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A special issue of Processes (ISSN 2227-9717). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Systems".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2026 | Viewed by 5137

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Bin Ding

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Guest Editor

College of New Energy, China University of Petroleum (East China), Qingdao 266580, China
Interests: two-phase flow; heat transfer; phase change; liquid–liquid phase separation; thermal management

Dr. Xiao Cheng

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Liangjiang International College, Chongqing University of Technology, Chongqing 401135, China
Interests: two-phase flow and heat transfer in microchannels; electronic device cooling; microchannel heat exchanger; electrowetting

Dr. Mingfei Mu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

College of Mechanical and Electronic Engineering, Shandong University of Science and Technology, Qindao 266590, China
Interests: two-phase flow; heat transfer; particulate filter; thermal management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Multi-phase flow and heat and mass transfer play critical roles in various fields, including fossil energy extraction, nuclear energy, aerospace, and microelectronics. For example, the performance of microelectronic systems is constrained by the cooling efficiency of fluids in microchannels. Researchers have made significant progress in understanding multiphase flow behaviors and heat transfer characteristics. However, considerable challenges remain in controlling multiphase flow behaviors and enhancing heat transfer.

This Special Issue aims to gather and present novel technologies and advancements in ‘Multi-Phase Flow and Heat and Mass Transfer Engineering’. Topics include, but are not limited to:

Boiling heat transfer in microchannels;
Phase change heat transfer enhancement of two-phase flow;
Non-Newtonian multiphase flows;
Condensation and evaporation;
Droplet dynamic behaviors;
Melting/solidification behaviors of phase change materials (PCMs);
Experimental methods for multiphase flow and heat transfer;
Computational techniques for multiphase flow and heat transfer.

Dr. Bin Ding
Dr. Xiao Cheng
Dr. Mingfei Mu
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Processes is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

multiphase flow
phase change
heat transfer enhancement
droplets
microchannel
emerging thermo-fluid
thermal management

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Published Papers (7 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 1874 KB

Open AccessArticle

An Extended Rayleigh Equation for the Uniform Inviscid Plane Flow with Gas Bubble Crossflow

by C. Q. Ru

Processes 2025, 13(11), 3665; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13113665 - 12 Nov 2025

Viewed by 230

Abstract

The classic second-order Rayleigh equation governs the linear stability of single-phase inviscid plane flows, and its extension to two-phase inviscid plane flows with a crossflow of another fluid remains to be investigated. The present work studies the linear stability of steady uniform inviscid two-phase flow in a horizontal channel with gas bubbles injected from the lower wall and removed from the upper wall. An extended fourth-order Rayleigh equation with constant coefficients is derived for the linear stability of the two-phase uniform inviscid plane flow with the bubble crossflow injected at the bubble terminal velocity. Our analytical results show that the uniform inviscid plane flow driven by the bubble crossflow is linearly unstable with rapidly growing disturbances in the absence of the lift force. On the other hand, when the positive lift force coefficient is nearly equal to the added mass coefficient, the uniform inviscid plane flow driven by the bubble crossflow is linearly stable to the admissible disturbances consistent with the bubble-injection boundary conditions. These analytical results reveal the destabilizing effect of the bubble crossflow and confirm the stabilizing effect of the positive lift force on the inviscid plane flows, which could stimulate further research interest in the qualitatively different roles of the bubble crossflow and the lift force in the stability of inviscid plane flows as compared to viscous plane flows. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Phase Flow and Heat and Mass Transfer Engineering)

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20 pages, 3681 KB

Open AccessArticle

Development and Performance Analysis of a Novel Multi-Stage Microchannel Separated Gravity Heat Pipe for Compressor Room Cooling

by Zhihua Li, Ying Zhang, Fanghua Ye, Juan Zi, Deji Sun, Guanglie Liu, Renqin Kuang, Weiguo Jiang and Hualiang Wu

Processes 2025, 13(11), 3609; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13113609 - 7 Nov 2025

Viewed by 296

Abstract

Traditional multi-stage separated heat pipes (SHPs) face limitations in independently setting operation parameters for each stage. To address this issue, this paper presents a novel independent multi-stage microchannel Separated Gravity Heat Pipe (SGHP) for air compressor room cooling. The innovative structure and working principle of this novel multi-stage SGHP were introduced. Furthermore, numerical investigations on a single stage of the SGHP were then conducted to study the gas–liquid two-phase flow characteristics and phase-change heat transfer performance. Experimental research on a three-stage SGHP was carried out to further explore the impact of the filling ratio combinations and the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends on the heat transfer performance of the SGHP. The results show that the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends affects the flow pattern of the working fluid, which has a vital effect on the heat transfer performance of the SGHP. The optimum filling ratio combination of the three-stage SGHP depends on the temperature difference between the hot and cold ends. The optimum filling ratio combination is 37%/37%/30% at low temperature difference conditions and 43%/37%/37% at high temperature difference conditions, respectively. The highest heat transfer capacity of the three-stage SGHP reaches 15.3 kW, and the peak heat recovery efficiency is 74.0%. The findings provide a crucial foundation for developing novel independent multi-stage SGHP in compressor room cooling and similar industrial settings, promising high potential to reduce energy consumption and operational costs. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Phase Flow and Heat and Mass Transfer Engineering)

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26 pages, 3078 KB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Study on a PV/T Using Microchannel Heat Pipe

by Hu Huang, Hao Fu, Huashan Li, Chenghang Pan, Zongyu Sun and Xiao Ren

Processes 2025, 13(11), 3402; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13113402 - 23 Oct 2025

Viewed by 459

Abstract

Photovoltaic/Thermal (PV/T) technology efficiently harnesses solar energy by co-generating electricity and hot water. Unlike conventional PV systems, PV/T systems improve thermal utilization, cool PV modules, and prevent performance degradation caused by high temperatures. Among the various PV/T configurations, micro-channel heat pipe (MCHP) systems are prominent due to their ability to enhance heat transfer through the use of vacuum-filled, refrigerant-sealed MCHPs. This study explores how factors such as working fluid type, evaporation section heat flux, fill ratio, and condensation section length impact system performance. A 3D steady-state CFD model simulating phase-change heat transfer was developed to analyze thermal and electrical efficiencies. The results reveal that R134a outperforms acetone in heat transfer, with thermal resistance showing a significant decrease (from 0.5 °C·W⁻¹ at a 30% fill rate to 0.3 °C·W⁻¹ at a 70% fill rate) under varying heat source powers. The optimal fill ratio depends on the heat flux; for powers up to 70 W, the fill ratio ranges from 30% to 50%, while above 70 W, it shifts to 60–80%. Additionally, a longer condensation section reduces thermal resistance by up to 30% and enhances heat transfer efficiency, improving the overall system performance by 10%. These findings offer valuable insights into optimizing MCHP PV/T systems for increased efficiency. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Phase Flow and Heat and Mass Transfer Engineering)

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20 pages, 1498 KB

Open AccessArticle

Adaptive Differential Evolution Integration: Algorithm Development and Application to Inverse Heat Conduction

by Zhibiao Zhao, Zhen Li, Hao Luan and Yan Shi

Processes 2025, 13(5), 1293; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13051293 - 24 Apr 2025

Viewed by 517

Abstract

In response to the limitations observed in existing single intelligent optimization algorithms, particularly their shortcomings in their global search capability and population diversity, we propose the Adaptive Differential Evolution Integral (ADEI) algorithm. Drawing inspiration from the collective behaviors observed in social organisms, this algorithm introduces four roles—“leaders”, “followers”, “contemplators”, and “rationalists”—employing a dynamic following strategy to effectively integrate these diverse particles and populations. Specifically, individuals in the Differential Evolution algorithm serve as the leader population, with tailored trial vector generation strategies implemented to enhance the global search capability. Concurrently, improvements are made to the particle swarm optimization algorithm to facilitate its role as the evolution strategy for other populations. By adopting this approach, the algorithm’s population diversity is enhanced, striking a balance between the global and local search performance, thereby augmenting its search efficiency and convergence accuracy. Extensive tests using benchmark functions and engineering problems show that the proposed algorithm excels in over half of the 28 test functions. It demonstrates strong convergence and adaptability for unimodal, multimodal, and composite problems. Experiments on solving inverse heat conduction problems validate its effectiveness in real-world scenarios and highlight its potential for engineering applications. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Phase Flow and Heat and Mass Transfer Engineering)

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21 pages, 11950 KB

Open AccessArticle

Hot-Wire Investigation of Turbulent Flow over Vibrating Low-Pressure Turbine Blade Cascade

by Vitalii Yanovych, Hryhorii Kaletnik, Volodymyr Tsymbalyuk, Daniel Duda and Václav Uruba

Processes 2025, 13(4), 926; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13040926 - 21 Mar 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1039

Abstract

This paper presents experimental results on unsteady turbulent flow in a low-pressure turbine blade cascade, specifically exploring the effects of blade vibrations on wake topology and turbulence structure. The study focused on comparing the flow patterns of a stationary blade to those observed during its bending and torsion vibrations. Hot-wire anemometry was used for the experimental analysis. The flow velocity was characterized by a chord-based Reynolds number of approximately

R e_{c} \approx 2.3 \times 10^{5}

, with the excitation frequency set at

f = 72.8 Hz

. The findings reveal a strong effect of the bending mode on the wake topology, resulting in a 5% reduction in the streamwise velocity deficit compared to the stationary and torsional modes. Additionally, the bending mode encourages the active formation of large vortices in the wake region, which leads to a fivefold increase in the integral length scale. In contrast, the Kolmogorov microscale remains consistent across all scenarios, exhibiting a minimum in the wake region and a maximum in the inter-blade space. The paper also discusses the impact of blade oscillations on the energy dissipation rate. Various calculation methods yield consistent results, indicating that the lowest dissipation rate occurs during the bending mode. Furthermore, the paper emphasizes the spectral analysis of turbulent flow and provides a comprehensive assessment of the Taylor microscale under different experimental censorious. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Phase Flow and Heat and Mass Transfer Engineering)

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17 pages, 12837 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Geometric Effect on the Two-Fluid Mixing in Planetary Centrifugal Mixer During Spin-Up: A Numerical Study

by Liang Qin, Huan Han, Xiaoxia Lu, Lei Li, Jianghai Liu, Xiaofang Yan and Yinze Zhang

Processes 2025, 13(3), 874; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13030874 - 16 Mar 2025

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 900

Abstract

In this paper, the geometric effect on flow structure and mixing performance of two miscible fluids (deionized water and glycerol) in a planetary centrifugal mixer (PCM) during the spin-up is numerically evaluated, using the OpenFOAM interMixingFoam solver. Six different aspect ratios, specifically 0.5, 1, 1.25, 1.5, 2, and 2.5, are considered. The flow structure in each geometric configuration is illustrated by the liquid interface and vorticity isosurface represented by the Q criterion, while the mixing performance is evaluated in terms of a mixing index

M I

. As the aspect ratio increases from small to large,

M I

first increases and then decreases. The peak

M I

at the end of spin-up reaches 0.196 for the aspect ratio of 1.25, rather than the other five aspect ratios in our study. The mechanism analysis shows that under an aspect ratio of 1.25, the vortex structure is most violently dissipated, the interface collapse degree is the largest, and the low-velocity region volume is the smallest, which enhances the chaotic convection mixing. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Phase Flow and Heat and Mass Transfer Engineering)

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16 pages, 4369 KB

Open AccessArticle

Numerical Investigation of Heat Transfer Characteristics Between Thermochemical Heat Storage Materials and Compressed Natural Gas in a Moving Bed

by Liang Wang, Yun Jia, Yu Tan and Bin Ding

Processes 2025, 13(1), 8; https://doi.org/10.3390/pr13010008 - 24 Dec 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 988

Abstract

To promote energy conservation and a low-carbon approach in natural gas storage, efficient methods for utilizing waste heat during gas injection and maintaining adequate cooling rates are crucial. This study developed a three-dimensional model integrating the desorption process of hydrated salts to analyze temperature and flow fields within a moving bed during heat exchange. This study systematically evaluated the effects of operating parameters on key outcomes, including the outlet temperatures of hydrated salts and natural gas, as well as the waste heat recovery ratio. Results indicated that the outlet temperatures of natural gas and particles varied synchronously, while the waste heat recovery ratio exhibited an inverse relationship with the natural gas outlet temperature. Remarkably, incorporating a composite material comprising hydrated calcium chloride and hydrated magnesium sulfate into the moving bed reduced the natural gas outlet temperature from 60 °C to 47.5 °C. Concurrently, the waste heat recovery ratio improved substantially, rising from 66% to 90%. Furthermore, the proposed moving bed heat exchange system requires less than one-third of the volume of conventional natural gas air-cooled heat exchangers. These findings provide theoretical insights and robust data support for enhancing cross-seasonal waste heat utilization in natural gas storage facilities. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Multi-Phase Flow and Heat and Mass Transfer Engineering)

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