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At least 181 records · Page 10

Parametric Study of Panel PCM–Air Heat Exchanger Designs

Heat exchangers, devices for the transfer of heat between two or more working fluids, are extensively used in cooling applications and heating applications. Heat exchangers in buildings are typically components of space-conditioning systems, as well as of water-heating applications. Heat exchangers are also sometimes used in applications that require storage and release of energy at specific times. Phase change materials (PCMs) enhance these heat-exchange processes, given their ability to melt and solidify at a fixed range of temperatures, absorbing or releasing significant amounts of latent heat. Five different configurations of PCM–air heat exchangers for thermal control in buildings are analyzed in this work. The heat exchangers were fitted with PCM encapsulated in plastic and composite pouches of various shapes, and packaged in stackable panel layers. Three-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) modeling of coupled incompressible fluid and conjugate heat transfer were performed on the designs. The phase change process was numerically modelled using the apparent heat capacity method. Steady-state CFD simulations provided quantification of pressure drop as a function of air flow velocity. Transient simulation results describe the thermal evolution of PCM in the pouches, helping to determine the best performing configuration with respect to total thermal charging time.

10 SYNTHETIC FUELS↗

Exchange‐Interaction‐Like Behavior in Ferroelectric Bilayers

Abstract Interlayer coupling in materials, such as exchange interactions at the interface between an antiferromagnet and a ferromagnet, can produce exotic phenomena not present in the parent materials. While such interfacial coupling in magnetic systems is widely studied, there is considerably less work on analogous electric counterparts (i.e., akin to electric “exchange‐bias‐like” or “exchange‐spring‐like” interactions between two polar materials) despite the likelihood that such effects can also engender new features associated with anisotropic electric dipole alignment. Here, electric analogs of such exchange interactions are reported, and their physical origins are explained for bilayers of in‐plane polarized Pb 1−x Sr x TiO 3 ferroelectrics. Variation of the strontium content and thickness of the layers provides for deterministic control over the switching properties of the bilayer system resulting in phenomena analogous to an exchange‐spring interaction and, leveraging added control of these interactions with an electric field, the ability to realize multistate‐memory function. Such observations not only hold technological promise for ferroelectrics and multiferroics but also extend the similarities between ferromagnetic and ferroelectric materials to include the manifestation of exchange‐interaction‐like phenomena.

Kavle, Pravin↗

Design of a SiC-Si moving packed-bed particle-to-sCO 2 heat exchanger for high temperature concentrating solar power applications

Particle-based concentrating solar power systems integrated with sCO 2 power cycles offer high thermal efficiencies but require durable heat exchangers to transfer heat from high-temperature particles to the sCO 2 working fluid. Here, this study presents the design and optimization of a silicon carbide-silicon moving packed-bed heat exchanger for fabrication via binder jetting additive manufacturing. The heat exchanger was designed to withstand a 20 MPa sCO 2 pressure and operate at particle inlet temperatures up to 750 °C. The final design features 152 sCO 2 channels distributed across 19 plates, with elliptical corners and a minimum wall thickness of 3 mm. Flow restrictors at the sCO 2 channel inlets significantly improved flow uniformity, reducing thermal stresses and achieving a structural reliability of 99 % under representative operating conditions. The heat exchanger delivers a thermal duty of 9 kW and a volumetric power density of approximately 1 MW/m 3 in the channel region. Sensitivity studies confirmed the heat exchanger’s robustness under varying operating conditions, demonstrating its viability as a high-performance alternative to metallic heat exchangers for particle-based high-temperature concentrating solar power applications.

Barua, Bipul [Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), A↗

Mechanism of anion exchange and small-molecule inhibition of pendrin

Pendrin (SLC26A4) is an anion exchanger that mediates bicarbonate (HCO 3 - ) exchange for chloride (Cl-) and is crucial for maintaining pH and salt homeostasis in the kidney, lung, and cochlea. Pendrin also exports iodide (I - ) in the thyroid gland. Pendrin mutations in humans lead to Pendred syndrome, causing hearing loss and goiter. Inhibition of pendrin is a validated approach for attenuating airway hyperresponsiveness in asthma and for treating hypertension. However, the mechanism of anion exchange and its inhibition by drugs remains poorly understood. We applied cryo-electron microscopy to determine structures of pendrin from Sus scrofa in the presence of either Cl - , I - , HCO 3 - or in the apo-state. The structures reveal two anion-binding sites in each protomer, and functional analyses show both sites are involved in anion exchange. The structures also show interactions between the Sulfate Transporter and Anti-Sigma factor antagonist (STAS) and transmembrane domains, and mutational studies suggest a regulatory role. We also determine the structure of pendrin in a complex with niflumic acid (NFA), which uncovers a mechanism of inhibition by competing with anion binding and impeding the structural changes necessary for anion exchange. These results reveal directions for understanding the mechanisms of anion selectivity and exchange and their regulations by the STAS domain. This work also establishes a foundation for analyzing the pathophysiology of mutations associated with Pendred syndrome.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Emergence of exchange bias in van der Waals magnetic alloy CrxPt1−xTe2

Abstract Cr x Pt 1− x Te 2 is a recently developed van der Waals magnetic alloy noted for its stability under ambient conditions. Here, we report the emergence of an exchange bias effect in Cr x Pt 1− x Te 2 , without typical exchange bias sources such as an adjacent antiferromagnetic layer. We find that the exchange bias is present for x = 0.45 and absent for x = 0.35, which is correlated to the presence of a Cr modulation where the Cr concentration alternates each vdW layer (modulation period of 2 layers) for x ≥ 0.4. We perform Monte Carlo simulations utilizing exchange parameters from first-principles calculations, which recreate the exchange bias in hysteresis loops of Cr 0.45 Pt 0.55 Te 2 . From our simulations, we infer the source of exchange bias to be magnetic moments locked into free energy minima that resist magnetization reversal. This work presents a way to introduce desirable magnetic properties to van der Waals magnets.

Bailey-Crandell, Ryan↗

Domain state exchange bias in a single layer FeRh thin film formed via low energy ion implantation

Modern spintronics relies heavily on the exchange bias effect to pin the orientation of ferromagnetic layers in magnetic tunnel junctions. The current implementations of exchange bias in magnetic tunnel junctions employ pristine interfaces between antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic layers. Here we reveal an interfacial exchange bias introduced by a single-step, low-energy ion implantation process in a single layer FeRh thin film. Both 1 keV He + ions and 5 keV Fe + were investigated, their energy selected to ensure the ions would stop within the FeRh film. The ions reduce the metamagnetic transition temperature through defect generation to form a surface layer with ferromagnetic ordering. Temperature dependent magnetism measurements reveal a room temperature exchange bias between the ferromagnetic surface and the antiferromagnetic bulk of ~41 Oe in 5 keV Fe + implanted samples and ~36 Oe for 1 keV He + implanted samples. We directly scrutinize this exchange bias effect in magnetic depth profiles obtained by polarized neutron reflectometry which clearly show a pinned ferromagnetic layer adjacent to the disordered layer created by low energy Fe + ion implantation. These results reveal a novel method to implement exchange bias in an antiferromagnetic layer that can have direct application in the field of spintronics.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Review of Ion Exchange Technologies for Cesium Removal from Caustic Tank Waste

This article reviews the historical uses of and current research into ion exchange for the removal of cesium (Cs) from defense-related nuclear waste streams. Emphasis is placed on key attributes of the two current leading ion exchangers for Cs removal: spherical resorcinol-formaldehyde, an elutable organic resin, and crystalline silicotitanate, a non-elutable crystalline solid. An understanding of the successes, issues, and limitations of past ion exchange experience may be helpful in better understanding current ion exchanger use. Emphasis is placed on Cs capacity, exchange kinetics, stability, and column hydrodynamics for processing alkaline wastes as well as the final waste forms of the ion exchangers.

Fiskum, Sandra K.↗

High-Temperature Particle Heat Exchanger for sCO2 Power Cycles [Award 30342]

This report describes the design, development, and testing of a prototype 100 kWt particle-to-supercritical CO 2 (sCO2) heat exchanger. An analytic hierarchy process was implemented to compare and evaluate alternative heat-exchanger designs (fluidized bed, shell-and-plate moving packed bed, and shell-and-tube moving packed bed) that could meet the high pressure (≥ 20 MPa) and high temperature (≥ 700 °C) operational requirements associated with sCO2 power cycles. Cost, heat-transfer coefficient, structural reliability, manufacturability, parasitics and heat losses, scalability, compatibility, erosion and corrosion, transient operation, and inspection ease were considered in the evaluation. A 100 kWt shell-and-plate design was selected for construction and integration with Sandia’s falling particle receiver system that heats the particles using concentrated sunlight. Sandia worked with industry to design and construct the moving packed-bed shell-and-plate heat exchanger. Tests were performed to evaluate its performance using both electrical heating and concentrated sunlight to heat the particles. Overall heat transfer coefficients at off-design conditions (reduced operating temperatures and only three stainless steel banks in the counter-crossflow heat exchanger) were measured to be approximately ~25 - 70 W/m 2 -K, significantly lower than simulated values of >100 W/m 2 -K. Tests using the falling particle receiver to heat the particles with concentrated sunlight yielded overall heat transfer coefficients of ~35 – 80 W/m 2 -K with four banks (including a nickel-alloy bank above the three stainless steel banks). The overall heat transfer coefficient was observed to decrease with increasing particle inlet temperatures, which contrasted the results of simulations that showed an increase in heat transfer coefficient with temperature due to increased effective particle-bed thermal conductivity from radiation. The likely cause of the discrepancy was particle-flow maldistributions and funnel flow within the heat exchanger caused by internal ledges and cross-bracing, which could have been exacerbated by increased particle-wall friction at higher temperatures. Additional heat loss at higher temperatures may also contribute to a lower overall heat-transfer coefficient. Design challenges including pressure drop, particle and sCO2 flow maldistribution, and reduced heat transfer coefficient are discussed with approaches for mitigation in future designs. Lessons learned regarding instrumentation, performance characterization, and operation of particle components and sCO2 flow loops are also discussed. Finally, a 200 MWt commercial-scale shell-and-plate heat-exchanger design based on the concepts investigated in this report is proposed.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Fitness For Service Assessment of a Corroded Heat Exchanger

Within the Fermi National Accelerator complex, there exist various water systems that support accelerator operations. One of these systems is extremely vital to the operation of the machine; that is the cooling system. The cooling system consists of nine relatively large heat exchangers that take untreated pond water and use it to cool the process fluid that further cools machine components. Over the 30 years these heat exchangers have been in operation, they have undergone significant material loss on the channels. This material loss, due to various forms of corrosion such as galvanic and microbiologically influenced corrosion (MIC) and possibly others, has deteriorated more than 80% of the nominal wall thickness of some of the exchangers and placed them in a questionable state. ASME FFS-1 (API 579) has been applied to address the condition of the heat exchangers due to their noncompliance with the governing code, BPVC Sec. VIII Div. 1. The assessments encompassed ASME FFS-1 parts 4: General Metal Loss and 9: Crack Like Flaw using level 1, 2, and 3 analysis techniques based on inspection data obtained by API 510 inspections. Level 1 and 2 assessments were deemed unfit for the corroded regions due to their location relative to a major structural discontinuity (channel to tube-sheet joint), so a level 3 analysis was conducted according to ASME Sec. VIII Div. 2 (design by analysis) rules for pressure vessels. Supplemental information included pond water tests to determine an accurate future corrosion allowance due to lacking inspection history. A leak before break (LBB) route was chosen to evaluate the possibility of leaking prior to the onset of failure. The analysis of one heat exchanger shows that the possibility the channel will develop a pinhole leak over 2.5 more years of operation should not be overlooked, but burst was unlikely from operation. The use of fracture mechanics show, that if a through-wall crack were to develop, it would not propagate further than the channel geometry and cause a leak not greater than 35 GPM. Using ASME Section XI Code Case N-705-1, allowing us to operate with a leak until the next outage given certain operating conditions and developing a leak mitigation procedure, this heat exchanger is deemed fit-for-service.

Humenik, Alex [Fermilab]↗

IMPACT OF SOIL TEMPERATURE VARIATION ON PERFORMANCE MODELING OF A NOVEL SHALLOW BORE GROUND HEAT EXCHANGER

A novel shallow bore (< 6 m deep) ground heat exchanger is proposed to substitute the conventional vertical bore ground heat exchanger (> 60 m deep) for ground source heat pump systems. A series of simulations were carried out to evaluate the impacts of the vertical soil temperature profile on the performance of the shallow bore ground heat exchanger in response to thermal loads of a ground source heat pump system, with various lengths of the shallow bore ground heat exchanger and ground thermal properties. The results indicate that the vertical soil temperature profile has a noticeable influence on the thermal response of the shallow bore ground heat exchanger. Moreover, for shallow bore ground heat exchangers with the same volume and buried depth, the one with greater length and narrower diameter has lower tank water temperature fluctuations over the year due to relatively more stable soil temperature, and the larger surface to volume ratio.

Shi, Liang↗

System for fast draining of an airfan heat exchanger and methods of using the same

A system for draining an airfan heat exchanger includes an airfan heat exchanger including a housing, a pressurized gas source fluidly coupled to the airfan heat exchanger and configured to hold a purging gas at a predetermined pressure, and a controller configured to control delivery of the purging gas to the airfan heat exchanger. The pressurized gas source is configured to provide a flow of the purging gas to the airfan heat exchanger and thereby drain water held in the airfan heat exchanger. The purging gas to the airfan will cause the airfan to drain quickly avoiding potential damage to the airfan from freezing of the water during cold weather.

Jahnke, Fred C.↗

Flow assisted anti-fouling geometries for compact heat exchangers

A header for a heat exchanger and method for cleaning a heat exchanger in a loop without disconnecting loop components is provided. The header is in flow communication with the heat exchanger for distributing fluid through a plurality of adjacent channels. The header is connected between a main heat exchanger inlet nozzle and a channel flow distributor. A filter element is disposed within the header between the nozzle and channel flow distributor. Under normal operation, the filter element removes particulates and fouling material from the main flow stream before it enters the heat exchanger channels. During the cleaning process, fluid is injected on or through the filter element to remove particulates and fouling material through at least one outlet port. The header arrangement allows the filter element to be ‘cleaned in place’ without draining the system and disconnecting the heat exchanger or other components from the flow loop.

Carlson, Matthew David↗

Experimental study of R452B and R454B as drop-in replacement for R410A in split heat pumps having tube-fin and microchannel heat exchangers

The objective of this study is to experimentally evaluate two residential split heat pumps using low-GWP refrigerants, i.e., R452B and R454B, and compare the results against R410A. In this work, each heat pump used the same model of two-speed scroll compressor, the same indoor blower and outdoor fan. However, they were distinguished by the indoor and outdoor heat exchanger types: tube-fin heat exchangers (TFHXs) in one case, and microchannel heat exchangers (MCHXs) in the other. The two heat pumps were extensively evaluated following the test conditions for two-speed SEER (cooling seasonal energy efficiency rating)/HSPF (heating seasonal performance factor) ratings.In general, these results show that R452B and R454B are good replacement candidates for R410A for heat pump using tube-fin heat exchangers and microchannel heat exchangers. R452B and R454B led to lower capacities. In the TFHX heat pump, on average, compared to the performance of R410A, the cooling capacity of R452B is 96%; the heating capacity of R452B is 91%; the cooling capacity of R454B is 95%, the heat capacity of R454B is 89%. In the MCHX heat pump, the cooling capacity of R452B is 97%; the heating capacity of R452B is 97%; the cooling capacity of R454B is 98%, the heat capacity of R454B is 97%. With respect to cooling and heating seasonal performances, in the TFHX heat pump, the SEERs of R452B and R454B are 1.5% lower than R410A. HSPFs of the three refrigerants are identical. In the MCHX heat pump, R454B has 7% higher SEER, and R452B has 2% higher SEER than R410A; in heating mode, R454B has the same HSPF as R410A, while R452B is 4% more efficient. The compressor lubricant overheating issue of R452B and R454B, at low ambient heating condition, high stage, should be noticed.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Evaluation of Heat Exchanger Technology for Integrated Energy System: Methodology and Preliminary Application

This report proposes a novel heat exchanger evaluation method, based on integrated QFD-AHP technique, to support strategic optimal selection of heat exchanger (HX) technology for integrated energy systems. The term “optimal selection” is defined as selecting a product (i.e., HX) that best meets various aspects of end user demand, including both technical and economic requirements. Compared to previous HX evaluation methods, the proposed approach allows decision makers to explicitly take into account the practical demand of customers (i.e., HX end users) which may vary depending on the HX application target. In addition, the proposed evaluation method can be used not only for high-level decisions to select HX type, but also for low-level decisions such as the selection of the key components including HX material or heat transfer fluid. The focus of this study is to describe the new HX evaluation method and to illustrate the overall HX evaluation and selection processes using the three nuclear heat application cases that represent the thermal integration between advanced nuclear reactors and industrial processes. As a preliminary study, three different types of HX, i.e., shell-and-tube heat exchanger, printed circuit heat exchanger, and heat pipe heat exchanger, were compared.

42 ENGINEERING↗

RKKY Exchange Bias Mediated Ultrafast All-Optical Switching of a Ferromagnet

The discovery of ultrafast helicity-independent all-optical switching (HI-AOS), as well as picosecond all-electrical switching of a ferrimagnet, has inspired the ultrafast spintronics community to explore ultrafast switching of a ferromagnet to achieve practical ultrafast storage and memory devices. Two explored mechanisms of HI-AOS of a ferromagnet in ferromagnet-ferrimagnet heterostructure are: a) exploiting the indirect exchange coupling with and b) injection of non-local spin current originated from a switching ferrimagnet. Here, in this manuscript, exchange mediated HI-AOS of a Ruderman–Kittel–Kasuya–Yosida (RKKY) exchange coupled “[Co/Pt]-multilayers/Pt spacer/CoGd” heterostructure is demonstrated. The authors have measured layer-resolved static magnetic properties, single-shot HI-AOS, and magnetization dynamics of the ferromagnetic Co/Pt multilayers (MLs), that are ferromagnetically or antiferromagnetically coupled with ferrimagnetic CoGd layers. Time-resolved magnetization dynamics reveal a 3.5 ps switching time of the Co/Pt MLs, which is the fastest switching of a ferromagnet reported to date. Employing an extended microscopic three-temperature model, the temporal dynamics of the exchange coupled ferromagnet–ferrimagnet heterostructure are simulated, qualitatively and quantitatively explaining the experimental switching phenomena. This work experimentally as well as theoretically establishes the mechanism of exchange mediated all-optical switching of ferromagnet-ferrimagnet heterostructures, which can be integrated with a magnetic tunnel junction for efficient reading after ultrafast energy-efficient switching.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

High‐Efficiency Ion‐Exchange Doping of Conducting Polymers

Abstract Molecular doping—the use of redox‐active small molecules as dopants for organic semiconductors—has seen a surge in research interest driven by emerging applications in sensing, bioelectronics, and thermoelectrics. However, molecular doping carries with it several intrinsic problems stemming directly from the redox‐active character of these materials. A recent breakthrough was a doping technique based on ion‐exchange, which separates the redox and charge compensation steps of the doping process. Here, the equilibrium and kinetics of ion exchange doping in a model system, poly(2,5‐bis(3‐alkylthiophen‐2‐yl)thieno(3,2‐b)thiophene) (PBTTT) doped with FeCl 3 and an ionic liquid, is studied, reaching conductivities in excess of 1000 S cm −1 and ion exchange efficiencies above 99%. Several factors that enable such high performance, including the choice of acetonitrile as the doping solvent, which largely eliminates electrolyte association effects and dramatically increases the doping strength of FeCl 3 , are demonstrated. In this high ion exchange efficiency regime, a simple connection between electrochemical doping and ion exchange is illustrated, and it is shown that the performance and stability of highly doped PBTTT is ultimately limited by intrinsically poor stability at high redox potential.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Microstructural Underpinnings of Giant Intrinsic Exchange Bias in Epitaxial NiCo 2 O 4 Thin Films

Understanding intrinsic exchange bias in nominally single-component ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic materials is crucial for simplifying related device architectures. However, the mechanisms behind this phenomenon and its tunability remain elusive, which hinders the efforts to achieve unidirectional magnetization for widespread applications. Inspired by the high tunability of ferrimagnetic inverse spinel NiCo 2 O 4 , the origin of intrinsic exchange bias in NiCo 2 O 4 (111) films deposited on Al 2 O 3 (0001) substrates are investigated. The comprehensive characterizations, including electron diffraction, X-ray reflectometry and spectroscopy, and polarized neutron reflectometry, reveal that intrinsic exchange bias in NiCo 2 O 4 (111)/Al 2 O 3 (0001) arises from a reconstructed antiferromagnetic rock-salt Ni x Co 1-x O layer at the interface between the film and the substrate due to a significant structural mismatch. Remarkably, by engineering the interfacial structure under optimal growth conditions, it can achieve exchange bias larger than coercivity, leading to unidirectional magnetization. Such giant intrinsic exchange bias can be utilized for realistic device applications. This work establishes a new material platform based on NiCo 2 O 4 , an emergent spintronics material, to study tunable interfacial magnetic and spintronic properties.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Experimental investigation on phase change material–based finned tube heat exchanger for thermal energy storage and building envelope thermal management

Phase change materials (PCMs) are attractive solutions for thermal energy storage (TES) applications by absorbing and releasing large amounts of latent heat during solid–liquid phase transitions. However, their relatively low thermal conductivity requires novel heat exchanger–based solutions to improve the power density and overall energy storage efficiency of the TES system. This work presents the design and experimental results of a finned tube heat exchanger to store collected natural thermal energy from a building envelope in a latent-based TES and to release it later for building heating/cooling applications. We experimentally evaluate the finned tube heat exchanger and evaluate the performance of TES in reducing building heating and cooling loads over 3–4 h of desired time of operation (e.g., peak load). The optimized design allows for maximum energy density by minimizing the heat exchanger volume, and the system is evaluated experimentally using commercially available heat exchanger materials and an organic PCM. Here, the experimental results reveal that the TES system is able to charge and discharge stored latent energy within 3–4 h, matching peak building electricity demand duration under an average fluid flow rate of 0.136 kg/s and temperature difference of 5.55 °C. Importantly, such optimized designs illuminate a path toward TES designs that are low-cost, scalable, and optimized for thermal energy and power availability under the desired time of operation.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗