Heat exchanger with transpired, highly porous fins

DOEpatents

Kutscher, Charles F.; Gawlik, Keith

2002-01-01

The heat exchanger includes a fin and tube assembly with increased heat transfer surface area positioned within a hollow chamber of a housing to provide effective heat transfer between a gas flowing within the hollow chamber and a fluid flowing in the fin and tube assembly. A fan is included to force a gas, such as air, to flow through the hollow chamber and through the fin and tube assembly. The fin and tube assembly comprises fluid conduits to direct the fluid through the heat exchanger, to prevent mixing with the gas, and to provide a heat transfer surface or pathway between the fluid and the gas. A heat transfer element is provided in the fin and tube assembly to provide extended heat transfer surfaces for the fluid conduits. The heat transfer element is corrugated to form fins between alternating ridges and grooves that define flow channels for directing the gas flow. The fins are fabricated from a thin, heat conductive material containing numerous orifices or pores for transpiring the gas out of the flow channel. The grooves are closed or only partially open so that all or substantially all of the gas is transpired through the fins so that heat is exchanged on the front and back surfaces of the fins and also within the interior of the orifices, thereby significantly increasing the available the heat transfer surface of the heat exchanger. The transpired fins also increase heat transfer effectiveness of the heat exchanger by increasing the heat transfer coefficient by disrupting boundary layer development on the fins and by establishing other beneficial gas flow patterns, all at desirable pressure drops.

Location and timing of river-aquifer exchanges in six tributaries to the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States

USGS Publications Warehouse

Konrad, C.P.

2006-01-01

The flow of water between rivers and contiguous aquifers influences the quantity and quality of water resources, particularly in regions where precipitation and runoff are unevenly distributed through the year, such as the Columbia Basin (CB) in northwestern United States. Investigations of basin hydrogeology and gains and losses of streamflow for six rivers in the CB were reviewed to characterize general patterns in the timing and location of river-aquifer exchanges at a reach-scale (0.5-150 km) and to identify geologic and geomorphic features associated with the largest exchanges. Ground-water discharge to each river, or the gain in streamflow, was concentrated spatially: more than one-half of the total gains along each river segment were contributed from reaches that represented no more than 30% of the total segment length with the largest and most concentrated gains in rivers in volcanic terrains. Fluvial recharge of aquifers, or losses of streamflow, was largest in rivers in sedimentary basins where unconsolidated sediments form shallow aquifers. Three types of geologic or geomorphic features were associated with the largest exchanges: (1) changes in the thickness of unconsolidated aquifers; (2) contacts between lithologic units that represent contrasts in permeability; and (3) channel forms that increase the hydraulic gradient or cross-sectional area of flow paths between a river and shallow ground-water. The down-valley component of ground-water flow and its vertical convergence on or divergence from a riverbed account for large streamflow gains in some reaches and contrast with the common assumption of lateral ground-water discharge to a river that penetrates completely through the aquifer. Increased ground-water discharge was observed during high-flow periods in reaches of four rivers indicating that changes in ground-water levels can be more important than stage fluctuations in regulating the direction and magnitude of river-aquifer exchanges and that assumptions about ground-water discharge during high flow periods used for base-flow separation must be verified. Given the variety of geologic terrains in the CB, the spatial and temporal patterns of river-aquifer exchanges provide a framework for investigations in other regions that includes a focus on reaches where the largest exchanges are likely to occur, integration of ground-water and surface-water data, and verification of assumptions regarding ground-water flow direction and temporal variation of exchanges. ?? 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Interactions Between Suspended Kaolinite Deposition and Hyporheic Exchange Flux Under Losing and Gaining Flow Conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, Aryeh; Packman, Aaron I.; Boano, Fulvio; Phillips, Colin B.; Arnon, Shai

2018-05-01

Fine particle deposition and streambed clogging affect many ecological and biogeochemical processes, but little is known about the effects of groundwater flow into and out of rivers on clogging. We evaluated the effects of losing and gaining flow on the deposition of suspended kaolinite clay particles in a sand streambed and the resulting changes in rates and patterns of hyporheic exchange flux (HEF). Observations of clay deposition from the water column, clay accumulation in the streambed sediments, and water exchange with the bed demonstrated that clay deposition in the bed substantially reduced both HEF and the size of the hyporheic zone. Clay deposition and HEF were strongly coupled, leading to rapid clogging in areas of water and clay influx into the bed. Local clogging diverted exchanged water laterally, producing clay deposit layers that reduced vertical hyporheic flow and favored horizontal flow. Under gaining conditions, HEF was spatially constrained by upwelling water, which focused clay deposition in a small region on the upstream side of each bed form. Because the area of inflow into the bed was smallest under gaining conditions, local clogging required less clay mass under gaining conditions than neutral or losing conditions. These results indicate that losing and gaining flow conditions need to be considered in assessments of hyporheic exchange, fine particle dynamics in streams, and streambed clogging and restoration.

Effects of permethrin and amitraz on gas exchange and water loss in unfed adult females of Amblyomma americanum (Acari: Ixodidae)

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Effects of permethrin and amitraz on metabolism of the lone star tick, Amblyomma americanum, were examined using a flow-through carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor analyzer. Untreated adult female ticks exhibited a distinct discontinuous gas exchange pattern (DGEP) with no measurable water loss. Si...

Regional material flow accounting and environmental pressures: the Spanish case.

PubMed

Sastre, Sergio; Carpintero, Óscar; Lomas, Pedro L

2015-02-17

This paper explores potential contributions of regional material flow accounting to the characterization of environmental pressures. With this aim, patterns of material extraction, trade, consumption, and productivity for the Spanish regions were studied within the 1996-2010 period. The main methodological variation as compared to whole-country based approaches is the inclusion of interregional trade, which can be separately assessed from the international exchanges. Each region was additionally profiled regarding its commercial exchanges with the rest of the regions and the rest of the world and the related environmental pressures. Given its magnitude, interregional trade is a significant source of environmental pressure. Most of the exchanges occur across regions and different extractive and trading patterns also arise at this scale. These differences are particularly great for construction minerals, which in Spain represent the largest share of extracted and consumed materials but do not cover long distances, so their impact is visible mainly at the regional level. During the housing bubble, economic growth did not improve material productivity.

Reactive Transport of Marcellus Shale Waters in Natural Aquifers: the Role of Mineralogical Compositions and Spatial Distribution Patterns

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cai, Z.; Wen, H.; Li, L.

2017-12-01

Accidental release of Marcellus Shale waters (MSW) can release high concentrations of chemicals that can deteriorate groundwater quality. It is important to understand the reactive transport and fate of chemicals from MSW. Natural aquifers typically have complex mineralogical compositions and are heterogeneous with large spatial variation in terms of physical and geochemical properties. To investigate the effects of mineralogical compositions, flow-through experiments and reactive transport modeling were carried out using 3 large columns (5 cm×50 cm, Quartz, Calcite, and Vermiculite). Results indicate calcite immobilizes heavy metals by precipitation and solid solution partitioning (coprecipitation). Vermiculite retards heavy metals through ion exchange. The sorbed chemicals however slowly release back to the groundwater. Na and Ca transport similarly to Br in Qtz and Cal columns however become sorbed in Vrm column during release through ion exchange by 27.8% and 46.5%, respectively and later slowly release back to aqueous phase. To understand the role of mineral spatial patterns, three 2D flow-cell (40 cm×12 cm×1 cm) experiments were carried out. All flow cells have the same clay mass within quartz matrix but different spatial patterns characterized by the relative length of the clay zone ( 0, ¼, ½) of the domain length (L). Results show that in the uniform column, ion exchange dominates and most Ba sorbs to the solid phase, to an extent Ba cannot precipitate out with SO4 as barite. In 1/2-Zone, however, most Ba precipitates as barite. In 1/4-Zone, both ion exchange and mineral precipitation occur. In general, the 1/2-Zone has the smallest ion exchange capacity for other species including Na, Ca, Mg, K and heavy metals (Mn, Cu, Zn, Cd and Pb) as well. Our flow cell experiment emphasizes the importance of mineral spatial patterns in regulating not only reaction rates but also the type of reactions in controlling the reactive transport of MSW chemicals. The column study suggests in carbonate rich aquifers, carbonate facilitate natural attenuation. In clay-rich aquifers, such as sandstone aquifers, clay helps alleviate the cation during MSW release however these sorbed cations will ultimately release back to the aqueous phase. In sand and gravel aquifers, mixing process primarily controls the concentration level.

Cilia driven flow networks in the brain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Yong; Faubel, Regina; Westendorf, Chrsitian; Eichele, Gregor; Bodenschatz, Eberhard

Neurons exchange soluble substances via the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) that fills the ventricular system. The walls of the ventricular cavities are covered with motile cilia that constantly beat and thereby induce a directional flow. We recently discovered that cilia in the third ventricle generate a complex flow pattern leading to partitioning of the ventricular volume and site-directed transport paths along the walls. Transient and daily recurrent alterations in the cilia beating direction lead to changes in the flow pattern. This has consequences for delivery of CSF components along the near wall flow. The contribution of this cilia-induced flow to overall CSF flow remains to be investigated. The state-of-art lattice Boltzmann method is adapted for studying the CFS flow. The 3D geometry of the third ventricle at high resolution was reconstructed. Simulation of CSF flow without cilia in this geometry confirmed that the previous idea about unidirectional flow does not explain how different components of CSF can be delivered to their various target sites. We study the contribution of the cilia-induced flow pattern to overall CSF flow and identify target areas for site-specific delivery of CSF-constituents with respect to the temporal changes.

Vortex flows with suspended separation regions and long-range untwisted central jets

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Abramovich, G.N.; Trofimov, R.S.

1988-05-01

A study is made of possible physicoaerodynamic configurations of vortical flow with suspended separation regions and untwisted central jets. Such flows are encountered in power plants (heat exchangers, combustion chambers, and chemical reactors) and in nature (tornadoes). The basic configurations of several flows of this type are described, including the structure of a flow formed by coaxial cocurrent twisted jets, the flow in a conical swirl chamber with the formation of an untwisted long-range axial jet, the flow pattern in a gas turbine engine chamber, and some considerations regarding the aerodynamics of a tornado.

Irrigant flow within a prepared root canal using various flow rates: a Computational Fluid Dynamics study.

PubMed

Boutsioukis, C; Lambrianidis, T; Kastrinakis, E

2009-02-01

To study using computer simulation the effect of irrigant flow rate on the flow pattern within a prepared root canal, during final irrigation with a syringe and needle. Geometrical characteristics of a side-vented endodontic needle and clinically realistic flow rate values were obtained from previous and preliminary studies. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was created using FLUENT 6.2 software. Calculations were carried out for five selected flow rates (0.02-0.79 mL sec(-1)) and velocity and turbulence quantities along the domain were evaluated. Irrigant replacement was limited to 1-1.5 mm apical to the needle tip for all flow rates tested. Low-Reynolds number turbulent flow was detected near the needle outlet. Irrigant flow rate affected significantly the flow pattern within the root canal. Irrigation needles should be placed to within 1 mm from working length to ensure fluid exchange. Turbulent flow of irrigant leads to more efficient irrigant replacement. CFD represents a powerful tool for the study of irrigation.

Two-Phase Flow in Microchannels with Non-Circular Cross Section

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eckett, Chris A.; Strumpf, Hal J.

2002-11-01

Two-phase flow in microchannels is of practical importance in several microgravity space technology applications. These include evaporative and condensing heat exchangers for thermal management systems and vapor cycle systems, phase separators, and bioreactors. The flow passages in these devices typically have a rectangular cross-section or some other non-circular cross-section; may include complex flow paths with branches, merges and bends; and may involve channel walls of different wettability. However, previous experimental and analytical investigations of two-phase flow in reduced gravity have focussed on straight, circular tubes. This study is an effort to determine two-phase flow behavior, both with and without heat transfer, in microchannel configurations other than straight, circular tubes. The goals are to investigate the geometrical effects on flow pattern, pressure drop and liquid holdup, as well as to determine the relative importance of capillary, surface tension, inertial, and gravitational forces in such geometries. An evaporative heat exchanger for microgravity thermal management systems has been selected as the target technology in this investigation. Although such a heat exchanger has never been developed at Honeywell, a preliminary sizing has been performed based on knowledge of such devices in normal gravity environments. Fin shapes considered include plain rectangular, offset rectangular, and wavy fin configurations. Each of these fin passages represents a microchannel of non-circular cross section. The pans at the inlet and outlet of the heat exchanger are flow branches and merges, with up to 90-deg bends. R-134a has been used as the refrigerant fluid, although ammonia may well be used in the eventual application.

Subtle exchange model of flow depended on the blood cell shape to enhance the micro-circulation in capillary

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chan, Iatneng

2012-02-01

In general the exchange of gases or other material in capillary system is conceptualized by the diffusion effect. But in this model, we investigate a micro-flow pattern by simulation and computation on a micro-exchange model in which the blood cell is a considered factor, especially on its shape. It shows that the cell benefits the circulation while it is moving in the capillary. In the study, the flow detail near the cell surface is mathematically analyzed, such that the Navier-Stokes equations are applied and the viscous factor is also briefly considered. For having a driven force to the motion of micro-circulation, a breathing mode is suggested to approximately compute on the flow rate in the blood capillary during the transfer of cell. The rate is also used to estimate the enhancement to the circulation in additional to the outcome of diffusion. Moreover in the research, the shape change of capillary wall under pressure influence is another element in the beginning calculation for the effect in the assistance to cell motion.

Effects of lung disease on the three-dimensional structure and air flow pattern in the human airway tree

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

van de Moortele, Tristan; Nemes, Andras; Wendt, Christine; Coletti, Filippo

2016-11-01

The morphological features of the airway tree directly affect the air flow features during breathing, which determines the gas exchange and inhaled particle transport. Lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) in this study, affects the structural features of the lungs, which in turn negatively affects the air flow through the airways. Here bronchial tree air volume geometries are segmented from Computed Tomography (CT) scans of healthy and diseased subjects. Geometrical analysis of the airway centerlines and corresponding cross-sectional areas provide insight into the specific effects of COPD on the airway structure. These geometries are also used to 3D print anatomically accurate, patient specific flow models. Three-component, three-dimensional velocity fields within these models are acquired using Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). The three-dimensional flow fields provide insight into the change in flow patterns and features. Additionally, particle trajectories are determined using the velocity fields, to identify the fate of therapeutic and harmful inhaled aerosols. Correlation between disease-specific and patient-specific anatomical features with dysfunctional airflow patterns can be achieved by combining geometrical and flow analysis.

Reverse Estuarine Circulation Due to Local and Remote Wind Forcing, Enhanced by the Presence of Along-Coast Estuaries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Giddings, S. N.; MacCready, P.

2017-12-01

Estuarine exchange flow governs the interaction between oceans and estuaries and thus plays a large role in their biogeochemical processes. This study investigates the variability in estuarine exchange flow due to offshore oceanic conditions including upwelling/downwelling, and the presence of a river plume offshore (from a neighboring estuary). We address these processes via numerical simulations at the mouth of the Salish Sea, a large estuarine system in the Northeast Pacific. An analysis of the Total Exchange Flow indicates that during the upwelling season, the exchange flow is fairly consistent in magnitude and oriented in a positive (into the estuary at depth and out at the surface) direction. However, during periods of downwelling favorable winds, the exchange flow shows significantly more variability including multiple reversals, consistent with observations, and surface intrusions of the Columbia River plume which originates 250 km to the south. Numerical along-strait momentum budgets show that the exchange flow is forced dominantly by the pressure gradients, particularly the baroclinic. The pressure gradient is modified by Coriolis and sometimes advection, highlighting the importance of geostrophy and local adjustments. In experiments conducted without the offshore river plume, reversals still occur but are weaker, and the baroclinic pressure gradient plays a reduced role. These results suggest that estuaries along strong upwelling coastlines should experience significant modulation in the exchange flow during upwelling versus downwelling conditions. Additionally, they highlight the importance of nearby estuaries impacting one-another, not only in terms of connectivity, but also altering the exchange flow.