A comparison of heat transfer enhancement in medium temperature thermal energy storage heat exchanger using fins and multitubes

Experimental studies using a medium temperature phase change material (PCM) Erythritol, melting point 117.7°C, in a horizontal shell and tube system have been undertaken. The experimental programme investigated the suitability of Erythritol (a sugar based material) to deliver a near constant thermal energy to be used for the hot side of LiBr/water absorption cooling system. Four experimental configurations, consisting a base model with no heat enhancement (control system), systems enhanced with circular and longitudinal fins and a multitube system were studied. Experiments were conducted at the same inlet heat transfer fluid temperature of 140°C and mass flow rate of 30 kg min -1 for the different configurations. The results presented include experimentally determined isotherm plots for the final melt illustrating the heat transfer characteristics of the systems and quantitative information relating to the transient change in temperature during the charging and discharging processes. The experimental results indicate that the multitube system achieved the best charging performance with the shortest melt time due to the presence of convection but showed large subcooling during the discharge process. The presence of longitudinal fins improved the conduction heat transfer significantly during the charging process due to increased heat transfer surface area and also reduced the level of subcooling during the discharge process. The circular finned system showed no significant improvement in melt time and size and as such would not be worthy of further development

Explaining the surge in M&A as an entry mode: home country and cultural influences

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to examine the trends, patterns and the impact of cultural and home country macroeconomic influences on Chinese cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBM&A) as foreign entry strategy for the period of 1998-2011.Design/methodology/approachUsing three regression models, namely, ordinary least squares, the random effects and fixed effects to examine the impact of home country macroeconomic and cultural factors on CBM&A outflows as an entry mode of Chinese firms. The authors check the robustness of the results using system GMM.FindingsThe findings suggest that CBM&A as a preferred mode of market entry provides a means for obtaining strategic resources to develop competitive advantages for the Chinese emerging market firms. The regression results indicate that home country macroeconomic and cultural variables, including gross domestic product (GDP), liquidity, interest rates, inflation, acquisitions in resource seeking sectors and cultural distance play an important role in explaining the trends of CBM&A outflows by the Chinese firms.Research limitations/implicationsThe results imply that government support to emerging market multinational enterprises (EMEs) to acquire strategic assets and economic policies in the home country play an important role in shaping international expansion behaviour of EMEs through CBM&A. The study demonstrates that outward investments of EMEs are partly a function of the level of economic policies and government support at home. The limitation is that most of the Chinese CBM&A transactions took place in Asia/Pacific locations. Future studies appear warranted if new data become available.Originality/valueThe study demonstrates how the institutions, strategic asset seeking with government support and economic policies in the home country play important role in shaping international expansion behaviour of emerging market enterprises through CBM&A thereby contributing to the political economy literature and institutional theory. More importantly, the study shows that the level of economic policies and development such as GDP, money supply, interest rates, inflation of the home country are important for EME growth in the international market

Explaining the surge in M&A as an entry mode: home country and cultural influences

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the trends, patterns and the impact of cultural and home country macroeconomic influences on Chinese cross-border mergers and acquisitions (CBM&A) as foreign entry strategy for the period of 1998-2011. Design/methodology/approach – Using three regression models, namely, ordinary least squares, the random effects and fixed effects to examine the impact of home country macroeconomic and cultural factors on CBM&A outflows as an entry mode of Chinese firms. The authors check the robustness of the results using system GMM. Findings – The findings suggest that CBM&A as a preferred mode of market entry provides a means for obtaining strategic resources to develop competitive advantages for the Chinese emerging market firms. The regression results indicate that home country macroeconomic and cultural variables, including gross domestic product (GDP), liquidity, interest rates, inflation, acquisitions in resource seeking sectors and cultural distance play an important role in explaining the trends of CBM&A outflows by the Chinese firms. Research limitations/implications – The results imply that government support to emerging market multinational enterprises (EMEs) to acquire strategic assets and economic policies in the home country play an important role in shaping international expansion behaviour of EMEs through CBM&A. The study demonstrates that outward investments of EMEs are partly a function of the level of economic policies and government support at home. The limitation is that most of the Chinese CBM&A transactions took place in Asia/Pacific locations. Future studies appear warranted if new data become available. Originality/value – The study demonstrates how the institutions, strategic asset seeking with government support and economic policies in the home country play important role in shaping international expansion behaviour of emerging market enterprises through CBM&A thereby contributing to the political economy literature and institutional theory. More importantly, the study shows that the level of economic policies and development such as GDP, money supply, interest rates, inflation of the home country are important for EME growth in the international marke