MicroPHE: Flow boiling of zeotropic mixtures in plate heat exchanger with microstructure-enhanced surfaces
Lead Research Organisation:
UNIVERSITY OF READING
Department Name: Built Environment
Abstract
This MSCA Postdoctoral Fellowship will bring the excellent young researcher, currently an associate professor at Hunan University, China, to study the flow boiling of zeotropic mixtures in cross-corrugated channels of plate heat exchanger with and without microstructure-enhanced surfaces. The outcome of the project will contribute to advanced heat exchangers and thus more efficient thermodynamic cycles, improving the utilization of energy resource. The researcher will integrate the visualizing and measuring tests to study the complicated flow boiling phenomena, while numerical models of two-phase flow and heat exchanger will be developed.
The project has been carefully designed to match the researcher's expertise in two-phase heat transfer, the expertise of the host institute, the University of Exeter in computational fluid dynamic modeling and advanced laser manufacturing technology and the expertise of the secondment institute, Mälardalen University in numerical modeling of heat exchanger. The objective of the project is to obtain the scientific basis needed for design of evaporator using zeotropic mixture as working fluid and for development of highefficiency plate heat exchanger. In addition to the scientific goals, the researcher will contribute his expertise on experimental analysis of two-phase heat transfer, and will provide important training to EU researchers, industrial contacts and undergraduates. By involving research topics from different fields and collaborations with academic partners, this is a truly inter-disciplinary project.
The research activities and training in the project will develop researcher's expertise in numerical modeling and manufacturing engineering, significantly strengthening his career perspectives to find tenure-track position in EU. The proposed project will provide new knowledge and technology for advance evaporators and contribute to the sustainable development of European society.
The project has been carefully designed to match the researcher's expertise in two-phase heat transfer, the expertise of the host institute, the University of Exeter in computational fluid dynamic modeling and advanced laser manufacturing technology and the expertise of the secondment institute, Mälardalen University in numerical modeling of heat exchanger. The objective of the project is to obtain the scientific basis needed for design of evaporator using zeotropic mixture as working fluid and for development of highefficiency plate heat exchanger. In addition to the scientific goals, the researcher will contribute his expertise on experimental analysis of two-phase heat transfer, and will provide important training to EU researchers, industrial contacts and undergraduates. By involving research topics from different fields and collaborations with academic partners, this is a truly inter-disciplinary project.
The research activities and training in the project will develop researcher's expertise in numerical modeling and manufacturing engineering, significantly strengthening his career perspectives to find tenure-track position in EU. The proposed project will provide new knowledge and technology for advance evaporators and contribute to the sustainable development of European society.
Publications
| Description | Key findings 1. The mixtures present similar heat transfer characteristics as those of their pure-component fluids. Due to the differences in the thermo-physical properties of the working fluids, they present two types of heat transfer characteristics at the same reduced pressure. One is the heat transfer process primarily governed by the heat flux, while the other one is governed both by the heat flux and mass flux. 2. The temperature glide has a significant influence on mixture heat transfer and the maximum temperature glide typically result in the largest heat transfer degradation for a mixture Moreover, the heat transfer degradation of mixtures is weakened at working conditions enabling to enhance the heat transfer of flow boiling. Up to 34 % heat transfer degradation for the zeotropic mixtures considered in this work with respect to the pure-component fluids is observed. 3. We propose two heat transfer prediction models, which are developed using the modification methods of mixture flow boiling heat transfer and combination with the general pure fluid correlations developed from the classical correlations. The prediction models for heat transfer coefficient of zeotropic mixture flow boiling in the plate heat exchanger achieves a good predictive performance with a mean absolute percentage deviation of 11.7 %. 4. During the heat exchanger design procedure, the selection of the prediction model has a significant impact on the theoretical dimensions, cost and carbon emissions of the plate evaporator of a high-temperature heat pump system. A noticeable relative difference (106.5% of the dimension, 78.5% of the cost and 106.1% of the carbon emission) was found between different prediction models. |
| Exploitation Route | The optimisation of the system can be used for industrial partners to improve their design. |
| Sectors | Energy |
| Description | The project remains ongoing, with the anticipated research outcomes yet to be fully attained. At the end of the project, we expect to obtain the improved thermal performance of plate heat exchanger. It will enable to use of a smaller heat exchanger and/or use a lower pinch point (the minimum temperature difference between the two fluids in the heat exchanger). A small heat exchanger contributes to a reduction in the material consumption of the heat exchanger. Taking the example of the evaporator of a refrigeration unit, a lower pinch point temperature implies a higher evaporation temperature. The increased evaporation temperature will increase the coefficient of performance, resulting in decreased electricity consumption of the refrigeration unit and thus reductions in CO2 emission. In a broader perspective, the enhanced plate heat exchangers have the potential to open a new market of new-generation product. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2024 |
| Sector | Energy |
| Impact Types | Societal |
| Description | HNU |
| Organisation | Hunan University |
| Country | China |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provide our expertise in the modlling of plate heat exchanger and thermodynamic system. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner provides the access to the exprimental data of zeotropic mixture flow boiling in the plate heat exchanger. |
| Impact | We developed the heat transfer prediction model of zeotropic mixture flow boiling in the plate heat exchanger. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | MDU |
| Organisation | Mälardalen University |
| Country | Sweden |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | We provide our expersite in the experimental test and modelling of thermodynamic systems. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The partner MDU provide the expersite in the heat exchanger design concepts in terms of the energy system. |
| Impact | We developed numerical model of plate heat exchanger and uesd it in a high temperature heat pump system. |
| Start Year | 2024 |
| Description | Research group seminars |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Schools |
| Results and Impact | Dr Ji Zhang delivered an insightful presentation at the research group seminar in March 2024. He provided a comprehensive overview of the project, highlighting its interdisciplinary nature and innovative approach to tackling key challenges. His talk emphasised the project's potential to drive decarbonisation in building heating and cooling systems, showcasing cutting-edge research and forward-thinking solutions. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2024 |