop geothermal system (UCLGS) is an efficient and environmentally friendly method of harnessing geothermal energy. However, heat available in the rock surrounding the insulated production pipe has not been extracted yet. Therefore, this study proposed a novel hybrid coaxial-U-shaped CLGS (HCLGS) to enhance the overall thermal performance of CLGS. The HCLGS comprises an insulated UCLGS for harnessing energy from the reservoir rock, alongside a coaxial double pipe system designed to extract additional thermal energy from the rock enveloping the insulated production pipe of the UCLGS. Further, the study explored the thermal feasibility of the proposed HCLGS in various rock formations for geothermal energy extraction at different depths. The results showed that the HCLGS installed in the pyroxenite rock produced primary hot fluid with a maximum temperature of 94°C and secondary hot fluid at a temperature of 38.5°C for the base case, achieving a COP of 1.15. The proposed HCLGS can extract up to 18% higher thermal power than the insulated UCLGS, with a COP ranging from 1.11 to 1.16. Finally, the proposed hybrid system significantly harnessed the additional heat available in the rock encompassing the insulated production pipe of UCLGS.

Burn injuries and acute burn management in the rural areas in northern Bangladesh – A household survey

IntroductionBurn injuries pose a significant public health challenge, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). In Bangladesh, burn injuries are prevalent and often result in severe disability or death. However, knowledge regarding the causes of burn injuries, acute burn management, and barriers to seeking burn care in the riverine areas of northern Bangladesh is limited. MethodsWe conducted a questionnaire-based study in eight subunits and five selected districts in northern Bangladesh to determine the prevalence, causes, and management of burn injuries in these areas. A total of 210 individuals from different households were interviewed, which represented a population of 1020 persons. ResultsAmong the respondents, 55% reported that at least one member of their household suffered from a burn injury in the past. The most common causes of burn injuries were open fire (41%) and hot fluids (30%). More than 40% of burns were not rinsed with water directly after sustaining the injury. Additionally, almost 30% of respondents did not seek medical care immediately after the injury, with financial constraints being the most commonly cited reason. DiscussionWe found a low rate of adequate cooling and seeking medical care. The need for basic knowledge on prevention and treatment of burn injuries and improved access to affordable health care services in the region is high.

Design and optimization of a geothermal absorption cooling system in a tropical climate

The electricity required for air conditioning is soaring worldwide. Absorption chillers represent an alternative to classical vapor compression systems, using heat instead of electricity. However, absorption chillers powered by renewable geothermal heat have received little attention so far. This paper introduces a system using a hot geothermal fluid (typically in the range of 80–110 °C) to produce cooling through a single-effect absorption chiller, and Domestic Hot Water (DHW) through a heat exchanger. It considers a hotel located in Martinique, a French Caribbean island. The electric consumption of every subsystem has been thoroughly estimated. The originality of this paper is twice: i) the system is modelled in TRNSYS software considering dynamic conditions, ii) the system undergoes surrogate modelling and multi-objective optimization to minimize both the cost and the CO2 content of the delivered thermal energy. Several scenarios are considered, depending upon the geothermal temperature, mass flow rate, well remoteness, and demand size. The studied system appears to be systematically more expensive than a combination of a classical vapor compression chiller and a boiler for DHW. However, it can significantly decrease the CO2 content of the provided energy, especially in an island where most electricity is generated from fossil fuels. The proximity of the geothermal well and the use of the warm water leaving the absorption generator (here for DHW production) appear to be key factors for system relevance, along with a hotter geothermal fluid (e.g., 110 °C instead of 80 °C).

Numerical Analysis of Altered Parallel Flow Heat Exchanger with Promoted Geometry at Multifarious Baffle Prolongs

This study investigated the influence of BFFSP on the thermohydraulic performance of a SATHEC(s) using a novel computational approach. The novelty lies in the detailed exploration of the interplay between BFFSP, MFRT, and key performance parameters. Unlike prior studies, which often focus on a limited range of operating conditions, this work employs a comprehensive parametric analysis encompassing two BFFSPs (95 mm and 125 mm) and four MFRTs (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 0.7 kg/h). This extensive analysis provides a deeper understanding of the trade-off between the HTRFR enhancement and PDP associated with the BFFSP across a wider range of operating conditions. This investigation leverages the power of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations for high-fidelity analysis. ANSYS Fluent, a widely recognized commercial CFD software package, was used as a computational platform. A three-dimensional steady-state model of HEXR geometry was established. The cold fluid was modeled as water, and the hot fluid was modeled as water. The selection of appropriate turbulence models is crucial for accurate flow simulations within the complex geometry of HEXR. This study incorporates a well-established two-equation turbulence model to effectively capture turbulent flow behavior. The governing equations for mass, momentum, and energy conservation were solved numerically within the CFD framework. Convergence criteria were meticulously established to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the simulation results. BFFs are crucial components in HEXRs as they promote fluid mixing and turbulence on the HTRFR surface, thereby enhancing HTRFR. This study explores the interplay between BFFSP and HTRFR effectiveness. It is hypothesized that a larger BFFSP (125 mm) might lead to a higher HTC owing to the increased fluid mixing. However, the potential drawbacks of the increased PDP due to the flow restriction also need to be considered. The PDP across the HEXR is a critical parameter that affects pumping costs and overall system yield. This study investigates the impact of BFFSP on the PDP. It is expected that a larger BFFSP (125 mm) will result in a higher PDP, owing to the increased resistance to fluid flow. Here, we aim to quantify the trade-off between enhanced HTRFR and increased PDP associated with different BFFSPs. The optimal design of an HEXR seeks a balance between achieving a high HTRFR rate and minimizing pressure losses. HTRPD, a metric combining both HTC and PDP, was employed to evaluate the thermohydraulic performance. We hypothesized that a specific BFFSP might offer a superior HTRPD, indicating an optimal balance between HTRFR effectiveness and PDP for the investigated HEXR geometry and operating conditions. CFD simulations were conducted using ANSYS Fluent to analyze the effects of BFFSP and MFRT on the HTC, PDP, and HTRPD. The simulations employed a commercially available HEXR geometry with water as the cold and hot fluid. The results are presented and discussed to elucidate the relationships between the BFFSP, MFRT, and key performance parameters of the HEXR. This study provides valuable insights into the influence of BFFSP on the thermohydraulic performance of HEXRs. The findings can aid in optimizing the HEXR design by identifying the BFFSP that offers the best compromise between HTRFR enhancement and PDP for specific operating conditions. The results contribute to the knowledge base of HEXR design and optimization, potentially leading to improved yield in various industrial applications. The results indicate that a larger BFFSP (125 mm) leads to higher outlet temperatures but also results in a higher PDP compared to the 95 mm design. Conversely, the 95 mm BFFSP exhibits a lower PDP but achieves a lower HTC. In terms of thermohydraulic performance, as indicated by HTRPD, the 95 mm BFFSP with the lowest MFRT (0.1 kg/h) achieved the highest value, surpassing the 125 mm design by 19.81%. This suggests that a 95 mm BFFSP offers a better trade-off between HTRFR effectiveness and pressure loss, potentially improving the overall HEXR performance.

Feasibility Study and Heat Transfer Analysis of Testbed Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger at Tube Side Fluid Discharge of 5 Lpm and Hot Fluid Temperature of 60 C

Feasibility Study and Heat Transfer Analysis of Testbed Shell and Tube Heat Exchanger at Tube Side Fluid Discharge of 5 Lpm and Hot Fluid Temperature of 60 C

Pengaruh Kenaikan Laju Alir Fluida Panas dan Arah Aliran terhadap Kinerja Plate and Frame Heat Exchanger

Plate and Frame Heat Exchanger (PFHE) is a plate and frame type heat exchanger that is efficient and effective in improving energy efficiency. Research using PFHE aims to determine the effect of increasing the flow rate of hot fluid on heat exchanger performance. This research was conducted at a flow rate variation of 0.7 L/min, 0.9 L/min, 1.1 L/min, 1.3 L/min, 1.5 L/min, 1.7 L/min, and 1.8 L/min with 180 seconds of testing each variation and recording data every 2 seconds. The cold fluid used is tap water and the hot fluid used is distilled water. The results showed that with the increase in hot fluid flow rate, the performance of PFHE also increased because the effectiveness of NTU (Ɛ-NTU) increased. The Ɛ-NTU value of unidirectional flow is 25.37% - 44.87% and in the opposite direction 37% - 68.39%. The largest Ɛ-NTU value in the countercurrent flow indicates that the countercurrent flow is more effective than the unidirectional flow. In addition, increasing the flow rate increases the Reynold's number (Nre) and Nusselt's number (Nu) which indicates the greatest convection heat transfer occurs at the highest flow rate.

Study on the material source and enrichment mechanism of REE-rich phosphorite in Zhijin, Guizhou

Rare earth element (REE)-rich phosphorite in the Guizhou region mainly exists in the Doushantuo Formation and Gezhongwu Formation in early Cambrian strata, which are some of the important strata containing phosphorite resources in China. The early Cambrian Zhijin phosphorite in Guizhou Province, China, has high rare earth element and yttrium (REY) contents of up to 2500 ppm, with heavy REY (HREY) contents accounting for ~ 30% of the total REY contents. However, the specific controlling source and environment of phosphorite (especially the REEs in Zhijin phosphorite) are still unsolved. Through field geological investigations; mineralogical, geochemical, Sr–Nd isotope analyses; and tectonic characteristics, the material source, sedimentary environment and seawater dynamics of REEs in phosphorite are studied. It is considered that the REEs enriched in the Zhijin phosphorite are mainly affected by precipitation from hydrothermal fluid. Moreover, from the late Ediacaran to the early Cambrian, the depositional environment from the bottom to the top of the water tended to be hypoxic, and the activity of hot water fluid tended to be strong. The change in redox conditions is closely related to the rise and fall of sea level. Combined with the tectonic background, these results show that the weakly oxidized environment may be an important factor controlling the enrichment of REEs. The enrichment of REEs may be closely related to volcanic hydrothermal activity, later diagenesis and seawater dynamics.

An In-Depth Comparison of Straight and Wavy Microchannel Heat Exchangers

Abstract This paper presents extensive fluid flow and Heat-Transfer studies conducted using a commercial computational fluid dynamics (CFD) package known as CFD-ACE® to elaborate and expand on the reference studies available for ceramic-compact counterflow microchannel heat exchangers (MCHEs). The computational 3D model was developed using an experimentally tested MCHE and validated with experimental data with 3–5% variation for hot fluid and 6–12% variation for cold fluid for the entire design of experiments (DoEs). This study aimed to identify the performance of novel microchannel shapes using numerical analysis. The MCHE has good heat exchange properties, a compact design at industrial throughput, and a lower inner volume. During the study and identification of novel channel shapes, the segmented wavy MCHE was evaluated. The results were compared with those of the same volume and area straight MCHE baseline design under various identical operating conditions. Although the performance in terms of effectiveness is increased up to ∼12–25% in wavy MCHE with respect to straight MCHE simultaneously, the pressure drop is also increased by ∼60–80% under the same operating conditions. Therefore, performance and trade-offs are required to make the correct decision regarding feasibility. The effectiveness of the heat-transfer enhancement was also evaluated by plotting the heat-transfer coefficient ratio with respect to the pressure ratio of the two designs under identical operating conditions. This numerical study clearly indicates that wavy channels are better from the thermal performance point of view, whereas straight channels are better from the pumping power point of view, and the quantitative values are presented in graphical form.

Metallogeny and Genesis of Fault-Filling Barite-Sulfide Veins (Ougnat, Morocco): Petrography, Fluid Inclusion, and Sr-S Isotopic Constraints

The Ougnat Massif of the eastern Anti-Atlas (Morocco) hosts barite and sulfide vein-type deposits of vital economic importance. With over 150 mineralized structures reported in the Ougnat Massif, the ore-bearing ones are predominantly composed of barite, quartz, calcite, and minor portions of sulfides. The mineralized veins are driven by NW-SE and NE-SW to E-W oblique-slip opening faults that cross both the Precambrian basement and its Paleozoic cover. The mineralized structures occur as lenses and sigmoidal veins that follow stepped tension fracture sets oblique to the fault planes. These geometries and kinematic indicators of these structures point to a predominantly normal-sinistral opening in a brittle-ductile tectonic setting. The S isotopic compositions of barite from the Ougnat Massif (+10.8 to +19.5‰) fall mostly within the range of δ34S values of Late Triassic to Jurassic seawater, thus suggesting that some of the SO2− in barite comes from seawater sulfate. This range of δ34S values also corresponds approximately to the hydrothermal barite context. The 87Sr/86Sr ratios of barite, which range from 0.710772 to 0.710816, lie between the radiogenic strontium isotopic compositions of deposition by hydrothermal solutions, and also coincide with the non-radiogenic isotopic signature of Triassic to Jurassic seawater. Based on a fluid inclusions study, the ore-forming fluids were a mixture of two or more fluids. A deep hot fluid with an average temperature of 368 °C leached the granodiorites and volcanic-sedimentary complex of the Ouarzazate Group. This fluid provided the hydrothermal system with most of the Ba, radiogenic Sr, and some of the dissolved S. A second, shallow fluid with an average temperature of 242 °C was derived from Late Triassic to Jurassic seawater. The barite mineralization of the Ougnat Massif constitutes a typical example of vein-type mineralization that occurred along the northern margin of the West African Craton and regionally tied to the central Atlantic opening.