Maximum Heat Load Research Articles

PARAMETERS OF HOT WATER SUPPLY HEAT EXCHANGERS FOR HEAT STATIONS OF INSULATED BUILDINGS AT ONE-STAGE CONNECTION SCHEME

The peculiarities of functioning of centralized heat supply systems of residential microdistricts at carrying out works on ‘insulation’ of buildings in operation, namely, parameters of operation of hot water supply heating units are considered. The influence of the heating load reduction due to the works on increasing the heat transfer resistance of the building structures on the flow rate of network water and heat exchange area of hot water supply heaters has been analyzed. Estimates are made for conditions of use of one-stage parallel scheme connection for heat exchangers to heat distribution networks. The known relations for such most widespread in heat supply systems heat exchangers as plate apparatuses are used at calculations of a heat transfer surface. The range of change of the heat transfer surface of hot water heaters and the flow rate of network water depending on the ratio of the maximum heat loads of hot water supply and heating and the degree of insulation efficiency of the building is determined. Formulas for determining the parameters of hot water supply heat exchangers are proposed. The formulas are valid in the range of reduction of heat consumption for heating of the building from 0 to 35 %. Assessment of the heating load reduction is performed on condition that the thermal modernization of a building constructed in accordance with the building requirements in force several decades ago provides modern requirements for the thermal resistance of building structures. The temperature of water in the heating system of the insulated building is determined depending on the building insulation efficiency, provided that the water flow rate through the heating system of the building before and after its insulation is unchanged. The range of variation of the ratio of hot water supply and heating heat loads accepted for consideration is 0,6–1,2. The obtained results can be used at comparison of connection schemes of heat exchangers for hot water heating for installation on individual heat points of insulated buildings.

Thermodynamics analyses on a novel CHP system integrated with multi-grade thermal energy storage

The high penetration level of intermittent renewable power necessitates the crucial requirement for combined heat and power systems to possess both high efficiency and flexibility. However, the heat-controlled operation modes of traditional combined heat and power systems impose limitations on their efficiency and flexibility. Therefore, it is of great significance to develop a heat-power decoupling technology that exhibits exceptional efficiency and flexibility. A novel combined heat and power system integrated with multi-grade thermal energy storage is proposed in this study. Thermodynamic analysis models of all operational conditions are developed, and the comprehensive characteristics of efficiency and operational flexibility for the proposed system are assessed by taking a 330 MW system as an example. Results show that the proposed system can decrease/increase 16.05 MW/30.96 MW power loads comparing with the reference system during the charging/discharging periods under the design condition. Energy efficiency of the proposed system can reach 49.40 %, which is improved by 1.66 percentage points. Exergy analysis reveals the exergy destruction order for the proposed system, and shows that the combustion and heat transfer in the boiler are the major process of exergy dissipation. Moreover, operation strategies of the proposed system during charging-discharging cycle are explored and formulated under off-design condition, suggesting that thermodynamic performances of the novel system under various conditions even extreme conditions exhibits exceptional properties. The maximum heat load of the proposed system can be improved by 46.78 % comparing with the reference system, and the maximum improvement of power load capacity during charging-discharging cycle is 14.58 percentage points. This study provides a promising approach for multi-grade thermal energy storage to improve the comprehensive characteristics of combined heat and power systems.

A novel method for introducing asymmetry in pulsating heat pipes to enhance performance

The primary objective of this study is to improve the performance of a pulsating heat pipe (PHP) by introducing a novel method of incorporating asymmetry into the PHP design. This asymmetry is achieved by inserting a copper wire into one column of a single-loop PHP. Five different configurations of single-loop PHPs were created for this study: one with a uniform internal diameter (ID) of 2.5 mm (UPHP), one with dual diameters (2.5 mm and 1.8 mm ID) (DPHP), and three with a uniform ID of 2.5 mm but with varying wire diameters (0.7 mm, 1.2 mm, and 1.7 mm) inserted into one column (WAPHP). The PHPs were constructed using borosilicate glass. The performance of these PHPs was evaluated through visualization techniques and by calculating equivalent thermal resistance. A comprehensive study was conducted by varying filling ratios, inclination angles, and heat loads to understand their influence on PHP performance. The results indicate that at a 60% filling ratio, the wired asymmetric pulsating heat pipe (WAPHP) with a 1.2 mm diameter wire exhibited superior performance compared to all other tested configurations achieving a thermal resistance of 1.27 K/W. The WAPHP performed effectively up to an inclination angle of 15°. Additionally, the WAPHP with a 1.7 mm wire diameter demonstrated the earliest startup, taking just 35 s, and showed the maximum heat load capacity at a 50% filling ratio in a vertical orientation. Furthermore, dry-out did not occur in the 1.2 mm and 1.7 mm diameter WAPHPs at 50% and 60% filling ratios up to the tested heat load.

Experimental study on a novel self-driven multi-heat sinks system

This article presents a self-driven multi-heat sinks system suitable for cooling multiple heat sources simultaneously. This system can include one driving heat sink and multiple passive heat sinks. The porous medium inside the driving heat sink absorbs heat from its heat source, causing the working fluid to evaporate. The phase changing generating capillary force to drive the circulation of liquid throughout the system. The circulating working fluid flows through the fluid channels in the external passive heat sinks, carrying away the heat from the heat sources at each passive heat sink, thus simultaneously cooling multiple heat sources. This study primarily altered the connections between heat sinks, specifically connecting them in serial and parallel, forming systems with different structures. The operating characteristics of the two differently structured systems were studied through experiments. Results show that both systems effectively dissipate heat, maintaining stable operation at a maximum heat load of 100 W. By comparing the operating characteristics of each heat sink in different structures, it was found that the structure mainly affects the circulation resistance of the working fluid. In the serial system, the high circulation resistance leads to long startup times and high startup temperatures. In contrast, the parallel system effectively addresses these issues and, due to its lower internal circulation resistance, and reduces the operating temperature of the driving heat sink. The parallel system's startup time and temperature are 7% lower than the serial system, and its driving heat sink can handle an additional 10 W of heat load. However, due to the structural impact, each passive heat sink in the parallel system receives lower flow, resulting in higher operating temperatures for the passive heat sinks. Based on the research findings above, the article concludes by outlining the suitable operating conditions for different systems: series-connected and parallel-connected systems are respectively suitable for scenarios where the heat generation of multiple heat sources is similar and where it varies significantly.

Experimental investigation of a 10 kW-class flat-type loop heat pipe for waste heat recovery

A flat-type 10 kW-class loop heat pipe (LHP) with a box-type wick was designed and developed to handle the higher heat loads in waste heat recovery applications, such as industrial processing and internal combustion engines. Additionally, a numerical model was developed to predict the overall thermal performance of the LHP. The LHP used a stainless steel wick with a pore diameter of 2.0 µm and pure water as the working fluid. The LHP was tested using two types of cooling for the condenser (forced and natural convection), two types of evaporator orientations (horizontal and vertical), and with and without gravity assist (0.3 m and 0 m). For all the tests, the maximum heat load ranged from 5 kW to 10 kW, with the test with a gravity assist of 0.3 m, vertical evaporator orientation, and natural convection performing the best. This test sustained a 10 kW heat load at a steady-state temperature of 182 °C for the evaporator. During the same test, a maximum evaporative heat transfer coefficient of 92,000 W/m2/K at 4.5 kW and a thermal resistance between the evaporator and condenser value of less than 0.007 K/W was achieved. A numerical model was developed to compare the experimental results with the numerical temperature results for the heater block, evaporator, vapor line, condenser, liquid line, and compensation chamber. Overall, the average temperature difference for all components ranged from 7.1 °C to 10.6 °C, with the horizontal orientation without gravity assist and natural convection test predicting the best. The findings demonstrate that LHPs can handle the higher heat loads that are found in waste heat recovery applications for industrial processing and internal combustion engines.

Design and evaluation of integrated energy system combining solar energy and compressed-air energy storage

A new integrated energy system (IES) has been proposed by combining the cooling, heating, and power generation (CCHP) system coupled with PV/T and compressed air energy storage (CAES). Based on the developed control operation strategy, rigorous system modeling and dynamic simulation are carried out by TRNSYS to determine the integrated operation effect of each subsystem. Energy utilization efficiency and annual value of costs were adopted to assess the benefits of the system. A building in Gansu Longnan area is selected as a study case. The study results show that the proposed system can meet the building load demand well. The PV efficiency and thermal efficiency are 0.17 and 0.19, respectively. The gas ratio of CAES storage tank is 0.94, which is safe and stable. In addition, the energy utilization is maximum when the internal combustion engine proportioning capacity is 30 % of the maximum heat load, which is 89.13 %. The annual value of the cost is 2.49 × 107 RMB during 40 years of operation.

Performance evaluation on a novel split thermoelectric system driven by solar energy for electric vehicle seats

This paper proposed a novel split thermoelectric system coupled with a photovoltaic panel for electric vehicle seats. The system separates the hot and cold ends of the thermoelectric device over a long distance with the flexible intermediate conductor, which solves the problem of poor heat dissipation at the hot end resulted from the integration of traditional TEC with the vehicle seats and improves the cooling and heating performance. A three-dimensional heat transfer model was established by COMSOL software to study the temperature field and the comprehensive performance. The results demonstrate that the system can maintain the seat temperatures in 27–30 °C in summer and 18–25 °C in winter, and there exists an optimum input power to maximize the COP. In addition, the seat temperature can be reduced from 60 °C to 31 °C in just 20 min under maximum heating load. The system performance is closely linked to the structure of the middle conductors, heat dissipation, solar radiation intensity, and ambient temperature. In winter, the power consumption of the system is reduced by about 84 % compared to the positive temperature coefficient thermistor with the COP being increased by 5.17. The contribution of the photovoltaic panel based on the studied conditions can save about 215.26 kWh of energy per year, and increase the driving distance of electric vehicles by approximately 1435 km.

Experimental Study of a Novel Helix-Shaped Oscillating Heat Pipe and Design Parameters for Flow Stabilization

Abstract Abstract A novel helix-shaped oscillating heat pipe (OHP) designed for enhanced heat transfer in thermal management and heat recovery was studied experimentally. Two orientations were explored: side-heated, the intended orientation in which improved fluid circulation is expected, and bottom-heated, a control resembling traditional bottom-heated OHPs. Results showed stronger circulation, reduced temperature differences, and lower start-up thresholds in most side-heated cases. This orientation achieved higher maximum heat loads at a fill ratio of 0.5, although the maximum heat load decreased at a fill ratio of 0.7. Notably, the experimental OHP attained an effective thermal conductivity over 9,000 W m-K-1 in multiple tests and a maximum heat transport of 676 W. Additional parameters were explored including heat load, fill ratio, condenser temperature, and the presence of noncondensable gases (NCGs). NCGs increased the temperature drop as expected, but also raised the maximum heat transport, indicating potential benefits in certain applications. Elevated condenser temperatures decreased temperature drops, but also reduced maximum heat transport. A previously developed OHP performance model was expanded to evaluate the novel helix-shaped OHP. The model reasonably predicted temperature drops during degassed experiments under moderate heat loads. However, most data points fell outside the model's scope, emphasizing the need to extend it to handle condenser bubble collapse. The expanded analytical models for side-heated helix OHPs highlighted restrictions on circulation that differed from traditional, bottom-heated OHPs, which explains the superior performance of the novel design.

Numerical simulations on loss of ICRF-heated NBI ions in EAST

The loss of ion cyclotron resonance frequencies (ICRF)-heated neutral beam injection ions in experimental advanced superconducting tokamak was numerically investigated by ORBIT code simulations. The effects of collisions and ripples on particle losses were taken into account, and the distributions of fast ions generated by different beams in combination with ICRF heating were calculated using the TRANSP code. Results showed that ICRF waves altered the orbital distributions of beam ions, causing an increase in trapped ions and fast ion losses. Additionally, for co-current injected beams, perpendicular injection resulted in higher fast ion losses in synergistic heating than tangential injection. The study also found that the synergistic effect of collisions and ripples enhanced fast ion losses, which were highly localized and generated a maximum heat load of 0.165 MW m−2 on the first wall. However, conducting synergy heating experiments at high plasma currents and low effective ion charge numbers can significantly reduce the loss of fast ions.

Clean energy pipeline energy storage system and its economy

The economic problem of a clean energy heating system under a peak and valley electricity pricing system is investigated, and a pipe network energy storage system is correspondingly proposed to solve this problem. The system makes use of large-capacity primary network pipe network water storage to store heat during the valley electricity hours when the electricity price is lower, and releases the stored heat to supply heat during the peak electricity hours when the electricity price is higher, with a view to reducing the operating time of the heating system during the peak electricity hours when the electricity price is higher. The principle of the system and the efficient regulation scheme are given, and a mathematical model of primary pipe network energy storage and release is established, and the reliability of the model is verified with a heating project in Qingdao as an example, and the results show that the maximum temperature deviation of the return temperature of the primary pipe network obtained by the calculation of the energy storage and release model is 0.23 °C, and the maximum temperature hysteresis error is in 15 %, which meets the requirements of engineering practice. Based on the energy storage model, the simulation of the actual heating economy of the project using the pipe network energy storage system was carried out, and the results showed that compared with the original scheme based on the maximum heat load adjustment of the proportion of heating units and boilers, the electricity consumption of the project using the pipe network heat storage scheme was increased by 18.8 % in the whole heating season, the total operating costs were reduced by 14.5 %, with an annual saving of 800,600 yuan in operating costs, and the payback period for the investment was relatively short, at 2.1 years, which is of good economy.

Enhancing heat transfer performance of aluminum-based vapor chamber with a novel bionic wick structure fabricated using additive manufacturing

Given the lightweight nature and excellent thermal conductivity of aluminum, it offers significant potential for light-weighting of phase-change cooling components. To further enhance the thermal performance of aluminum-based vapor chambers, this study utilized selective laser melting (SLM) to design and integrally manufacture the slightly oleophilic wick for the condenser of the aluminum-based vapor chamber, along with three different superoleophilic wick structures for the evaporator: the gyroid bionic composite porous wick vapor chamber (GBCPVC), the groove composite porous wick vapor chamber (GCPVC), and the uniform porous wick vapor chamber (UPVC). A water-cooling experimental setup was established, and the effects of wick structure, cooling water flow rate, and cooling water temperature on the maximum heat load, temperature uniformity, and thermal resistance of vapor chambers were systematically investigated. The results indicated that the gyroid bionic porous wick structure significantly enhanced the thermal performance of the vapor chamber. Under the same conditions, GBCPVC exhibited lower thermal resistance and superior temperature uniformity, achieving a higher heat load than GCPVC and UPVC. When the cooling water temperature was decreased, its maximum heat load significantly increased. Specifically, at 15 °C, the maximum heat load for GBCPVC reached 300 W, an increase of 33.33 % and 53.33 % compared to 25 °C and 35 °C, respectively. Conversely, a rise in cooling water temperature enhanced the temperature uniformity and reduced thermal resistance of CBCPVC. At 35 °C and a heat load of 120 W, GBCPVC achieved a minimum thermal resistance of 0.034 K/W and a maximum temperature difference of 1.46 °C. Additionally, an increased flow rate enhanced the maximum heat load of GBCPVC, and under high heat loads, it could also reduce the thermal resistance and improve temperature uniformity. This study provides new insights and solutions for the thermal management of phase-change cooling components in aerospace electronic devices.

Innovative Thermal Management System for Electric Vehicle Batteries: Phase Change Material, Heat Pipe and Heat Sink Box Integration

The adoption of electric vehicles has significantly contributed to the reduction of greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. However, the high heat release generated by the vehicle batteries poses a challenge. To tackle this issue, a passive cooling thermal management system was developed for the batteries, utilizing a combination of a heat sink box, phase change material, and heat pipe. Phase change material of soy wax was employed as the cooling medium, alongside an L-shaped heat pipe equipped with fins. Temperature measurements were conducted using a type-K thermocouple connected to the NI DAQ 9214 module, while the electric current power varied between 1.2 and 52.5 W. The results demonstrate that the implementation of heat pipes in the battery thermal management system led to temperature reductions of approximately 31%, while the utilization of box heat sinks resulted in temperature decreases of up to about 40% compared to cases without passive cooling. Moreover, when combining the heat sink box with soy wax phase change material and heat pipe, the temperature dropped by about 66% under maximum heat load conditions. This integrated approach showcases the effectiveness of a passive cooling method for battery thermal management in electric vehicles, particularly as soy wax’s melting temperature aligns with the recommended working temperature range of the batteries.

Numerical Study on Peak Shaving Performance of Combined Heat and Power Unit Assisted by Heating Storage in Long-Distance Pipelines Scheduled by Particle Swarm Optimization Method

Thermal energy storage in long-distance heating supply pipelines can improve the peak shaving and frequency regulation capabilities of combined heat and power (CHP) units participating in the power grid. In this study, a one-dimensional numerical model was established to predict the thermal lag in long-distance pipelines at different scale levels. The dynamic response of the temperature at the end of the heating pipeline was considered. For the one-way pipe lengths of 10 km, 15 km and 20 km, the response times of the temperature at the distal end were 2.33 h, 2.94 h and 3.54 h, respectively. The longer the flow period, the further the warming-up time is delayed. An optimization scheduling approach was also created to illustrate the peak shaving capabilities of a CHP unit combined with a long-distance pipeline thermal energy storage component. It was demonstrated that the maximum heating load of the unit increased up to 503.08 MW, and the heating load could be expanded in the range of 17.88 MW to 203.76 MW at the minimum electric load of the unit of 104.08 MW. Finally, the particle swarm optimization method was adopted to guide the operating strategy through a whole day to meet both the electric power and heating power requirements. For the optimized case, the comprehensive energy utilization efficiency and the exergy efficiency increase to 64.4% and 56.73%. The thermal energy storage applications based on long-distance pipelines were simulated quantitively and proved to be effective in promoting the operational flexibility of the CHP unit.

Study on heat transfer characteristics of a dual-evaporator ultra-thin loop heat pipe for laptop cooling

The thermal management of laptops is challenged by the presence of multiple heat sources with non-uniform distribution and limited space for heat dissipation. This paper proposes the application of a 1 mm thickness dual-evaporator ultra-thin loop heat pipe (DE-UTLHP) for cooling laptops. The start-up performance and steady-state heat transfer performance of the dual-evaporator ultra-thin loop heat pipes were studied under equal or unequal heat loads. The results show that successful set-up can be achieved within the range of heat loads from 5 W–5 W to 20 W–20 W in the horizontal orientation. And it can achieve a maximum heat load of up to 22 W–22 W and a minimum thermal resistance of 0.69 °C/W. Furthermore, it was found that it exhibited better heat transfer performance in the vertical orientation compared to the horizontal orientation. The proposed dual-evaporator ultra-thin loop heat pipes can convert isolated and dispersed direct heat dissipation into centralized and integrated thermal management for future laptops.

Experimental investigation of heat transfer characteristics in a miniature flat heat pipe with multi-channels

The heat transfer characteristics of a miniatured flat heat pipe (MFHP) with multi-channels, featuring a port diameter of 1.18 mm, is investigated experimentally. Various operating parameters are considered, including the working fluid volume (Vf = 1.5, 2.5, and 3.5 ml), length of the liquid reservoir (Lres = No reservoir, 5, and 10 mm), orientation such as axial face (αa) or lateral side (αl), inclination angles (α = −15 to 90o), and cooling water flow rates (ṁi = 10, 15, and 20 LPH). Based on the experiments, the optimal values for the working fluid volume, reservoir length, and flow rate are determined as Vf = 2.5 ml, Lres = 5 mm, and ṁi = 20 LPH, respectively. Further analysis reveals that, the heat dissipation rate for the axial face is significantly higher than that of the lateral side, with an average percentage increase of 35.4 %. However, the lateral side outperforms the axial face in terms of stabilizing the evaporator wall temperature, reducing fluctuations by an average of 24.5 %. Moreover, the presence of multi-channels allows the MFHP in axial face orientation to dissipate a maximum heat load of 15 W against gravity at an inclination angle of αa = −15o. Finally, the variations in MFHP operation based on the orientation and its underlying physical mechanisms that contribute to enhancing heat transfer are discussed.

신재생 에너지 최적 활용을 위한 축열조 온도 예측 모델 연구

Recently, energy consumption for heating costs, which is 35% of smart farm energy costs, has increased, requiring energy consumption efficiency, and the importance of new and renewable energy is increasing due to concerns about the realization of electricity bills. Renewable energy belongs to hydropower, wind, and solar power, of which solar energy is a power generation technology that converts it into electrical energy, and this technology has less impact on the environment and is simple to maintain. In this study, based on the greenhouse heat storage tank and heat pump data, the factors that affect the heat storage tank are selected and a heat storage tank supply temperature prediction model is developed. It is predicted using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), which is effective for time series data analysis and prediction, and XGBoost model, which is superior to other ensemble learning techniques. By predicting the temperature of the heat pump heat storage tank, energy consumption may be optimized and system operation may be optimized. In addition, we intend to link it to the smart farm energy integrated operation system, such as reducing heating and cooling costs and improving the energy independence of farmers due to the use of solar power. By managing the supply of waste heat energy through the platform and deriving the maximum heating load and energy values required for crop growth by season and time, an optimal energy management plan is derived based on this.

Performance tests on triple composite mesh-groove-powder wicks in a visualizable flat-plate heat pipe

Two types of novel triple composite mesh-groove-powder wicks are proposed and tested in a visualizable flat-plate heat pipe. The powders are only added in the evaporator in the triple composite wicks to increase the capillarity therein. Outside the evaporator is the mesh-groove wick, with a layer of 200-mesh copper screen sintered over parallel grooves, which has been shown to exhibit high permeability and anti-gravity ability. The first type (Triple A) is to add powders in the mesh-groove wick at the evaporator section, while the second type (Triple B) contains an evaporator with only copper powders. The parallel grooves have a semi-elliptic cross-section with a width of 0.18 mm and a depth of 0.075 mm. According to visualization, the powders in the mesh-groove evaporator appear to increase the flow resistance and prompt partial dry-out in some grooves at high heat loads. The experiment results for the Triple B wick with a powder-only evaporator demonstrate a maximum heat load (Qmax) 20 % higher than that for the double mesh-groove wick at the horizontal orientation, with evaporator resistances also slightly higher. However, the Triple A wick, with powders added in the mesh-groove evaporator, displays a slightly lower Qmax than the original mesh-groove evaporator due to the excessive flow resistance associated with powder-filled meshed grooves.

Experimental study on evaporation heat transfer characteristics of multi-composite porous wick with three different powders

Based on our previous research, the composite porous wick with spherical-dendritic powders owns biporous structure and uneven local thermal conductivity. In this paper, a multi-composite porous wick sintered with three different materials and structures of spherical copper, spherical nickel and dendritic nickel is tested. The spherical copper is beneficial to expansion of the evaporation heat transfer area, the dendritic nickel can provide sufficient liquid for evaporation, and the spherical nickel is used to regulate the distribution of spherical-dendritic powders and large pores. Through the evaporation heat transfer experiment, it is found that there are five different types of operating temperature and evaporation mass curves, including continuous and intermittent overshoot, single overshoot, stable operation and temperature losing control. The occurrence of the overshoot is affected by the bubble behavior in the bottom of the porous wick. And two types of the vapor–liquid interface behavior occur in the overshoot operation, in which the porous wick is penetrated by a single bubble or the evaporating interface, respectively. The multi-composite porous wick can reach a maximum heat load of 520 W (the corresponding heat flux is 43.5 W/cm2), and the highest heat transfer coefficient of the open capillary evaporator can reach 2776.1 W/(m2·K), with the lowest total thermal resistance is 0.3089 K/W at 500 W heat load. As a reference using a composite porous wick prepared with spherical copper powder and dendritic nickel powder of the same volume ratio, its maximum heat load is only 210 W (the corresponding heat flux is 17.6 W/cm2). The multi-composite porous wick shows better evaporation heat transfer performance. After the evaporation heat transfer experiment, the oxidized multi-composite porous wick still shows good wettability. It is inferred that a mixed wetting structure is formed inside it due to the composite structure sintered by three kinds of metal powders, which may be beneficial for improving the evaporation heat transfer performance of the multi-composite porous wick. In addition, the conditions such as lower effective thermal conductivity, more uneven local thermal conductivity, and large pores provided by the unchanged spherical nickel powder may also play a role.

A Numerical Investigation of the Thermal Performance of a Gabion Building Envelope in Cold Regions with a Mountainous Climate

Applying rock-filled gabion to buildings in cold regions with mountainous climates has multiple potentials, such as utilizing rock resources, improving building sustainability and saving building energy. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the thermal performance of gabion buildings. Based on the CFD method, this paper establishes a numerical model of buildings with gabion enclosure structures, analyzes the influence of the gabion structure on the external convective heat transfer coefficient (CHTC), wind pressure, air infiltration, room temperature and building load, and further uses the building energy consumption simulation method to analyze the heat load of gabion buildings. The results showed that the adverse impact of climate on the building thermal performance is significantly diminished by the gabion. Under different weather conditions, the CHTC, the maximum wind pressure difference on the exterior surface, and the air infiltration rate are reduced by different rates. Further, the room base temperature increases throughout the heating season, and the maximum heat load and the cumulative heat load of the building are, respectively, reduced by 10.6% and 24.8%. This work revealed that the gabion is an eco-friendly and adaptive measure to improve thermal performance and indoor thermal comfort.

Three-heat-reservoir thermal Brownian heat transformer and its performance limits

Waste heat recovery has great value in energy saving and decreasing environmental pollution. A three-heat-reservoir (THR) heat transformer can raise waste heat to a higher temperature for recovering and reusing easily. At present, the research on THR heat transformer is mainly focusing on macro field. This paper extends the THR heat transformer cycle to micro field, and models a THR thermal Brownian heat transformer. The model is a combined cycle of a thermal Brownian heat pump driven by a thermal Brownian engine. According to non-equilibrium thermodynamics, the analytical expressions for heating load and coefficient of performance (COP) are derived. The coupling relation of the combined cycle is obtained by solving the heat balance equation, and the operating mechanism of the new cycle is explained. The external load, barrier height, potential asymmetry and temperature ratio effects on system performances are studied, and the maximum heating load and corresponding COP are given. The optimal operating range and performance limits are obtained. Results show that the THR thermal Brownian heat transformer can raise the “heat” to a higher temperature. The heating load can reach peak value by modulating the design parameters carefully. The system operates in a quasi-static state and the heating load is zero when COP increases to its upper bound, and the system is reversible at this time. The new model proposed in this paper can guide the design of actual device, and the performance limit can guide the performance optimization of the actual device.