It is a well-known phenomenon that during Marangoni condensation of binary mixtures, a small concentration of more volatile constituent with smaller surface tension gives significant heat transfer enhancements. This is due to surface tension gradients causing instability in condensate film, resulting in a pseudo-dropwise mode of condensation which resembles closely to dropwise condensation of pure fluid on the hydrophobic surface, consequently, the film gets thinner with lower thermal resistance across the condensate film and thus higher heat transfer coefficient is achieved. Marangoni condensation of steam-ethanol mixtures has been widely investigated in the past. However, Marangoni condensation of self-rewetting fluids e.g. steam-butanol is yet to be investigated where the constituent in a small concentration is a less volatile component. Marangoni condensation of steam-ethanol, steam-butanol and steam-propanol mixtures has been investigated on a horizontal smooth tube at an atmospheric pressure. For all experiments, concentrations by mass in the boiler feed when cold prior to start of the experiment were 0.001%, 0.005%, 0.01%, 0.025%, 0.05%, 0.1%, 0.5% and 1.0%. The coolant temperature rise was measured accurately with a ten-junction thermopile. Tube wall temperature was measured using four thermocouples embedded in the test tube wall. Effects of pressure and vapour velocity over a wide range of vapour-to-surface temperature difference have been investigated. Care was taken to avoid error due to the presence of air in the vapour. Marangoni condensation of steam-butanol and steam propanol mixtures show significant heat transfer enhancements compared with that of steam-ethanol mixtures. Higher Heat flux and heat-transfer coefficients were observed. For the steam-ethanol mixtures, enhancement ratio (heat flux or heat-transfer coefficient divided by the corresponding value for pure steam condensation on a horizontal smooth tube for the same vapour-to-surface temperature difference and vapour velocity) of 5.5 was found at an ethanol concentration of 0.01%. For steam-butanol mixtures, the maximum enhancement ratio was found to be 11 at a concentration of 0.005% and 0.01%. For steam-propanol mixtures, the maximum enhancement ratio of 8.5 was found at the same mass concentrations as steam-butanol mixtures. Enhancement ratio was generally higher at lower ethanol concentrations, increases at first with increasing vapour-to-surface temperature difference and subsequently decreases at high vapour-to-surface temperature difference. Finally, a semi-empirical model was proposed to predict the Marangoni condensation of steam-ethanol mixtures based on the vapour phase diffusion theory of Sparrow and Marchall (1969) and pure steam dropwise theory of Rose (2002).

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Spray cooling is a promising technique which is used to remove large amounts of heat from surfaces. It is characterized by uniform heat removal, low droplet impact velocity and better cooling efficiency when compared to other cooling schemes. It can be used in electronic cooling, and other applications. However, due to the multiple impacts of droplets, the film fluid dynamics and morphology are quite complicated. Moreover, the effect of heat transfer under spray cooling is not well understood due to the large number of interdependent variables such as impact spacing, impact angle, droplet diameter, droplet velocity and droplet frequency to name a few. An experimental approach is proposed and used to minimize and control key independent variables to determine their effects on surface temperature and heat transfer cooling mode. The effects of droplet impact angle and spacing on different heat flux conditions are studied. The film thickness is also obtained to further investigate the relationship between the independent variable and the observed heat transfer mechanism. The study of coherent droplet impingement on an open surface is experimentally characterized using high speed imaging and infrared thermography. Single stream droplet impingent cooling with different impact angle is also studied. Temperature distribution and impact crater morphology are obtained under different heat flux conditions. Film thickness inside droplet impact craters is measured to understand the relationship between minimum surface temperature and film thickness. Next, double streams droplet impingement cooling with different spacings and impact angles are investigated. The optimum spacing is found to reduce the droplet-to-droplet collision and to minimize splashing, resulting in enhanced heat transfer and better use of the cooling fluid. The film thickness is also measured to understand the relationship between the heat transfer results and the controllable independent variables. The results and conclusions of this study are useful in understanding the physics of spray cooling and can be applied to design better spray cooling systems.

SuperCritical-Water-cooled Reactors (SCWRs) are being developed as one of the Generation-IV nuclear-reactor concepts. Main objectives of the development are to increase thermal efficiency of a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) and to decrease capital and operational costs. The first objective can be achieved by introducing nuclear steam reheat inside a reactor and utilizing regenerative feedwater heaters. The second objective can be achieved by designing a steam cycle that closely matches that of the mature supercritical fossil-fuelled power plants. The feasibility of these objectives is discussed. As a part of this discussion, heat-transfer calculations have been performed and analyzed for SuperCritical-Water (SCW) and SuperHeated-Steam (SHS) channels of the proposed reactor concept. In the calculations a uniform and three non-uniform Axial Heat Flux Profiles (AHFPs) were considered for six different fuels (UO2, ThO2, MOX, UC2, UC, and UN) and at average and maximum channel power. Bulk-fluid, sheath, and fuel centerline temperatures as well as the Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) profiles were obtained along the fuel-channel length. The HTC values are within a range of 4.7 – 20 kW/m2⋅K and 9.7 – 10 kW/m2⋅K for the SCW and SHS channels respectively. The main conclusion is that while all the mentioned fuels may be used for the SHS channel, only UC2, UC, or UN are suitable for a SCW channel, because their fuel centerline temperatures are at least 1000°C below melting point, while that of UO2, ThO2, and MOX may reach melting point. / UOIT

Current CANDU-type nuclear reactors use a once-through fuel-channel with an annulus gas insulating it from the moderator. The current reference design for a CANDU-type SuperCritical Water-Cooled Reactor (SCWR) is to eliminate the annulus gap and use a ceramic insert to insulate the coolant from the moderator. While such a design may work, alternative fuel-channel design concepts are under development to explore the optimum efficiency of SCWRs. One such alternative approach is called the Re-Entrant fuel-channel. The Re-Entrant fuel-channel consists of three tubes, the inner tube (flow tube), pressure tube and an outer tube. The fuel bundles are placed in the inner tube. An annulus is formed between the flow and pressure tubes, through which the primary coolant flows. A ceramic insulator is placed between the pressure tube and the outer tube. The coolant flows through the annulus receiving heat from the inner tube from one end of the channel to another. At the far end, the flow will reverse direction and enter the inner tube, and hence the fuel-string. At the inlet, the temperature is 350°C for a high-pressure coolant (pressure of 25 MPa), which is just below the pseudocritical point. At the outlet, the temperature is about 625ºC at the same pressure (the pressure drop is small and can be neglected). The objective of this work was to design the Re-Entrant channel and to estimate the heat loss to the moderator for the proposed new fuel-channel design. A numerical model was developed and MATLAB was used to calculate the heat loss from the insulated Re-Entrant fuel-channel along with the temperature profiles and the heat transfer coefficients for a given set of flow, pressure, temperature and power boundary conditions. Thermophysical properties were obtained from NIST REFPROP software. With the results from the numerical model, the design of the Re-Entrant fuelchannel was optimized to improve its efficiency / UOIT

Chosen as one of six Generation‒IV nuclear-reactor concepts, SuperCritical Water-cooled Reactors (SCWRs) are expected to have high thermal efficiencies within the range of 45 ‒ 50% owing to the reactor‟s high pressures and outlet temperatures. The behaviour of supercritical water however, is not well understood and most of the methods available to predict the effects of the heat transfer phenomena within the pseudocritical region are based on empirical one-directional correlations which do not capture the multi-dimensional effects and do not provide accurate results in regions such as the deteriorated heat transfer regime. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) is a numerical approach to model fluids in multidimensional space using the Navier-Stokes equations and databases of fluid properties to arrive at a full simulation of a fluid dynamics and heat transfer system. In this work, the CFD code, FLUENT-12, is used with associated software such as Gambit and NIST REFPROP to predict the Heat Transfer Coefficients at the wall and corresponding wall temperature profiles inside vertical bare tubes with SuperCritical Water (SCW) as the cooling medium. The numerical results are compared with experimental data and 1-D models represented by existing empirical correlations. Analysis of the individual heat-transfer regimes is conducted using an axisymmetric 2-D model of tubes of various lengths and composed of different nodes count along the heated length. Wall temperatures and heat transfer coefficients were analyzed to select the best model for each region (below, at and above the pseudocritical region). To neutralize effects of the rest of the tube on that region, smaller meshes were used were possible. Two turbulent models were used in the process: k-ε and k-ω, with many variations in the sub-model parameters such as viscous heating, thermal effects, and low-Reynolds number correction. Results of the analysis show a fit of ±10% for the wall temperatures using the SST k-ω model in the deteriorated heat transfer regime and less than ±5% for the normal heat transfer regime. The accuracy of the model is higher than any empirical correlation tested in the mentioned regimes, and provides additional information about the multidimensional effects between the bulk-fluid and wall temperatures. Despite the improved prediction capability, the numerical solutions indicate that further work is necessary. Each region has a different numerical model and the CFD code cannot cover the entire range in one comprehensive model. Additionally, some of the trends and transitions predicted are difficult to accept as representation of the true physics of SCW flow conditions. While CFD can be used to develop preliminary design solutions for SCW type reactors, a significant effort in experimental work to measure the actual phenomena is important to make further advancements in CFD based analysis of SCW fluid behaviour. / UOIT

Modelling the energy exchange between the snowpack and the atmosphere is critical for many hydrological applications. Of the terms present in the snow energy balance, the turbulent fluxes of sensible and latent heat are the most challenging to estimate, particularly within mountain environments where the hydrological importance is great. Many of the flux estimation techniques, such as the bulk transfer method, are poorly adapted for use in complex terrain. In order to characterize the turbulence and to assess the suitability of flux estimation techniques, eddy covariance flux measurements and supporting meteorological data were collected from two mountain valley forest openings in Kananaskis Country, AB. These sites were generally calm, however wind gusts were frequently observed which markedly affected the turbulence characteristics and increased the rates of momentum and heat transfer. In order to successfully apply the bulk transfer technique at these sites, it was necessary to use environment-specific transfer coefficients to account for the effect of the surrounding complex terrain. These observations were compared with data collected on a treeless alpine ridge near Whitehorse, YT, where it was found that many of the turbulence characteristics were similar to flat sites. However, the boundary layer formed over the alpine ridge was very thin and the site was poorly suited for estimating surface fluxes. The mountain results were further contrasted with data collected over a homogeneous and flat prairie site located near Saskatoon, SK. This site included measurement of all of the snow energy terms, permitting an estimate of the energy balance closure obtainable over snow surfaces. The observed energy balance residual was very large, indicating that the eddy covariance technique was unable to capture all of the turbulent energy. It was concluded that an unmeasured transfer of sensible heat was occurring which was strongly correlated with the long-wave radiation balance. Mechanisms for this relationship were hypothesized. Two snow energy balance models were used to investigate the energy imbalance, where it was observed that the flux terms could be suitably simulated if effective parameters were used to augment the sensible heat transfer rate. The results from this thesis contribute to the understanding of heat transfer processes over snow surfaces during mid-winter conditions and improve the ability to model turbulent heat and mass fluxes from snow surfaces in complex environments.

Experiments were performed to study forced convective heat transfer of de-ionized water (DI water) and aqueous nanofluids flowing in a microchannel. An array of temperature nanosensors, called “Thin Film Thermocouples (TFT)”, was utilized for performing the experimental measurements. TFT arrays were designed (which included design of photomask layout), microfabricated, packaged and assembled for testing with the experimental apparatus. Heat removal rates from the heated surface to the different testing fluids were measured by varying the coolant flow rates, wall temperatures, nanoparticle material, nanoparticle morphology (shape and nanoparticle size) as well as mass concentrations of nanoparticles in the coolants. Anomalous thermal behavior was observed in the forced convective heat transfer experiments. Precipitation of the nanoparticles on the heat exchanging surface was monitored using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Energy Dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy (EDX). Isolated precipitation of nanoparticles is expected to cause formation of “nanofins” leading to enhancement of surface area and thus resulting in enhanced convective heat transfer to the nanofluid coolants. However, excessive precipitation (caused due to the agglomeration of the nanoparticles in the nanofluid coolant) causes scaling (fouling) of the heat exchanging surfaces and thus results in degradation of convective heat transfer. This study shows that the surface morphology plays a crucial role in determining the efficacy of convective heat transfer involving suspensions of nanoparticles in coolants (or nanofluids). Flow visualization and quantitative estimation of near-wall temperature profiles were performed using quantum dots and fluorescent dyes. This non-contact measurement technique for temperature and flow profiles in microchannels using quantum dots is expected to make pioneering contribution to the field of experimental flow visualization and to the study of micro/nano-scale heat transfer phenomena, particularly for forced convective heat transfer of various coolants, including nanofluids. Logical extensions of this study were explored and future directions were proposed. Preliminary experiments to demonstrate feasibility showed significant enhancement in the flow boiling heat flux values for nanofluids compared to that of pure solvent (DIW). Based on the novel phenomena observed in this study several other topics for future research were suggested, such as, using Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) platforms to monitor precipitation of nanoparticles on microchannel surfaces in real time (e.g., for generating surface isotherms).

Modelling the energy exchange between the snowpack and the atmosphere is critical for many hydrological applications. Of the terms present in the snow energy balance, the turbulent fluxes of sensible and latent heat are the most challenging to estimate, particularly within mountain environments where the hydrological importance is great. Many of the flux estimation techniques, such as the bulk transfer method, are poorly adapted for use in complex terrain. In order to characterize the turbulence and to assess the suitability of flux estimation techniques, eddy covariance flux measurements and supporting meteorological data were collected from two mountain valley forest openings in Kananaskis Country, AB. These sites were generally calm, however wind gusts were frequently observed which markedly affected the turbulence characteristics and increased the rates of momentum and heat transfer. In order to successfully apply the bulk transfer technique at these sites, it was necessary to use environment-specific transfer coefficients to account for the effect of the surrounding complex terrain. These observations were compared with data collected on a treeless alpine ridge near Whitehorse, YT, where it was found that many of the turbulence characteristics were similar to flat sites. However, the boundary layer formed over the alpine ridge was very thin and the site was poorly suited for estimating surface fluxes. The mountain results were further contrasted with data collected over a homogeneous and flat prairie site located near Saskatoon, SK. This site included measurement of all of the snow energy terms, permitting an estimate of the energy balance closure obtainable over snow surfaces. The observed energy balance residual was very large, indicating that the eddy covariance technique was unable to capture all of the turbulent energy. It was concluded that an unmeasured transfer of sensible heat was occurring which was strongly correlated with the long-wave radiation balance. Mechanisms for this relationship were hypothesized. Two snow energy balance models were used to investigate the energy imbalance, where it was observed that the flux terms could be suitably simulated if effective parameters were used to augment the sensible heat transfer rate. The results from this thesis contribute to the understanding of heat transfer processes over snow surfaces during mid-winter conditions and improve the ability to model turbulent heat and mass fluxes from snow surfaces in complex environments.

Steel is the mother of industry, and is also an energy consumption intensive industry. Since the energy crisis, the various countries iron and steel plants positively take each energy frugal measure in order to reduce the fuel and the electric power consumption. In the iron and steel plant comparatively consumes the energy the system regulation equipment is the reheating furnace, so to save energy in a reheating furnace and reduce the energy consumption become one of important topics. The reduction consumes energy the countermeasure aspect may by analyze the heat transfer model and the change reheating furnace characteristic begins. In this thesis, we will build a simulation system of reheating furnace to analysis the temperature change of slab in a reheating furnace and discussion energy consumption factor. And then we use the thermal balance model to analysis the situation of fuel consumption. According to different conditions, we want to discuss the relationships energy consumption and increasing temperature of slab inside furnace.