Role of Underlying Substrates on the Interfacial Thermal Transport in Supported Graphene Nanochannels: Implications of Thermal Translucency.

We study the role of underlying substrates on interfacial heat transfer within supported graphene nanochannels. Due to graphene's translucency, the underlying substrate, apart from its known hydrodynamic impact on fluid flow, also influences heat transport. We introduce the term "thermal translucency" to describe this phenomenon in the context of interfacial heat transfer. Our findings reveal that the Kapitza resistance, RK, is dependent on the specific underlying substrate. The specific underlying substrate alters the water-graphene interface potential landscape due to graphene's translucency, leading to a breakdown in the inverse relationship between interfacial water density peaks and RK values, typically observed at water-graphene and water-graphite interfaces. Remarkably, higher interfacial water density peaks correlate with more ordered energy patterns, not necessarily tied to more hydrophilic substrates as the literature commonly suggests for lower RK values. The insights provided have implications for controlling and tuning thermal transport and heat storage in nanofluidic devices.

Production of MgAl/layered double hydroxide microspheres and investigation of the volumetric heat transfer coefficient in spray drying.

Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH) are synthetic materials nanostructured in two dimensions that present positively charged layers with interspersed anions for charge and structure balancing. Being recognized as a promising material for various applications, a complete exploration of its possible attractive properties and its synthesis process is essential. However, drying, a necessary step in the process, is still little studied. This work aimed to produce MgAl-CO3/LDH microspheres and calculate the volumetric heat coefficient in spray drying, evaluating the drying air inlet temperature and the concentration of the feed paste in the dryer. LDH synthesis was carried out using the coprecipitation method, maintaining a 2:1 Mg/Al ratio. The infrared spectra presented the bands characteristic of the hydrotalcite-type material. Through XRD, it was possible to observe that the variation in drying air temperature and feed paste concentration produced LDHs with structural differences. The results obtained for the basal spacing ranged from 7.685 to 7.705 Å. Scanning electron microscopy images confirm the production of LDH microspheres, showing variation in the size of the agglomerates with changes in the feed paste concentration. The volumetric heat transfer coefficient values ranged from 4.31 to 5.36 W m-3 K-1, with only the air inlet temperature significantly influencing the process under the conditions studied.

Design of a pilot plant-type pharmaceutical reactor to address the problem of interchangeability of generic semisolid formulations.

OBJECTIVE AND SIGNIFICANCE: This research aims to design and develop a pilot plant-type pharmaceutical reactor with a strong focus on its volumetric capacity and heat transfer capabilities. The primary goal is to replicate design and control strategies at the laboratory or pilot scale to analyze and produce generic semisolid formulations. METHODS: Computational fluid dynamics and heat transfer modeling, utilizing the finite volume method, were employed to determine the reactor's performance and particle trajectory during the mixing and stirring. This allowed for the establishment of optimal operational parameters and variables. Furthermore, prototypes were constructed at 1:2.5 and 1:15 scales to examine the reactor's morphology, ensure volumetric versatility, and conduct mixing, homogenization, and coloration tests using varying volumes. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The outcomes of this study yielded a versatile reactor suitable for processing pharmaceutical semisolids at both laboratory and pilot-scale volumes. Notably, the reactor demonstrated exceptional volumetric capacity within a single vessel while effectively facilitating heat transfer to its interior.

Rational PCR Reactor Design in Microfluidics.

Limit of detection (LOD), speed, and cost for some of the most important diagnostic tools, i.e., lateral flow assays (LFA), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), and polymerase chain reaction (PCR), all benefited from both the financial and regulatory support brought about by the pandemic. From those three, PCR has gained the most in overall performance. However, implementing PCR in point of care (POC) settings remains challenging because of its stringent requirements for a low LOD, multiplexing, accuracy, selectivity, robustness, and cost. Moreover, from a clinical point of view, it has become very desirable to attain an overall sample-to-answer time (t) of 10 min or less. Based on those POC requirements, we introduce three parameters to guide the design towards the next generation of PCR reactors: the overall sample-to-answer time (t); lambda (λ), a measure that sets the minimum number of copies required per reactor volume; and gamma (γ), the system's thermal efficiency. These three parameters control the necessary sample volume, the number of reactors that are feasible (for multiplexing), the type of fluidics, the PCR reactor shape, the thermal conductivity, the diffusivity of the materials used, and the type of heating and cooling systems employed. Then, as an illustration, we carry out a numerical simulation of temperature changes in a PCR device, discuss the leading commercial and RT-qPCR contenders under development, and suggest approaches to achieve the PCR reactor for RT-qPCR of the future.

Use of Inverse Method to Determine Thermophysical Properties of Minimally Processed Carrots during Chilling under Natural Convection.

The aim of this study was to determine the thermophysical properties and process parameters of cylindrical carrot pieces during their chilling. For this, the temperature of the central point of the product, initially at 19.9 °C, was recorded during chilling under natural convection, with the refrigerator air temperature maintained at 3.5 °C. A solver was created for the two-dimensional analytical solution of the heat conduction equation in cylindrical coordinates. This solver and the experimental data set were coupled to the LS Optimizer (V. 7.2) optimization software to simultaneously determine not only the values of thermal diffusivity (α) and heat transfer coefficient (hH), but also the uncertainties of these values. These values were consistent with those reported in the literature for carrots; in this study, the precision of these values and the confidence level of the results (95.4%) were also presented. Furthermore, the Biot numbers were greater than 0.1 and less than 40, indicating that the mathematical model presented in this study can be used to simultaneously estimate α and hH. A simulation of the chilling kinetics using the values obtained for α and hH showed good agreement with the experimental results, with a root mean square error RMSE = 9.651 × 10-3 and a chi-square χ2 = 4.378 × 10-3.

On the correlation between thermal imagery and fugitive CH4 emissions from MSW landfills.

Landfill gas (LFG) is related to the biochemical processes generating heat and releasing CH4, CO2, and other gases in lower concentrations, which result in environmental impacts and risk of local explosion. Thermal infrared imagery (TIR) is employed to detect CH4 leakage as a risk control approach. However, the challenge for LFG leakage detection using TIR is establishing a relation between the gas flux and the ground temperature. This study evaluates the problem of a heated gas flowing through a porous medium column where the upward surface exchanges heat by radiation and convection to the environment. A heat transfer model that considers the upward LFG flow is proposed, and a sensibility analysis is developed to relate the flux to the ground temperature level in the condition of non-income solar radiation. An explicit equation to predict CH4 fugitive flow as a function of temperature anomalies of the ground was presented for the first time. The results show that the predicted ground surface temperatures are consistent with the literature's experimental observations. Moreover, the model was complementarily applied to a Brazilian landfill, with in situ TIR measurements in an area with a slightly fractured cover. In this field observation, the predicted CH4 flux was around 9025 g m-2 d-1. Model limitations concerning the soil homogeneity, the transient variation of atmospheric conditions or local pressure, and soil temperature difference in low-flux conditions (related to TIR-cameras accuracy) require further validation. Results could help landfill monitoring in conditions of a high-temperature ground anomaly in dry seasons.

Maximum limit of sensible heat dissipation in Japanese quail.

Surface temperature can be used as a tool for calculating sensible heat transfer. However, it needs to be associated with air temperature to identify the direction of heat flow (gain or loss). This study quantified sensible heat transfer in Japanese quail as a function of operative temperature. The meteorological variables were air temperature, relative humidity, and black globe temperature. Quail surface temperature was measured on 50 adult Coturnix coturnix japonica individuals 270 days old during 8 days by using a thermographic camera. The data were analyzed by the least-squares method to assess the effects of sex (male and female), period of the day (morning and afternoon), and body region (head, body, and feet). Quail surface temperature was strongly correlated with operative temperature. The total sensible heat flow was 64.02 W m-2. The morning period had a mean operative temperature of 22.48 °C, providing a higher gradient between air and quail temperature and thereby producing a higher heat flow (82.19 W m-2). In the afternoon, the heat transfer was lower (45.70 W m-2) because the operative temperature was higher (30.84 °C). Comparison between sexes showed that heat transfer was higher in females (67.37 W m-2) than in males (60.53 W m-2). The head served as an important thermal window, with a heat transfer of 78.24 W m-2, whereas the body and feet had a transfer of 56.80 W m-2. Heat transfer by sensible mechanisms was quantified in Japanese quail. Heat transfer depended greatly on ambient temperature. When the operative temperature was below 28 °C, sensible mechanisms were efficient in dissipating heat to the environment. When the ambient temperature exceeded 29 °C, quail could not effectively dissipate heat to the environment through sensible mechanisms. At 30 °C and above, heat loss shifted to heat gain, causing thermal stress in Japanese quail.

Effect of the chemical composition of fluid foods on the rate of fouling processing during sterilization / Efecto de la composición química de los alimentos líquidos sobre la tasa de procesamiento de la suciedad durante la esterilización

Background: This research was motivated by the determination of the sanitation schedule in the heat exchanger area for some products (milk, avocado juice, and orange juice), as well as the inconsistency of the results of previous studies related to the chemical composition of the fouling layer. Objectives: a) to test the effect of raw material composition on the chemical composition of the fouling layer. b) to test microbial growth's effect on fouling's chemical composition (protein). Methods: mathematical derivation of the formation process of Resistant Dirt Factor (Rd) in the form of an Equation; ANOVA was used to test the effect of the dependent variable (protein) and predictor (microbial). Results: a) The composition of the raw material strongly influences the chemical composition of the fouling layer; b) There is a strong effect between microbial growth and protein content as a fouling composition (p<0.05). Conclusion: A strong influence between microbial growth and the composition of the fouling layer (protein) can close the research gap related to the inconsistency of previous research results (fouling layer composition), so there is no prolonged debate

Antecedentes: Esta investigación fue motivada por la determinación del cronograma de sanitización en el área del intercambiador de calor para diferentes productos (leche, jugo de aguacate y jugo de naranja), así como la inconsistencia de los resultados de estudios previos relacionados con la composición química de la capa de suciedad. Objetivos: a) probar el efecto de la composición de la materia prima sobre la composición química de la capa de suciedad. b) probar el efecto del crecimiento microbiano en la composición química de la capa de suciedad (proteína). Método: etapas del proceso de formación del Factor de Suciedad Resistente (Rd) en forma de una ecuación; Se usó ANOVA para probar el efecto de la variable dependiente (proteína) y el predictor (microbiano). Resultados: a) La composición química de la capa de incrustación está fuertemente influenciada por la composición de la materia prima; b) Existe un fuerte efecto entre el crecimiento microbiano sobre el contenido de proteína como composición de ensuciamiento (p<0.05). Conclusión: Una fuerte influencia entre el crecimiento microbiano y la composición de la capa de incrustación (proteína) puede cerrar la brecha de investigación relacionada con la inconsistencia de los resultados de investigaciones anteriores (composición de la capa de incrustación) para que no haya un debate prolongado

Application of an artificial neural networks for predicting the heat transfer in conical spouted bed using the Nusselt module.

Artificial neural networks have been used since the last decade as a satisfactory alternative for the prediction of the fluid-dynamic behavior of particles. The aim of this work has been to develop a model based on artificial neural networks (ANN) suitable for quantifying the influence of multiple factors on the heat transfer rate in a conical spouted bed reactor. The Nusselt module has been taken as an exit point and nine input factors have been evaluated, among which are the height of the bed, the diameter of the contactor, the angle of the cone, and the minimum spouting speed, among others. The model has been found to fit appropriately to the equations proposed in the literature and can be used as a suitable model to predict the behavior of heat transfer in conical spouted bed reactors operating with biomass.

Application of Nanofluids in Improving the Performance of Double-Pipe Heat Exchangers-A Critical Review.

Nanofluids can be employed as one of the two fluids needed to improve heat exchanger performance due to their improved thermal and rheological properties. In this review, the impact of nanoparticles on nanofluid properties is discussed by analyzing factors such as the concentration, size, and shape of nanoparticles. Nanofluid thermophysical properties and flow rate directly influence the heat transfer coefficient and pressure drop. High thermal conductivity nanoparticles improve the heat transfer coefficient; in particular, metallic oxide (such as MgO, TiO2, and ZnO) nanoparticles show greater enhancement of this property by up to 30% compared to the base fluid. Nanoparticle size and shape are other factors to consider as well, e.g., a significant difference in thermal conductivity enhancement from 6.41% to 9.73% could be achieved by decreasing the Al2O3 nanoparticle size from 90 to 10 nm, affecting nanofluid viscosity and density. In addition, equations to determine the heat transfer rate and the pressure drop in a double-pipe heat exchanger are presented. It was established that the main factor that directly influences the heat transfer coefficient is the nanofluid thermal conductivity, and nanofluid viscosity affects the pressure drop.

Spatiotemporal Temperature Distribution of NIR Irradiated Polypyrrole Nanoparticles and Effects of pH.

The spatiotemporal temperature distributions of NIR irradiated polypyrrole nanoparticles (PPN) were evaluated by varying PPN concentrations and the pH of suspensions. The PPN were synthesized by oxidative chemical polymerization, resulting in a hydrodynamic diameter of 98 ± 2 nm, which is maintained in the pH range of 4.2-10; while the zeta potential is significantly affected, decreasing from 20 ± 2 mV to -5 ± 1 mV at the same pH range. The temperature profiles of PPN suspensions were obtained using a NIR laser beam (1.5 W centered at 808 nm). These results were analyzed with a three-dimensional predictive unsteady-state heat transfer model that considers heat conduction, photothermal heating from laser irradiation, and heat generation due to the water absorption. The temperature profiles of PPN under laser irradiation are concentration-dependent, while the pH increase only induces a slight reduction in the temperature profiles. The model predicts a value of photothermal transduction efficiency (η) of 0.68 for the PPN. Furthermore, a linear dependency was found for the overall heat transfer coefficient (U) and η with the suspension temperature and pH, respectively. Finally, the model developed in this work could help identify the exposure time and concentration doses for different tissues and cells (pH-dependent) in photothermal applications.

Thermal Load and Heat Transfer in Dental Titanium Implants: An Ex Vivo-Based Exact Analytical/Numerical Solution to the 'Heat Equation'.

INTRODUCTION: Heat is a kinetic process whereby energy flows from between two systems, hot-to-cold objects. In oro-dental implantology, conductive heat transfer/(or thermal stress) is a complex physical phenomenon to analyze and consider in treatment planning. Hence, ample research has attempted to measure heat-production to avoid over-heating during bone-cutting and drilling for titanium (Ti) implant-site preparation and insertion, thereby preventing/minimizing early (as well as delayed) implant-related complications and failure. OBJECTIVE: Given the low bone-thermal conductivity whereby heat generated by osteotomies is not effectively dissipated and tends to remain within the surrounding tissue (peri-implant), increasing the possibility of thermal-injury, this work attempts to obtain an exact analytical solution of the heat equation under exponential thermal-stress, modeling transient heat transfer and temperature changes in Ti implants (fixtures) upon hot-liquid oral intake. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We, via an ex vivo-based model, investigated the impact of the (a) material, (b) location point along implant length, and (c) exposure time of the thermal load on localized temperature changes. RESULTS: Despite its simplicity, the presented solution contains all the physics and reproduces the key features obtained in previous numerical analyses studies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first introduction of the intrinsic time, a "proper" time that characterizes the geometry of the dental implant fixture, where we show, mathematically and graphically, how the interplay between "proper" time and exposure time influences temperature changes in Ti implants, under the suitable initial and boundary conditions. This fills the current gap in the literature by obtaining a simplified yet exact analytical solution, assuming an exponential thermal load model relevant to cold/hot beverage or food intake. CONCLUSIONS: This work aspires to accurately complement the overall clinical diagnostic and treatment plan for enhanced bone-implant interface, implant stability, and success rates, whether for immediate or delayed loading strategies.

Heat Transfer-Based Non-isothermal Healing Model for the Interfacial Bonding Strength of Fused Filament Fabricated Polyetheretherketone.

Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF) as an Additive Manufacturing (AM) method for Polyetheretherketone (PEEK) has established a promising future for medical applications so far, however interlayer delamination as a failure mechanism for FFF implants has raised critical concerns. A one-dimensional (1D) heat transfer model (HTM) was developed to compute the layer and interlayer temperatures by considering the nature of 3D printing for FFF PEEK builds. The HTM was then coupled with a non-isothermal healing model to predict the interlayer strength through thickness of a FFF PEEK part. We then conducted a parametric study of the primary temperature effects of the FFF system, including the print bed, nozzle, and chamber temperatures, on layer healing. The heat transfer component of the model for the FFF PEEK layer healing assessment was validated separately. An idealized PEEK cube design (10x10x10 mm3) was used for model development and 3D printed in commercially available industrial and medical FFF machines. During the printing and cooling processes of FFF, thermal videos were recorded in both printers using a calibrated infrared camera. Thermal images were then processed to obtain time-dependent layer temperature profiles of FFF PEEK prints. Both the theoretical model and experiments confirmed that the upper layers in reference to the print bed exhibited higher temperatures, thus higher healing degrees than the lower layers. Increasing the print bed temperature increased the healing of the layers allowing more layers to heal 100%. The nozzle temperature showed the most significant effect on the layer healing, and under certain nozzle temperature, none of the layers healed adequately. Although environment temperature had less impact on the lower layers closer to the print bed, 100% healed layer number increased when the chamber temperature increased. The model predictions were in good agreement with the experimental data, particularly for the mid-part of FFF PEEK cubes printed in both FFF machines.

Influence of design and material characteristics on 3D printed flow-cells for heat transfer-based analytical devices.

Redesigning 3D-printed flow cells is reported used for heat transfer based detection of biomolecules from a flow-through system to an addition-type measurement cell. The aim of this study is to assess the performance of this new measurement design and critically analyse the influence of material properties and 3D printing approach on thermal analysis. Particular attention is paid to reduce the time to stabilisation, the sample volume in order to make the technique suitable for clinical applications, and improving the sensitivity of the platform by decreasing the noise and interference of air bubbles. The three different approaches that were studied included a filament polylactic acid cell using only fused filament fabrication (FFF), a resin cell printed using stereolitography (SLA), and finally a design made of copper, which was manufactured by combining metal injection moulding (MIM) with fused filament fabrication (FFF). Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) modelling was undertaken using ANSYS Fluent V18.1 to provide insight into the flow of heat within the measurement cell, facilitating optimisation of the system and theoretical response speed.It was shown that the measurement cells using SLA had the lowest noise (~ 0.6%) and shortest measurement time (15 min), whereas measurement cells produced using other approaches had lower specificity or suffered from voiding issues. Finally, we assessed the potential of these new designs for detection of biomolecules and amoxicillin, a commonly used beta lactam antibiotic, to demonstrate the proof of concept. It can be concluded that the resin addition-type measurement cells produced with SLA are an interesting affordable alternative, which were able to detect amoxicillin with high sensitivity and have great promise for clinical applications due to the disposable nature of the measurement cells in addition to small sample volumes.

FBG-Based Sensor for the Assessment of Heat Transfer Rate of Liquids in a Forced Convective Environment.

The assessment of heat transfer is a complex task, especially for operations in the oil and gas industry, due to the harsh and flammable workspace. In light of the limitations of conventional sensors in harsh environments, this paper presents a fiber Bragg grating (FBG)-based sensor for the assessment of the heat transfer rate (HTR) in different liquids. To better understand the phenomenon of heat distribution, a preliminary analysis is performed by constructing two similar scenarios: those with and without the thermal insulation of a styrofoam box. The results indicate the need for a minimum of thermal power to balance the generated heat with the thermal losses of the setup. In this minimum heat, the behavior of the thermal distribution changes from quadratic to linear. To assess such features, the estimation of the specific heat capacity and the thermal conductivity of water are performed from 3 W to 12 W, in 3 W steps, resulting in a specific heat of 1.144 cal/g °C and thermal conductivity of 0.5682 W/m °C. The calibration and validation of the HTR sensor is performed in a thermostatic bath. The method, based on the temperature slope relative to the time curve, allowed for the measurement of HTR in water and Kryo 51 oil, for different heat insertion configurations. For water, the HTR estimation was 308.782 W, which means an uncertainty of 2.8% with the reference value of the cooling power (300 W). In Kryo 51 oil, the estimated heat absorbed by the oil was 4.38 kW in heating and 718.14 kW in cooling.

The role of mound functions and local environment in the diversity of termite mound structures.

Mound structures that soil termites build have diverse morphologies. Previous observational studies documented that mounds are built to provide regulated environments for the termites that live within them and their structures are formed in ways to support this purpose under the influence of the mounds' immediate environment. The objective of this study is to provide a methodology and a predictive computational model to investigate the reason behind the different but systematic shapes of termite mounds, considering all the relevant forces imposed on them and their thermoregulatory and gas-exchange functions. The gas-exchange function accounts for the capacity of the mound to diffuse metabolic gases generated in the mound's underground nest, while the thermoregulatory function satisfies the connection between the underground nest and deep ground temperatures. The proposed predictive model is based on the principles of heat transfer and thermodynamics and allows optimized mechanically stable structures to freely emerge. The results indicate that, while the model is free to generate any mechanically stable structure, under the relevant environmental and metabolic conditions, it produces structures with forms and geometrical characteristics similar to those of natural mounds. Investigation of the connection between the local environment and the mound shapes indicated that the Sun and wind play an important role in the mound structural form. Mounds exposed to stronger solar irradiance exhibit cone-shaped structures that are pointed towards the Sun, while shaded mounds are observed to be vertical domes. The local wind is observed to affect the external shape of the mound by preventing them to grow tall while controlling the features of the internal structure. By investigating the similarities between structures in different regions (i.e., India, Namibia, and Brazil), it is revealed that, unlike mounds with a strong need for gas-exchange, mounds with a significant demand for thermoregulation exhibit deeper nests, thicker external walls, and well-defined cone- (as opposed to the dome-) shaped structures. Overall, the form of termite mounds is strongly correlated to both regulatory functions and local environments, and the resulting mound shape arises as a combination of these factors.

Comparative methods analysis on rates of cutaneous evaporative water loss (CEWL) in cattle.

Closed colorimetric paper disc chambers and flow-through ventilated capsules are the most employed methods of measuring rates of local cutaneous evaporative water loss in cattle. However, we do not know if these methods show a close agreement with the total rate of cutaneous evaporative water loss derived from the weighing system (i.e., the gold standard method). We therefore combined a high-precision weighing system and flow through respirometry to accurately quantify the cutaneous evaporative water loss rates in shaded heifers, while simultaneously recording parallel data obtained from a flow-through ventilated capsule, and a closed colorimetric paper disc chamber. Least square means of the local surface-specific cutaneous evaporative water loss rate (g m-2 h-1) derived from the colorimetric paper discs and ventilated capsules show close agreement to the total rate of surface-specific cutaneous evaporative water loss (g m-2 h-1) derived from the weighing method. Likewise, fitted linear regression lines also showed that they were well correlated (e.g., R2 = 0.93 and r = 0.96 for ventilated capsule vs weighing method; and R2 = 0.81 and r = 0.91 for colorimetric paper discs vs weighing method). However, the mean square deviation revealed various sources of disagreement between the local measurements and those derived from the weighing method, in which the local rate of cutaneous evaporative water loss derived from colorimetric paper discs showed greater deviation. In conclusion, given the importance of cutaneous evaporative water loss for assessing temperature requirements and heat tolerance of cattle, our findings show large discrepancies derived from the closed colorimetric paper discs chamber when compared with parallel data derived from the gold standard method, which is sufficient to call into question previous findings obtained by employing such methods. Moreover, the flow-through ventilated capsule appears to be the most accurate method to assess the local rate of cutaneous evaporative water loss in cattle.

Thermal Simulations of Cancerous Breast Tumors and Cysts on a Realistic Female Torso.

Medical thermography has been around for several decades however due to its low specificity it has not become a popular medical diagnostic technique. The development of computational models of heat transfer in biological tissue can provide a deeper knowledge of healthy and nonhealthy thermal patterns which could increase the specificity of this technique increasing its usefulness in clinical diagnosis. In this work, the thermal pattern of cancerous tumors and cysts are calculated through finite element computer simulations using a real human female torso. The simulation results show a thermal pattern that agrees with infrared thermal images taken from female subjects, the simulated thermal patterns show real thermal features that do not appear in simulations performed using other approximate geometries of the breast. Results show that the temperature on the region of the skin closest to the tumor decreases for cysts while it increases for malignant tumors. The temperature patterns show a 20% deviation from thermal simulations using a hemispherical model of the breast, these results reinforce the notion that the geometry used for thermal simulation plays an important role in the accuracy of the simulations. These results are a first step in understanding benign and malignant thermal processes of the breast which might help increase the usefulness of infrared imaging in breast clinical diagnosis.

Numerical Study of Nanofluid Irreversibilities in a Heat Exchanger Used with an Aqueous Medium.

Heat exchangers play an important role in different industrial processes; therefore, it is important to characterize these devices to improve their efficiency by guaranteeing the efficient use of energy. In this study, we carry out a numerical analysis of flow dynamics, heat transfer, and entropy generation inside a heat exchanger; an aqueous medium used for oil extraction flows through the exchanger. Hot water flows on the shell side; nanoparticles have been added to the water in order to improve heat transfer toward the cold aqueous medium flowing on the tube side. The aqueous medium must reach a certain temperature in order to obtain its oil extraction properties. The analysis is performed for different Richardson numbers (Ri = 0.1-10), nanofluid volume fractions (φ = 0.00-0.06), and heat exchanger heights (H = 0.6-1.0). Results are presented in terms of Nusselt number, total entropy generation, Bejan number, and performance evaluation criterion. Results showed that heat exchanger performance increases with the increase in Ri when Ri > 1 and when reducing H.

Robust Metallic Nanolaminates Having Phonon-Glass Thermal Conductivity.

Heat transfer phenomena in multilayer structures have gained interest due to their promising use in thermal insulation and thermoelectricity applications. In such systems, nanostructuring has been used to introduce moderate interfacial density, and it has been demonstrated that interfacial thermal resistance plays a crucial role in reducing thermal conductivity κ. Nevertheless, the main constraint for actual applications is related to their tiny size because they are extremely thin to establish appreciable temperature gradients. In this work, by severe plastic deformation process of accumulative roll bonding (ARB), a 250 µm thick Cu-Nb multilayer containing more than 8000 interfaces with periods below 40 nm was obtained, enabling the production of bulk metallic nanolaminates with ultralow κ. Multilayers present an ultralow κ of ∼0.81 W/mK at 300 K, which is 100 times smaller than its Cu-Nb bulk counterpart, and even lower than the amorphous lattice limit for the Cu-Nb thin film system. By using electron diffusive mismatch model (EDMM), we argue that both electrons diffusively scattering at interface and those ballistically crossing the constituents are responsible for heat conduction in the Cu-Nb multilayers at nanoscale. Hence, ARB Cu-Nb multilayers are intriguing candidate materials which can prove avenues to achieve stable ultralow κ thermal barriers for robust applications.