Thesis (MScIng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: As the demand for less expensive energy is increasing world-wide, energy conservation is becoming a more-and-more important economic consideration. In light of this, means to recover energy from waste fluid streams is also becoming more-and-more important. An efficient and cost effective means of conserving energy is to recover heat from a low temperature waste fluid stream and use this heat to preheat another process stream. Heat pipe heat exchangers (HPHEs) are devices capable of cost effectively salvaging wasted energy in this way. HPHEs are liquid-coupled indirect transfer type heat exchangers except that the HPHE employs heat pipes or thermosyphons as the major heat transfer mechanism from the high temperature to the low-temperature fluid. The primary advantage of using a HPHE is that it does not require an external pump to circulate the coupling fluid. The hot and cold streams can also be completely isolated preventing cross-contamination of the fluids. In addition, the HPHE has no moving parts. In this thesis, the development of a range of air-to-air HPHEs is investigated. Such an investigation involved the theoretical modelling of HPHEs such that a demonstration unit could be designed, installed in a practical industrial application and then evaluated by considering various financial aspects such as initial costs, running costs and energy savings. To develop the HPHE theoretical model, inside heat transfer coefficients for the evaporator and condenser sections of thermosyphons were investigated with R134a and Butane as two separate working fluids. The experiments on the thermosyphons were undertaken at vertical and at an inclination angle of 45° to the horizontal. Different diameters were considered and evaporator to condenser length ratios kept constant. The results showed that R134a provided for larger heat transfer rates than the Butane operated thermosyphons for similar temperature differences despite the fact that the latent heat of vaporization for Butane is higher than that of R134a. As an example, a R134a charged thermosyphon yielded heat transfer rates in the region of 1160 W whilst the same thermosyphon charged with Butane yielded heat transfer rates in the region of 730 W at 23 °C . Results also showed that higher heat transfer rates were possible when the thermosyphons operated at 45°. Typically, for a thermosyphon with a diameter of 31.9 mm and an evaporator to condenser length ratio of 0.24, an increase in the heat transfer rate of 24 % could be achieved. Theoretical inside heat transfer coefficients were also formulated which were found to correlate reasonably well with most proposed correlations. However, an understanding of the detailed two-phase flow and heat transfer behaviour of the working fluid inside thermosyphons is difficult to model. Correlations proposing this behaviour were formulated and include the use of R134a and Butane as the working fluids. The correlations were formulated from thermosyphons of diameters of 14.99 mm, 17.272 mm, 22.225 mm and 31.9 mm. The evaporator to condenser length ratio for the 31.9 mm diameter thermosyphon was 0.24 whilst the other thermosyphons had ratios of 1. The heat fluxes ranged from 1800-43500 W/m2. The following theoretical inside heat transfer coefficients were proposed for vertical and inclined operations (READ CORRECT FORMULA IN FULL TEXT ABSTRACT) φ = 90° ei h = 3.4516x105Ja−0.855Ku1.344 φ = 45° ei h = 1.4796x105Ja−0.993Ku1.3 φ = 90° l l l ci l l v h x k g 1/ 3 2.05 2 4.61561 109Re 0.364 ν ρ ρ ρ − ⎡ ⎡ ⎛ ⎞⎤ ⎤ = ⎢ ⎢ ⎜ ⎟⎥ ⎥ ⎢ ⎢ ⎜ − ⎟⎥ ⎥ ⎣ ⎣ ⎝ ⎠⎦ ⎦ φ = 45° l l l ci l l v h x k g 1/ 3 1.916 2 3.7233 10 5Re 0.136 ν ρ ρ ρ − ⎡ ⎡ ⎛ ⎞⎤ ⎤ = ⎢ ⎢ ⎜ ⎟⎥ ⎥ ⎢ ⎢ ⎜ − ⎟⎥ ⎥ ⎣ ⎣ ⎝ ⎠⎦ ⎦ The theoretically modelled demonstration HPHE was installed into an existing air drier system. Heat recoveries of approximately 8.8 kW could be recovered for the hot waste stream with a hot air mass flow rate of 0.55 kg/s at an inlet temperature of 51.64 °C and outlet temperature of 35.9 °C in an environment of 20 °C. Based on this recovery, energy savings of 32.18 % could be achieved and a payback period for the HPHE was calculated in the region of 3.3 years. It is recommended that not withstanding the accuracies of roughly 25 % achieved by the theoretically predicted correlations to that of the experimental work, performance parameters such as the liquid fill charge ratios, the evaporator to condenser length ratios and the orientation angles should be further investigated. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: As gevolg van die groeiende aanvraag na goedkoper energie, word die behoud van energie ‘n al hoe belangriker ekonomiese oorweging. Dus word die maniere om energie te herwin van afval-vloeierstrome al hoe meer intensief ondersoek. Een effektiewe manier om energie te herwin, is om die lae-temperatuur-afval-vloeierstroom (wat sou verlore gaan) se hitte te gebruik om ‘n ander vloeierstroom mee te verhit. Hier dien dit dan as voorverhitting van die ander, kouer, vloeierstroom. Hittepyp hitteruilers (HPHR’s) is laekoste toestelle wat gebruik kan word vir hierdie doel. ‘n HPHR is ‘n vloeistof-gekoppelde indirekte-oordrag hitteruiler, behalwe vir die feit dat dié hitteruiler gebruik maak van hittepype (of hittebuise) wat die grootste deel van sy hitteoordragsmeganisme uitmaak. Die primêre voordele van ‘n HPHR is dat dit geen bewegende dele het nie, die koue- en warmstrome totaal geïsoleer bly van mekaar en geen eksterne pomp benodig word om die werkvloeier mee te sirkuleer nie. In hierdie tesis word ‘n ondersoek gedoen oor die ontwikkeling van ‘n bestek van lug-totlug HPHR’s. Hierdie ondersoek het die teoretiese modellering van so ‘n HPHR geverg, sodat ‘n demonstrasie eenheid ontwerp kon word. Hierdie demonstrasie eenheid is geïnstalleer in ‘n praktiese industriële toepassing waar dit geïvalueer is deur na aspekte soos finansiële voordele en energie-besparings te kyk. Om die teoretiese HPHR model te kon ontwikkel, moes daar gekyk word na die binnehitteoordragskoëffisiënte van die verdamper- en kondensordeursneë, asook R134a en Butaan as onderskeie werksvloeiers. Die eksperimente met die hittebuise is gedoen in die vertikale en 45° (gemeet vanaf die horisontaal) posisies. Verskillende diameters is ook ondersoek, maar met die verdamper- en kondensor-lengteverhouding wat konstant gehou is. Die resultate wys dat R134a as werksvloeier in die hittebuise voorsiening maak vir groter hitteoordragstempo’s in vergelyking met Butaan as werksvloeier by min of meer dieselfde temperatuur verskil – dít ten spyte van die feit dat Butaan ‘n hoër latente-hittetydens- verdampings eienskap het. As voorbeeld gee ‘n R134a-gelaaide hittebuis ‘n hitteoordragstempo van omtrent 1160 W terwyl dieselfde hittebuis wat met Butaan gelaai is, slegs ongeveer 730 W lewer by 23 °C. Die resultate wys ook duidelik dat hoër hitteoordragstempo’s verkry word indien die hittebuis bedryf word teen ‘n hoek van 45°. ‘n Tipiese toename in hitteoordragstempo is ongeveer 24 % vir ‘n hittebuis met ‘n diameter van 31.9 mm en ‘n verdamper- tot kondensor-lengteverhouding van 0.24. Teoretiese binne-hitteoordragskoëffisiënte is ook geformuleer. Dié waardes stem redelik goed ooreen met die meeste voorgestelde korrelasies. Nieteenstaande die feit dat gedetailleerde twee-fase-vloei en die hitteoordragsgedrag van die werksvloeier binne hittebuise nog nie goed deur die wetenskaplike wêreld verstaan word nie. Korrelasies wat hierdie gedrag voorstel is geformuleer en sluit weereens die gebruik van R134a en Butaan as werksvloeiers in. Die korrelasies is geformuleer vanaf hittebuise met diameters van onderskeidelik 14.99 mm, 17.272 mm, 22.225 mm en 31.9 mm. Die verdamper- tot kondensor-lengteverhoudings vir die 31.9 mm deursnit hittebuis was 0.24 terwyl die ander hittebuise ‘n verhouding van 1 gehad het. Die hitte-vloede het gewissel van 1800-45300 W/m2. Die volgende teoretiese geformuleerde binne-hitteoordragskoëffisiënte word voorgestel vir beide vertikale sowel as nie-vertikale toepassing (LEES KORREKTE FORMULE IN VOLTEKS OPSOMMING) φ = 90° ei h = 3.4516x105Ja−0.855Ku1.344 φ = 45° ei h = 1.4796x105Ja−0.993Ku1.3 φ = 90° l l l ci l l v h x k g 1/ 3 2.05 2 4.61561 109Re 0.364 ν ρ ρ ρ − ⎡ ⎡ ⎛ ⎞⎤ ⎤ = ⎢ ⎢ ⎜ ⎟⎥ ⎥ ⎢ ⎢ ⎜ − ⎟⎥ ⎥ ⎣ ⎣ ⎝ ⎠⎦ ⎦ φ = 45° l l l ci l l v h x k g 1/ 3 1.916 2 3.7233 10 5Re 0.136 ν ρ ρ ρ − ⎡ ⎡ ⎛ ⎞⎤ ⎤ = ⎢ ⎢ ⎜ ⎟⎥ ⎥ ⎢ ⎢ ⎜ − ⎟⎥ ⎥ ⎣ ⎣ ⎝ ⎠⎦ ⎦ Die wiskundig-gemodelleerde demostrasie HPHR is geïnstalleer binne ‘n bestaande lugdroër-sisteem. Drywing van om en by 8.8 kW kon herwin word vanaf die warm-afvalvloeierstroom met ‘n massa vloei van 0.55 kg/s teen ‘n inlaattemperatuur van 51.64 °C en ‘n uitlaattemperatuur van 35.9 °C binne ‘n omgewing van 20 °C. Na aanleiding van hierdie herwinning, kan energiebesparings van tot 32.18 % verkry word. Die HPHR se installasiekoste kan binne ‘n berekende tydperk van ongeveer 3.3 jaar gedelg word deur hierdie besparing. Verdamper- tot kondensator-lengteverhouding, vloeistofvulverhouding en die oriëntasiehoek vereis verdere ondersoek, aangesien daar slegs ‘n akkuraatheid van 25 % verkry is tussen teoretiese voorspellings en praktiese metings.

Thesis (MScEng) -- Stellenbosch University, 2004. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Around the world the implementation of heat recovery systems is playing an increasingly important role in the engineering inqustry. The recovered energy is utilised in the plants and saves companies millions in expenses per year. Not only is this seen on the grand scale of industry, but also in everyday life, where for instance turbochargers are used to boost the performance of automobiles by utilising the wasted energy expelled along with exhaust gasses. The aim of this project is to investigate a small scale waste heat recovery system, and to determine the optimum method by which to convert the recovered energy into electrical energy, which can be used as a secondary energy source. The research contained in this thesis, centres on the main components and theory needed for the construction of a small scale waste heat recovery system. Also included, is a theoretical analysis concerning the design and construction of the system, utilising researched theory and a simulation program of the recovery system. The simulation is control volume-based and generates property data on the fluid and exhaust gas throughout the heat exchanger. The final design included a finite element stress analysis of certain parts of the system to ensure safe testing at high pressures and temperatures. The final design resulted in a high pressure, cross flow, stainless steel fintube heat exchanger that, by using a continuous combustion unit as energy source and water as the working fluid, reached efficiencies of up to 74% in direct steam generation testing. The tube-side of the heat exchanger was designed to withstand pressures of up to 2MPa (20bar), which is imperative for the implementation of the next phase, where a turbocharger will be connected to the heat exchanger. The completion of this part of the project has paved the way for further development and implementation of the heat recovery system. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die herwinning van energie begin 'n toenemend belangrike rol in die ingenieurs industrie speel. Die herwonne energie word in fabrieke ben ut en spaar maatskappye milj oene aan uitgawes per jaar. Hierdie beginsel word nie net in die grootskaalse nywerhede toegepas nie, maar ook in die allerdaagse lewe, soos byvoorbeeld in voertuie waar turbo-aanjaers gebruik word om die energie-uitset van enjins te verhoog deur bloot gebruik te maak van die verlore energie wat saam met die uitlaatgasse in die atmosfeer gepomp word. Die doel van hierdie projek is om 'n kleinskaalse energieherwinningstelsel te ondersoek en die mees effektiewe metode te vind om die herwinde energie na elektriese energie om te skakel wat as 'n sekondere energiebron gebruik kan word. Die navorsing bevat in die tesis, kyk na al die hoofkomponente en teoretiese kennis wat nodig is vir die konstruksie van 'n kleinskaalse hitteherwinningstelsel. Ook ingesluit is 'n teoretiese analise ten opsigte van die ontwerp en konstruksie van die sisteem. Dit behels die gebruik van nagevorsde teorie saam met 'n simulasie program van die herwinnings stelsel. Die simulasie program is op kontrole volumes gebasseet en genereer uitlaatgas- en water eienskappe soos dit deur die hitteruiler vloei. Die finale ontwerp bevat 'n eindige element spannmgs analise van sekere kritiese komponente in die stelsel om die veilige gebruik van die sisteem by hoe drukke en temperature te verseker. Die finale ontwerp was 'n hoedruk, kruisvloei, vlekvrye staal finbuis hitteruiler. Deur 'n konstante verbrandingseenheid as energiebron te gebruik saam met water as werksvloeier, het die hitteruiler effektiwiteite van tot 74% in direkte stoomgenerasie-toetse bereik. Die hitteruiler is ontwerp om hoe drukke van tot 2MPa (20bar) te hanteer wat baie belangrik is vir die implementasie van die volgende fase van die projek waar 'n turbo-aanjaer aan die stelsel gekoppel sal. Die suksesvolle voltooiing van hierdie fase van die projek het die weg gebaan vir die verdere ontwikkeling en implimentasie van die energieherwinningsstelsel.

Thesis (MScEng)--University of Stellenbosch, 2000. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: Measurements on air-cooled reflux steam condensers or dephlegmators at different power plants have shown that sections of these units do not transfer heat effectively over a range of operating conditions. The ineffective sections may be due to flooding in the finned tubes although entrainment of condensate in certain steam inlet manifolds is usually the main reason for the poor performance. In this dissertation factors that limit effective dephlegmator operation are discussed and the influence of two inlet manifold designs on dephlegmator operation is investigated. Laboratory experiments are conducted to show under which conditions liquid entrainment occurs and to visualize the flow distribution within the respective manifolds. An alternative, essentially horizontal arrangement of the dephlegmator is proposed. In order to evaluate the performance of such a system, the heat transfer and pressure drop on the steam-side is determined experimentally in an air-cooled finned tube. No flooding was observed during tests conducted at zero and negative tube angles to the horizontal. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Toetse op lugverkoelde stoom terugvloeikondensors, of deflegmators, by verskeie kragstasies het getoon dat sekere dele van hierdie eenhede onder verskeie werkstoestande nie warmte effektief oordra nie. Hierdie oneffektiewe dele kan deur vloeding van die vinbuise veroorsaak word alhoewel die meesleur van kondensaat in sekere stoom inlaatspruitstukke gewoonlik die hoof oorsaak is. In hierdie dissertasie word faktore wat effektiewe deflegmator werksverrigting beinvloed bespreek en die invloed van twee inlaatspruitstukontwerpe op deflegmator werksverrigting ondersoek. Eksperimente is in 'n laboratorium uitgevoer om aan te toon onder watter werkstoestande vloeistof samesleping voorkom en om vloeiverdeling binne die onderskeie inlaatspruitstukke te visualiseer. 'n Altematiewe, wesenlike horisontale deflegmator opstelling word voorgestel. Die werksverrigting van hierdie voorstelling is ondersoek deur die warmteoordrag en stoorn-kant drukval eksperimenteel te bepaal in 'n lugverkoelde vinbuis. Geen vloeding is opgemerk vir toetsgevalle waar klein negatiewe of zero hoeke tot die horisontaal ondersoek is nie.

Thesis (PhD (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering))--University of Stellenbosch, 1992. / The effect of cross-winds on the performance of natural draft dry-cooling towers is studied by means of isothermal model tests, a numerical simulation and full scale measurements. The action of the wind on such towers is found to be complex and is influenced by a number of different parameters including the wind speed, the shape of the approaching wind profile, the inlet diameter to the inlet height ratio of the tower, the tower height, the shape of the tower shell, the pressure loss coefficient of the heat exchangers and the amount of heat rejected by the tower. For a horizontal arrangement of the heat exchangers the wind effect on the tower is shown to be strongly dependent on both the shape and pressure loss coefficient of the tower supports. In practical cooling towers the heat exchangers are either arranged horizontally in the inlet cross-section of the tower or vertically around the circumference of the tower and the wind effect is found to be dependent on the particular layout. The wind effect on a tower is furthermore found to increase if the heat exchangers are arranged in the form of A-frames. Additional reductions in the heat rejection rate of the tower are caused by a non-uniform air temperature distribution inside the tower and flow distortions through the heat exchanger. Significant reductions in the wind effect on a cooling tower can be achieved by installing windbreak walls below the heat exchangers if the latter are arranged horizontally in the tower inlet.

Thesis (PhD (Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering)--University of Stellenbosch, 1990. / 260 leaves printed single pages, preliminary pages i-xxi and numbered pages Chapter 1/1.1-1.3, Chapter 2/2.1-2.17, Chapter 3/3.1.1-3.10, Chapter 4/4.1-4.18, Chapter 5/5.1-5.3, References pages R.1-R.7, Appendix A pages A.1-A.34, Appendix B pages B.1-B.34, Appendix C pages C.1-C.26, Appendix D pages D.1-D.16, Appendix E pages E.1-E.30, Appendix F pages F.1-F.39. Includes bibliography, list of tables, figures and symbols. / Digitized at 600 dpi grayscale to pdf format (OCR), using a Bizhub 250 Konica Minolta Scanner. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The ultimate goal of this project is to ensure a better understanding of the governing mechanisms present when flow distorting components are installed in close proximity of an axial flow fan. The effect of different parameters on the operation of axial flow fans is investigated. These parameters are divided into flow enhancing and flow reduction effects. The performance of an axial flow fan can be enhanced by changing the tip clearance, by adding a solid disc to the hub of the fan or by varying the number of fan blades. Flow reductions are caused by components such as inlet grids, walkways and their supporting structures, heat exchangers and windwalls. The effects of flow enhancing components are measured and compared to the results of other authors. The sensitivity of these effects to parameters such as the type of fan rotor and the specific system in which the rotor is installed is highlighted. The system effect (the interaction between the fan rotor and flow resistances in close proximity of each other) of individual components, as well as the combination of different components, is predicted both theoretically and experimentally. These predictions are compared to measured data relevant to the components in an installation where the system effects are present. The results are correlated to the kinetic energy flux coefficient of the flow at different locations within the installation. Experimental data obtained from a full scale unit (inlet shroud diameter of 9,216 m) are used to compare to scaled data from the model (inlet shroud diameter of 1,542 m). The hub to tip ratio of the axial flow fans investigated is 0,15. The most important conclusions are that the performance of the type of axial flow fan under investigation can be improved by reducing its tip clearance and by installing a solid disc to the downstream side of the rotor. An increase in the number of blades of the fan leads to only marginal improvements in the fan performance. The overall performance of the system can also be improved by removing some of the flow resisting components, or by changing their relative positions. All these conclusions are based on the assumption that the power input to the fan rotor remains constant. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die uiteindelike doel van hierdie projek is om te verseker dat die beherende meganismes wat teenwoordig is wanneer vloeiversteurende komponente in die nabyheid van 'n aksiaalwaaier geinstalleer word, beter verstaan word. Die effek van verskillende parameters op die werkverrigting van aksiaalwaaiers word ondersoek. Hierdie parameters word verdeel in vloeiverbeterings- en vloeiverminderingseffekte. Die werkverrigting van 'n aksiaalwaaier kan verbeter word deur die lempuntspeling te verstel, deur 'n soliede skyf aan die naaf van die waaierrotor te installeer, of deur die aantal lemme te verander. Die vloeiverminderings word veroorsaak deur inlaatsiwwe, loopvlakke en hul ondersteuningsstrukture, warmteruilers en windwande. Die effekte van vloeiverbeteringskomponente word gemeet en vergelyk met die resultate van ander outeurs. Die sensitiwiteit van hierdie effekte op parameters soos die tipe rotor en die spesifieke stelsel waarin die rotor geinstalleer is, word uitgelig. Die stelseleffek (die interaksie tussen die rotor van die waaier en vloei weerstande wat naby mekaar geinstalleer is) van individuele, sowel as 'n kombinasie van verskillende komponente, word teoreties en eksperimenteel voorspel. Hierdie voorspellings word dan vergelyk met eksperimentele data wat van toepassing is op die komponente in 'n installasie waar stelseleffekte voorkom. Die resultate word gekoppel aan die kinetiese energievloedkoeffisient van die vloei by verskillende posisies binne die installasie. Eksperimentele data, verkry vanaf 'n volskaaleenheid (inlaatmondstukdiameter van 9,216 m), word met die geskaleerde data van die model (inlaatmondstukdiameter van 1,542 m) vcrgelyk. Die naaf- tot hulsverhouding van die aksiaalwaaiers wat ondersoek word is 0,15. Die belangrikste gevolgtrekkings is dat die werkverrigting van die tipe aksiaalwaaier wat ondersoek word verbeter kan word deur die lempuntspeling te verminder en deur 'n soliede skyf te installeer by die stroomaf kant van die rotor. 'n Toename in die aantal lemme van die waaier lei slegs tot marginale verbeterings in die werkverrigting van die waaier. Die totale werkverrigting van die stesel kan ook verbeter word deur sommige vloeiweerstandskomponente te verwyder, of deur hulle relatiewe posisies te verander. Al hierdie gevolgtrekkings is gebasseer op die aanname dat die drywingsinset na die waaierrotor konstant bly.

Approved for public release, distribution is unlimited / This study concentrates on the empirical characterization of a staggered pin-fin array heat exchanger placed in a modular, rectangular wind tunnel. A full analysis of the heat transfer and pressure drop behavior was conducted on various pin-fin shapes, sizes, and configurations. The study was based on airflow over a wide range of Reynolds numbers in the laminar regime. The empirical data gathered can be used to corroborate and develop better numerical models to characterize the performance of such heat exchangers as well as scale down to the micro level for comparison with micro-heat exchangers. / Lieutenant, United States Navy

Microchannels have been used in electronics cooling and in air conditioning applications as condensers. Little study has been made in the application of microchannels in automotive heat exchangers, particularly the radiator. The presented research captures the need for the design improvement of radiator heat exchangers in heavy-duty vehicles in order to reduce aerodynamic drag and improve fuel economy. A method for analyzing an existing radiator is set forth including the needed parameters for effective comparisons of alternative designs. An investigation of microchannels was presented and it was determined that microchannels can improve the overall heat transfer of a radiator but this alone will not decrease the dimensions of the radiator. Investigations into improving the air-side heat transfer were considered and an improved fin design was found which allows a reduction in frontal area while maintaining heat transfer. The overall heat transfer of the design was improved from the original design by 7% well as 52% decrease in frontal area but at the cost of 300% increase in auxiliary power. The energy saved by a reduction in frontal area is not substantial enough to justify the increase of auxiliary power. The findings were verified through a computational fluid dynamic model to demonstrate the heat transfer and pressure drop of microchannel tubes. The results confirmed that heat transfer of microchannels does improve the thermal performance of the radiator but the pressure drop is such that the net benefit does not outweigh the operating cost. An additional CFD study of the new fin geometry and air-side heat transfer predictions was conducted. The results of the study confirmed the theoretical calculations for the fin geometry.

Esse estudo procura integrar as áreas de termodinâmica, transferência de calor e aerodinâmica no desenvolvimento de veículos de alto desempenho. É proposta uma ferramenta computacional que auxilie a análise de alternativas de trocadores de calor compactos, parte integrante do sistema de arrefecimento veicular. O aplicativo desenvolvido, denominado TROCALC, tem dois modos de uso: para colaborar no projeto de um trocador de calor ou para avaliar o desempenho de um trocador existente. Estruturado por um conjunto de equações e parâmetros com base na metodologia de Kays e London (1984), no primeiro modo esse aplicativo fornece alternativas de trocadores a partir dos dados de rejeição de calor por parte do motor e dos valores de vazão e temperatura dos fluidos envolvidos. Para o modo de avaliação de desempenho, além dos dados de entrada já mencionados, é necessário o detalhamento da geometria de superfície do trocador para calcular a quantidade de calor que o radiador é capaz de remover do sistema e comparar com o valor de fluxo de calor rejeitado pelo motor. É adotado um estudo de caso que considerou um veículo de competição da Fórmula SAE para investigar a eficácia do aplicativo TROCALC na análise de desempenho e na definição de novas alternativas para o trocador de calor dedicado àquele automóvel. Foram realizados ensaios em laboratório com a medição de valores para a rejeição de calor, vazão em massa de ar e perda de pressão no trocador existente. Os resultados validaram a ferramenta computacional e oferecem uma redução de 37% nas dimensões do trocador. Por fim é feita uma análise aerodinâmica para o conjunto duto-trocador de calor, que é uma solução típica utilizada em veículos de competição, integrando este conjunto à geometria da carenagem do veículo. Quatro alternativas, incluindo nova geometria para a carenagem do duto-trocador são investigadas do ponto de vista aerodinâmico com o auxílio de programa de dinâmica dos fluidos computacional (CFD). Nesta investigação, o objetivo é melhorar o comportamento de parâmetros relacionados ao escoamento de ar junto do sistema duto-trocador de calor, mantendo um bom comportamento para o arrasto total do veículo. / This study looks for the integration of thermodynamics, heat transfer and aerodynamics in the high-performance vehicles development. A computational tool that facilitates the compact heat exchanges analysis, part of the vehicle cooling system, is proposed. The application denominated TROCALC has two different modes of use: one for compact heat exchanger design and another one to evaluate existent heat exchangers performance. This program, which is structured by a set of equations and parameters based on the Kays and London (1984) methodology, provides heat exchangers alternatives through the input of the engine heat rejection, fluids temperature and mass flow (air and coolant). The tool is also capable of providing a performance analysis of an existent compact heat exchanger. In this case, besides of the inputs already mentioned, it is necessary to inform the surface geometry data of the actual heat exchanger to calculate the heat rejection capacity and compare to the established value of the engine. The case study of the Formula SAE is proposed in order to investigate the efficiency of TROCALC in performance analysis and definition of new alternatives for the Formula SAEs dedicated heat exchanger. Laboratory tests were performed in order to achieve experimentally the heat rejection, mass flow (air side) and pressure drop values in the current heat exchanger. The results validated the computational tool and offered a reduction of 37% in the heat exchangers dimensions. At last, aerodynamic analyses are performed for the duct-compact heat exchanger system, a typical solution adopted in race cars that is the integration of this set to the vehicles bodywork. Four alternatives are researched from the aerodynamic perspective with the computational fluid dynamics program support (CFD), including a new geometry for the duct. In this research, the aim is the improvement of parameters behavior related to the air flow around the duct-compact heat exchanger system, keeping a good behavior to the total drag of the vehicle.

[pt] Nesta dissertação foi feita uma simulação do desempenho de um sistema de cogeração, a partir de dados experimentais obtidos com uma microturbina a gás natural com 30 kW de potência nominal, operada no horário de ponta, e acoplada com uma unidade recuperadora de calor e um reservatório térmico para fornecimento de água quente de consumo nos chuveiros do Ginásio da PUC-Rio. Inicialmente, o desempenho do sistema de cogeração foi medido para várias condições de operação, mostrando que a eficiência de geração de energia elétrica é inferior à que o fabricante declara (16,6%). O aproveitamento da energia térmica dos gases de exaustão é de 29,1% para plena carga e 46,3% para 25% de carga. Nesta dissertação foi desenvolvida uma metodologia para calcular a efetividade da unidade recuperadora de calor. A simulação realizada teve como objetivos o melhor conhecimento do comportamento do sistema de cogeração para diferentes vazões de água de consumo e da sua temperatura de armazenamento determinando-se o maior valor da vazão para que uma temperatura de 40ºC nos chuveiros fosse mantida. A equação da energia em relação ao tempo foi resolvida numericamente, modelando-se o desempenho de cada componente, para estimar a temperatura da água do reservatório de armazenamento em função do tempo, para diferentes cargas elétrica e térmica. Os resultados indicaram as condições para o melhor aproveitamento de energia térmica e sua viabilidade econômica, inclusive quanto à relação entre o horário de geração e o consumo da energia térmica armazenada. / [en] In this dissertation the performance of a cogeneration system was simulated using data obtained in tests of a natural gas fired 30 kW microturbine, operated during peak hours, and coupled to a heat recovery unit to generate hot water to be consumed in the showers of the PUC-Rio Gymnasium, together with a thermal reservoir to match the demand. Initially, the performance of the cogeneration system was measured at different operating conditions, showing that the electric energy generation efficiency is smaller than what is declared by the manufacturer (16,6%). The heat recovery from the exhaust gases was measured as 29,1% for full load operation and 46,3% for 25% load operation. In this dissertation a methodology was developed for calculating the effectiveness of the heat recovery unit. The performance simulation was aimed to better understand the behaviour of the cogeneration system for different water consumption rates and its storage temperature, determining the maximum allowed value so that the shower water temperature be at least 40ºC. The timewise energy equation was numerically solved, using the modelled performance of each component, to estimate the storage reservoir water temperature as a function of time, for different electric and thermal energy loads. The results indicated the conditions for better thermal energy usage and its economic feasibility, including the relationship between generation hours and the stored thermal energy consumption.

This thesis is an approach of numerical optimization of thermal design of the ocean turbine developed by the Centre of Ocean Energy and Technology (COET). The technique used here is the integrated method of finite element analysis (FEA) of heat transfer, artificial neural network (ANN) and genetic algorithm (GA) for optimization purposes. / by Khaled Kaiser. / Thesis (M.S.C.S.)--Florida Atlantic University, 2009. / Includes bibliography. / Electronic reproduction. Boca Raton, Fla., 2009. Mode of access: World Wide Web.