Simultaneous integration, control and enhancement of both fluid flow and heat transfer in small scale heat exchangers: A numerical study

L. Leal (1) , Frédéric Topin (2) , Pascal Lavieille (3) , L. Tadrist (2) , Marc Miscevic (3)

1 LAPLACE - LAboratoire PLasma et Conversion d'Energie
2 IUSTI - Institut universitaire des systèmes thermiques industriels
3 LAPLACE-GREPHE - Groupe de Recherche Energétique, Plasmas et Hors Equilibre

Compactness, efficiency and control of heat exchangers are of great interest in many processes. A technological breakthrough must be achieved to go further in their ability to respond to needs. A new concept of heat exchanger is proposed. It consists in dynamically deforming at least one of the walls of a low hydraulic diameter channel. Heat transfer and mass flow rate enhancements are investigated in single-phase flow. When the deformation is a progressive wave with a relative amplitude of 98.5% and frequency of 50 Hz, it generates a flow having a mass velocity of up to 510 kg.m(-2).S-1. Although the Reynolds number is low the heat transfer coefficient is enhanced by up to 450% compared to a straight channel. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Domaines: Physique [physics]

L. Leal, Frédéric Topin, Pascal Lavieille, L. Tadrist, Marc Miscevic. Simultaneous integration, control and enhancement of both fluid flow and heat transfer in small scale heat exchangers: A numerical study. International Communications in Heat and Mass Transfer, 2013, 49, pp.36-40. ⟨10.1016/j.icheatmasstransfer.2013.10.004⟩. ⟨hal-01459461⟩