Integration of constructal distributors to a mini crossflow heat exchanger and their assembly configuration optimization

Luo, Lingai; Fan, Yilin; Zhang, Weiwei; Yuan, Xin; Midoux, N.

doi:10.1016/j.ces.2007.02.058

Cited by 50 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 32 publications

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“…This nonsymmetrical phenomenon is also observed and explained in our previous research. 21 However, the difference is not very significant compared with the total pressure drop under turbulent flow conditions.…”

Section: Pressure Dropmentioning

confidence: 95%

“…The previous studies 21,22 found that the heat exchanger had better thermal performance and relative low pressure drops, whereas its outlet surface was equipped with a constructal collector (PEC). Now we try to explain this phenomenon explicitly from the flow distribution point of view.…”

Section: Flow Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…After that, polymer constructal distributor prototypes were assembled with a mini crossflow heat-exchanger to evaluate the effects of flow distribution on its thermal and hydraulic performances by experiments 22 and by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations. 21 The preliminary results indicate that the integration of constructal distributor/collector can, to some extent, equalize the flow distribution and consequently enhance the heat transfer under laminar flow condition. The integration of one constructal collector at the outlet surface of the heat exchanger shows a better thermal performance.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Flow distribution property of the constructal distributor and heat transfer intensification in a mini heat exchanger

Fan¹,

Boichot²,

Goldin³

et al. 2008

AIChE Journal

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International audienceThis article reports a numerical and experimental study on flow maldistribution and heat transfer intensification in a mini heat exchanger with constructal distributor/collector integrated. The flow distribution characteristics of the constructal component functioning as a fluid distributor or as a fluid collector have been investigated and compared using computational fluid dynamics simulations. An experimental setup is designed and constructed for thermal and hydraulic performances tests. The effects of various assembly configurations on heat transfer characteristics and pressure drops are discussed. The results indicate that the integration of one constructal collector at the outlet of the heat exchanger can achieve almost uniform flow distribution and consequently better intensify the heat transfer. It is also the most advantageous configuration based on a balanced consideration of heat transfer intensification and pump power consumption under the investigation conditions

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Section: Pressure Dropmentioning

confidence: 95%

Section: Flow Distributionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 97%

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Flow distribution property of the constructal distributor and heat transfer intensification in a mini heat exchanger

Fan¹,

Boichot²,

Goldin³

et al. 2008

AIChE Journal

Self Cite

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“…Various tree-like (or arborescent) distributors were designed to deliver a certain quantity of fluid from a single inlet to a series of parallel channels evenly spaced on a line (point-to-line problem, Ajmera et al, 2002;Barber and Emerson, 2008;Wang and Wang, 2007;Yue et al, 2010;Liu and Li, 2013;Tarlet et al, 2014), on a surface (point-to-surface problem, Luo, 2004, Fan et al, 2008b;Chen et al, 2010;Tondeur and Menetrieux, 2011;TesaĜ, 2011;Guo et al, 2013), or to a volume to be drained (point-to-volume problem, Gheorghiu et al, 2005;Tondeur et al, 2009). It is known that multi-scale tree-like distributor could provide better flow distribution uniformity preferentially for laminar flow (Luo et al, 2007;Luo et al, 2008). When the flowrate increases, tree-like distributors become less efficient mainly due to the influence of inertial force.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 98%

Heuristic shape optimization of baffled fluid distributor for uniform flow distribution

Luo

Wei

Fan

et al. 2015

Chemical Engineering Science

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International audienceThis paper presents a CFD-based, heuristic evolutionary algorithm for shape design and optimization of baffled fluid distributor. In this algorithm, the baffle surface is firstly divided into numerous identical control areas (volumes), each control area having an orifice in the middle. Under the constraint of constant global porosity of the baffle, the algorithm adjusts the size distribution of orifices so as to approach identical mass flowrate passing through every control area. An automatic program is processed iteratively so that the baffle configuration evolves toward the optimized shape, providing a uniform flow distribution among parallel outlet channels.To illustrate the principles and procedure of this algorithm, a 2D example of baffled fluid distributor is introduced and tested. Numerical results show that this algorithm can successfully reach uniform flow distribution with a small pressure drop increase. Sensitivity analysis also shows that this algorithm is robust, effective, general and flexible compared to traditional arbitrary or empirical propositions. A parametric study of influencing design parameters on the performance of the algorithm is carried out in order to provide some design guidelines. Finally, the theoretical basis and essential steps for the extension of the current algorithm to tackle 3D problem are established. The easy implementation of this simply solution for the general fluid maldistribution problem demonstrates its promising application in real engineering field

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“…The research of multi-objective optimization includes the optimization of convective heat transfer by taking fluid flow resistance minimization and thermal resistance minimization into account simultaneously [83,84] and various tree-shaped heat exchangers [85][86][87], the optimization of hot water pipe network by taking pumping power minimization and heat loss minimization into account simultaneously [88], the optimization of solid-gas chemical reactor by taking high density of chemical reaction and low pumping power into account simultaneously [89,90], etc. Especially, Lorente and Bejan [91] studied the constructal optimization of an insulating wall by combining heat transfer and strength, and exploited a new direction called multidisciplinary constructal optimization.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Constructal optimization of a vertical insulating wall based on a complex objective combining heat flow and strength

Xie

Chen

Sun

2010

Sci. China Technol. Sci.

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For a vertical insulating wall, a product function of heat flow and strength with power weight is introduced as the complex optimization objective to compromise between insulating performance and mechanical performance. Under the global constraints of fixed external dimensions and safety requirements, the constructal optimization of the wall is carried out by taking the complex function maximization as the objective. It is shown that the maximum of the complex-objective function and its corresponding optimal internal structure design under a certain environmental condition can be obtained by allowing the internal structure of the wall to vary (evolve) freely. The validity, effectivity and applicability of the complex function are proved by the results and the power weight parameter in the range from 0.4 to 4 can compromise between the requirements of insulating and strength simultaneously and preferably. The constructal optimization with coequal attention to heat flow and strength and the corresponding results are discussed in detail. The optimal structure design and the corresponding performance analyses under various environmental conditions of application are presented. When the change of environment is greater and the total Rayleigh number is bigger, the insulating wall with large number of cavities should be employed. When the total Rayleigh number is small, the better performance can be obtained by reasonably employing the insulating wall with small number of cavities. The complex function has better self-adaptability, and the results in the recent literature are special cases of this paper. constructal theory, insulating wall, multidiscipline, generalized thermodynamic optimization Citation:Xie Z H, Chen L G, Sun F R. Constructal optimization of a vertical insulating wall based on a complex objective combining heat flow and strength.

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Integration of constructal distributors to a mini crossflow heat exchanger and their assembly configuration optimization

Cited by 50 publications

References 32 publications

Flow distribution property of the constructal distributor and heat transfer intensification in a mini heat exchanger

Flow distribution property of the constructal distributor and heat transfer intensification in a mini heat exchanger

Heuristic shape optimization of baffled fluid distributor for uniform flow distribution

Constructal optimization of a vertical insulating wall based on a complex objective combining heat flow and strength

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