Forced-flow once-through boilers

A compilation and review of NASA-sponsored research on boilers for use in spacecraft electrical power generation systems is presented. Emphasis is on the heat-transfer and fluid-flow problems. In addition to space applications, much of the boiler technology is applicable to terrestrial and marine uses such as vehicular power, electrical power generation, vapor generation, and heating and cooling. Related research areas are discussed such as condensation, cavitation, line and boiler dynamics, the SNAP-8 project (Mercury-Rankine cycle), and conventional terrestrial boilers (either supercritical or gravity-assisted liquid-vapor separation types). The research effort was directed at developing the technology for once-through compact boilers with high heat fluxes to generate dry vapor stably, without utilizing gravity for phase separations. A background section that discusses, tutorially, the complex aspects of the boiling process is presented. Discussions of tests on alkali metals are interspersed with those on water and other fluids on a phenomenological basis

Thermal boundary conditions for heat pipe assisted crystal growth

Thesis (S.M.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Dept. of Materials Science and Engineering, 1999.Includes bibliographical references (leaves 50-52).by Francis Johnson.S.M

Heat Exchangers

The demand for energy to satisfy the basic needs and services of the population worldwide is increasing as are the economic costs associated with energy production. As such, it is essential to emphasize energy recovery systems to improve heat transfer in thermal processes. Currently, significant research efforts are being conducted to expose criteria and analysis techniques for the design of heat exchange equipment. This book discusses optimization of heat exchangers, heat transfer in novel working fluids, and the experimental and numerical analysis of heat transfer applications

Numerical simulation of flows in concentric and eccentric annulus – relevant to geothermal wells

Master's thesis in Petroleum engineeringAt the end of 20th century, the utilization of geothermal energy has increased by 150% forming a solid industry of relevant importance on global markets (Dickson & Fanelli, 2004). According to numerous analyses, this type of energy exploitation has a strong forecast of development in the future. High potential of progress is associated with complex studies to ensure the feasibility, safety and profitability of the investments. Numerical simulation of flows in geothermal exploitation is an essential tool to establish adequate results. The assessment of this process is a key factor for preparing schemes providing high overall efficiency (Vasini et al., 2017). Determining the most favorable parameters and approaches is the subject of plenty studies in the field of geothermal energy. This work analyzes the concept of geothermal energy and heat transfer in general, and in the wellbore. Furthermore, it investigates application of separate turbulence models on flow in concentric and eccentric annulus. Different assembly of pipes require adjusting diverse approaches to achieve finest results. When chosen models work for theoretical configurations, they do not automatically comply for the field cases. As for the eccentricity, the simulation shows valuable data of how the flow behaves in irregular, but very common position. Obtained results satisfy the benchmarks stated in the preceding researches. For instance, the thermal structures are more aroused near the outer wall of the assembly, than closer to the inner pipe. This outcome might be implemented in analyzing vortex generations in the annuli. Moreover, the study defines the dependence of heat transfer rate on the pipe materials. Conducted research might be used as an initial and easy to comprehend overview of the heat transfer phenomena in geothermal energy exploitation

Survey and evaluation of techniques to augment convective heat transfer

This report presents a survey and evaluation of the numerous techniques which have been shown to augment convective heat transfer. These techniques are: surface promoters, including roughness and treatment; displaced promoters, such as flow disturbers located away from the heattransfer surface; vortex flows, including twisted-tape swirl generators; vibration of the heated surface or the fluid near the surface; electrostatic fields; and various types of fluid additives. Natural and forced convection situations for nonboiling, boiling, and condensation heat transfer are included. The conditions under which heat transfer is improved are summarized, and the efficiency of each technique is presented in terms of a performance criterion where possible.Sponsored by the Air Force Office of Scientific Research D.S.R

Development of models for the sodium version of the two-phase three dimensional thermal hydraulics code THERMIT

Several different models and correlations were developed and incorporated in the sodium version of THERMIT, a thermal- hydraulics code written at MIT for the purpose of analyzing transients under LMFBR conditions. This includes: a mechanism for the inclusion of radial heat conduction in the sodium coolant as well as radial heat loss to the structure surrounding the test section. The fuel rod conduction scheme was modified to allow for more flexibility in modelling the gas plenum regions and fuel restructuring. The formulas for mass and momentum exchange between the liquid and vapor phases were improved. The single phase and two phase friction factors were replaced by correlations more appropriate to LMFBR assembly geometry. The models incorporated in THERMIT were tested by running the code to simulate the results of the THORS Bundle 6A experiments performed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. The results demonstrate the increased accuracy provided by the inclusion of these effects."Sponsored by U.S Department of Energy, General Electric Co. and Hanford Engineering Development Laboratory.

Advanced heat receiver conceptual design study

Solar Dynamic space power systems are candidate electrical power generating systems for future NASA missions. One of the key components of the solar dynamic power system is the solar receiver/thermal energy storage (TES) subsystem. Receiver development was conducted by NASA in the late 1960's and since then a very limited amount of work has been done in this area. Consequently the state of the art (SOA) receivers designed for the IOC space station are large and massive. The objective of the Advanced Heat Receiver Conceptual Design Study is to conceive and analyze advanced high temperature solar dynamic Brayton and Stirling receivers. The goal is to generate innovative receiver concepts that are half of the mass, smaller, and more efficient than the SOA. It is also necessary that these innovative receivers offer ease of manufacturing, less structural complexity and fewer thermal stress problems. Advanced Brayton and Stirling receiver storage units are proposed and analyzed in this study which can potentially meet these goals

Analytical study of the liquid phase transient behavior of a high temperature heat pipe

The transient operation of the liquid phase of a high temperature heat pipe is studied. The study was conducted in support of advanced heat pipe applications that require reliable transport of high temperature drops and significant distances under a broad spectrum of operating conditions. The heat pipe configuration studied consists of a sealed cylindrical enclosure containing a capillary wick structure and sodium working fluid. The wick is an annular flow channel configuration formed between the enclosure interior wall and a concentric cylindrical tube of fine pore screen. The study approach is analytical through the solution of the governing equations. The energy equation is solved over the pipe wall and liquid region using the finite difference Peaceman-Rachford alternating direction implicit numerical method. The continuity and momentum equations are solved over the liquid region by the integral method. The energy equation and liquid dynamics equation are tightly coupled due to the phase change process at the liquid-vapor interface. A kinetic theory model is used to define the phase change process in terms of the temperature jump between the liquid-vapor surface and the bulk vapor. Extensive auxiliary relations, including sodium properties as functions of temperature, are used to close the analytical system. The solution procedure is implemented in a FORTRAN algorithm with some optimization features to take advantage of the IBM System/370 Model 3090 vectorization facility. The code was intended for coupling to a vapor phase algorithm so that the entire heat pipe problem could be solved. As a test of code capabilities, the vapor phase was approximated in a simple manner