Search Results (203)

The freezing method is widely employed in the construction of a vertical shaft in soft soil and water-rich strata. As the construction depth increases, investigating the water–heat–force coupling effects induced by the hydration heat (internal heat source) of concrete is crucial for the safety of the lining structure and its resistance to cracking and seepage. A three-dimensional coupled thermal–hydraulic–mechanical analysis model was developed, incorporating temperature and soil relative saturation as unknown variables based on heat transfer in porous media, unsaturated soil seepage, and frost heave theory. The coefficient type PDE module in COMSOL was used for secondary development to solve the coupling equation, and the on-site temperature and pressure monitoring data of the frozen construction process were compared. This study obtained the model-related parameters and elucidated the evolution mechanism of freeze–thaw and freeze–swelling pressures of a frozen wall under the influence of hydration heat. The resulting model shows that the maximum thaw depth of the frozen wall reaches 0.3576 m after 160 h of pouring, with an error rate of 4.64% compared to actual measurements. The peak temperature of the shaft wall is 73.62 °C, with an error rate of 3.76%. The maximum influence range of hydration heat on the frozen temperature field is 1.763 m. The peak freezing pressure is 4.72 MPa, which exhibits a 5.03% deviation from the actual measurements, thereby confirming the reliability of the resulting model. According to the strength growth pattern of concrete and the freezing pressure bearing requirements, it can provide a theoretical basis for quality control of the lining structure and a safety assessment of the freezing wall. Full article

The paper explores the application of heat pipes in thermal management for efficient heat dissipation, particularly in electrical equipment with high heat loads. Heat pipes are devices that transfer heat with high efficiency through the phase transition of the working medium (e.g., water, alcohol, ammonia) between the evaporator and the condenser, while they have no moving parts and are distinguished by their simplicity of construction. Different types of heat pipes—gravity, capillary, and closed loop (thermosiphon loop)—are suitable according to specific applications and requirements for the working position, temperature range, and condensate return transport. An example of an effective application is the removal of heat from the internal winding of a static energy converter transformer, where the use of a gravity heat pipe has enabled effective cooling even through epoxy insulation and kept the winding temperature below 80 °C. Other applications include the cooling of mounting plates, power transistors, and airtight cooling of electrical enclosures with the ability to dissipate lost thermal power in the order of 102 to 103 W. A significant advantage of heat pipes is also the ability to dust-tightly seal equipment and prevent the build-up of dirt, thereby increasing the reliability of the electronics. In the field of environmental technology, systems have been designed to reduce the radiant power of fireplace inserts by up to 40%, or to divert their heat output of up to about 3 kW into hot water storage tanks, thus optimising the use of the heat produced and preventing overheating of the living space. The use of nanoparticles in the working substances (e.g., Al₂O₃ in water) makes it possible to intensify the boiling process and thus increase the heat transfer intensity by up to 30% compared to pure water. The results of the presented research confirm the versatility and high efficiency of the use of heat pipes for modern cooling requirements in electronics and environmental engineering. Full article

This paper presents an analytical investigation of the free vibration behavior of fiber metal laminate (FML) beams with three types of boundary conditions, considering the temperature-dependent properties and the interfacial slip. In the proposed model, the non-uniform temperature field is derived based on one-dimensional heat conduction theory using a transfer formulation. Subsequently, based on the two-dimensional elasticity theory, the governing equations are established. Compared with shear deformation theories, the present solution does not rely on a shear deformation assumption, enabling more accurate capture of interlaminar shear effects and higher-order vibration modes. The relationship of stresses and displacements is determined by the differential quadrature method, the state-space method and the transfer matrix method. Since the corresponding matrix is singular due to the absence of external loads, the natural frequencies are determined using the bisection method. The comparison study indicates that the present solutions are consistent with experimental results, and the errors of finite element simulation and the solution based on the first-order shear deformation theory reach 3.81% and 3.96%, respectively. At last, the effects of temperature, the effects of temperature degree, interface bonding and boundary conditions on the vibration performance of the FML beams are investigated in detail. The research results provide support for the design and analysis of FML beams under high-temperature and vibration environments in practical engineering. Full article

In deep-sea oil and gas development scenarios, deep-sea dual-channel connectors often face the risk of seal failure due to internal and external temperature difference loads. To address this issue, this paper systematically establishes equivalent heat transfer models for the key parts of the connector based on the third-type boundary condition. On this basis, the quantitative correlation between the equivalent thermal conductivity, composite heat transfer coefficient and temperature of each part is explored. Using the finite element numerical simulation method, the transient temperature field of the connector under three working conditions (heating, cooling and temperature shock) is simulated and analyzed, revealing the temperature distribution characteristics and temperature change trends of the maximum temperature difference of each key component of the connector; combined with thermal–structural coupling simulation, the temperature field is converted into static load, to determine the behavior of the contact stress on the sealing surface under different temperature–pressure coupling working conditions; in addition, by placing the test prototype in a high-low temperature cycle chamber, the seal performance tests under pressurized and non-pressurized working conditions are carried out to verify the reliable sealing performance of the connector under variable temperature conditions. The results of this paper provide comprehensive theoretical support and an experimental basis for the thermodynamic optimization design of deep-sea connectors and the improvement of the reliability of the sealing system. Full article

In the present article, we study a nonlinear mathematical model for the steady-state non-isothermal flow of a dilute solution of flexible polymer chains between two infinite horizontal plates. Both plates are assumed to be at rest and impermeable, while the flow is driven by a constant pressure gradient. The fluid rheology model used is FENE-P type. The flow energy dissipation (mechanical-to-thermal energy conversion) is taken into account by using the Rayleigh function in the heat transfer equation. On the channel walls, we use one-parameter Navier’s conditions, which include a wide class of flow regimes at solid boundaries: from no-slip to perfect slip. Moreover, we consider the case of threshold-type slip boundary conditions, which state the slipping occurs only when the magnitude of the shear stresses overcomes a certain threshold value. Closed-form exact solutions to the corresponding boundary value problems are obtained. These solutions represent explicit formulas for the calculation of the velocity field, the temperature distribution, the pressure, the extra stresses, and the configuration tensor. The results of the work favor better understanding and more accurate description of complex dynamics and energy transfer processes in FENE-P fluid flows. Full article

Hydrate-based CO₂ sequestration is considered one of the most promising methods in the field of carbon capture, utilization, and storage. The abundant fractured environments in marine sediments provide an ideal setting for the sequestration of CO₂ hydrate. Investigating the kinetics and morphological characteristics of CO₂ hydrate formation within fractures is a critical prerequisite for achieving efficient and safe CO₂ sequestration using hydrate technology in subsea environments. Based on the aforementioned considerations, the kinetic experiments on the formation, dissociation, and reformation of CO₂ hydrates were conducted using a high-pressure visualization experimental system in this study. The kinetic behaviors and morphological characteristics of CO₂ hydrates within sandstone fractures were comprehensively investigated. Particular emphasis was placed on analyzing the effects of fracture width, type, and surface roughness on the processes of hydrate formation, dissociation, and reformation. The experimental results indicate the following: (1) At a formation pressure of 2.9 MPa, the 10 mm width fracture exhibited the shortest induction time, the longest formation duration, and the highest hydrate yield (approximately 0.52 mol) compared to the other two fracture widths. The formed CO₂ hydrates exhibited a smooth, thin-walled morphology. (2) In X-type fractures, the formation of CO₂ hydrates was characterized by concurrent induction and dissolution processes. Compared to I-type fractures, the hydrate formation process in X-type fractures exhibited shorter formation durations and generally lower hydrate yields. (3) An increase in fracture roughness enhances the number of nucleation sites for the formation of hydrates. In both fracture types (I-type and X-type), the induction time for CO₂ hydrate formation was nearly negligible. However, a significant difference in the trend of formation duration was observed under varying roughness conditions. (4) Hydrate dissociation follows a diffusion-controlled mechanism, progressing from the fracture walls towards the interior. The maximum gas production was achieved in the 10 mm-width fracture, reaching 0.24 mol, indicating optimal heat and mass transfer conditions under this configuration. (5) During the reformation process, the induction time was significantly shortened due to the “memory effect.” However, the hydrate yield after the reformation process remained consistently lower than that of the first formation, which is primarily attributed to the high solubility of CO₂ in the aqueous phase. Full article

Moderate electric field (MEF) technology is an electro-heating technology that involves the application of electric fields less than 1000 V cm⁻¹, with or without the effect of heat, to induce heating and enhance mass transfer in food processing operations. The rapid heating capabilities and higher energy efficiency make MEF a viable alternative to traditional processing methods in the food industry. Recent advancements in MEF processing of foods have focused on optimizing equipment design and process parameters and integrating digital tools to broaden their application across a wide range of food processes. This review provides a comprehensive overview of recent developments related to the design of MEF systems for various operations, including single and multicomponent food systems. The thermal efficiency and energy saving of MEF treatment in various food processing operations largely depend on the type and arrangement of the electrodes, and operating frequency and composition of the food matrix. A thorough understanding of the electrical properties of single and multicomponent food systems is crucial for analyzing their behavior and interactions with applied electric fields, and for designing an efficient MEF system. In addition, integrating digital tools and physics-based models could play a significant role in real-time monitoring, predictive process control, and process optimization to enhance productivity, reduce energy consumption, and ensure improved product quality and safety. This makes the MEF technology economically viable and sustainable, which also improves the scalability and integration into existing processing lines. Full article

A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) numerical simulation methodology was implemented to model transient heating processes in steel industry reheating furnaces, targeting combustion efficiency optimization and carbon emission reduction. The effects of oxygen concentration (O₂%) and different fuel types on the flow and heat transfer characteristics were investigated under both oxygen-enriched combustion and MILD oxy-fuel combustion. The results indicate that MILD oxy-fuel combustion promotes flue gas entrainment via high-velocity oxygen jets, leading to a substantial improvement in the uniformity of the furnace temperature field. The effect is most obvious at O₂% = 31%. MILD oxy-fuel combustion significantly reduces NOx emissions, achieving levels that are one to two orders of magnitude lower than those under oxygen-enriched combustion. Under MILD conditions, the oxygen mass fraction in flue gas remains below 0.001 when O₂% ≤ 81%, indicating effective dilution. In contrast, oxygen-enriched combustion leads to a sharp rise in flame temperature with an increasing oxygen concentration, resulting in a significant increase in NOx emissions. Elevating the oxygen concentration enhances both thermal efficiency and the energy-saving rate for both combustion modes; however, the rate of improvement diminishes when O₂% exceeds 51%. Based on these findings, MILD oxy-fuel combustion using mixed gas or natural gas is recommended for reheating furnaces operating at O₂% = 51–71%, while coke oven gas is not. Full article

Investigating soil temperature and the heat transfer process is essential for understanding water–heat changes and energy balance in farmland. The conversion from upland fields (UFs) to paddy fields (PFs) alters the land cover, irrigation regimes, and soil properties, leading to differences in soil temperature, thermal properties, and heat fluxes. Our study aimed to quantify the effects of converting UFs to PFs on soil temperature and heat transfer processes, and to elucidate its underlying mechanisms. A long-term cultivated UF and a newly developed PF (converted from a UF in May 2015) were selected for this study. Soil water content (SWC) and temperature were monitored hourly over two years (June 2017 to June 2019) in five soil horizons (i.e., 10, 20, 40, 60, and 90 cm) at both fields. The mean soil temperature differences between the UF and PF at each depth on the annual scale varied from −0.1 to 0.4 °C, while they fluctuated more significantly on the seasonal (−0.9~1.8 °C), monthly (−1.5~2.5 °C), daily (−5.6~4.9 °C), and hourly (−7.3~11.3 °C) scales. The SWC in the PF was significantly higher than that in the UF, primarily due to differences in tillage practices, which resulted in a narrower range of soil temperature variation in the PF. Additionally, the SWC and soil physicochemical properties significantly altered the soil’s thermal properties. Compared with the UF, the volumetric heat capacity (C_s) at the depths of 10, 20, 40, 60, and 90 cm in the PF changed by 8.6%, 19.0%, 5.5%, −4.3%, and −2.9%, respectively. Meanwhile, the thermal conductivity (λ_θ) increased by 1.5%, 18.3%, 19.0%, 9.0%, and 25.6%, respectively. Moreover, after conversion from the UF to the PF, the heat transfer direction changed from downward to upward in the 10–20 cm soil layer, resulting in a 42.9% reduction in the annual average soil heat flux (G). Furthermore, the differences in G between the UF and PF were most significant in the summer (101.9%) and most minor in the winter (12.2%), respectively. The conversion of the UF to the PF increased the C_s and λ_θ, ultimately reducing the range of soil temperature variation and changing the direction of heat transfer, which led to more heat release from the soil. This study reveals the effects of farmland use type conversion on regional land surface energy balance, providing theoretical underpinnings for optimizing agricultural ecosystem management. Full article

In direct-current gas-insulated transmission lines (DC GIL), complex heat transfer processes accelerate surface charge accumulation on insulators, causing local electric field distortion and elevating the risk of surface flashover. This study develops a three-dimensional multi-physics coupled mathematical model for ±200 kV DC GIL basin-type insulators. The bulk and surface conductivity of insulator materials were experimentally measured under varying temperature and electric field conditions, with fitting equations derived to describe their behavior. The model investigates surface charge accumulation and electric field distribution under DC voltage and polarity-reversal conditions, incorporating multi-field coupling effects. Results show that, at a 3150 A current in a horizontally arranged DC GIL, insulator temperatures reach approximately 62.8 °C near the conductor and 32 °C near the enclosure, with the convex surface exhibiting higher temperatures than the concave surface and distinct radial variations. Under DC voltage, surface charge accumulates faster in high-temperature regions, with both charge and electric field distributions stabilizing after approximately 300 h, following significant changes within the first 40 h. Following stabilization, the distribution of surface charge and electric field varies across different radial directions. During polarity reversal, residual surface charges cause electric field distortion, increasing maximum field strength by 13.6% and 47.2% on the convex and concave surfaces, respectively, with greater distortion on the concave surface, as calculated from finite element simulations with a numerical accuracy of ±0.5% based on mesh convergence and solver tolerance. These findings offer valuable insights for enhancing DC GIL insulation performance. Full article

An analysis of entropy generation and a performance comparison are carried out for a solid oxide fuel cell with an embedded porous pipe in the air supply channel of a mono-block-layer-build geometry (MOLB-PPA SOFC) and a planar geometry with trapezoidal baffles inside the fuel and air channels (P-TBFA SOFC). The results for power density at different current densities are discussed. Also, a comparison of the field of species concentration, temperature, and current density on the electrode–electrolyte interface is analyzed at a defined power density. Finally, a comparison of maps of the local entropy generation rate and the global entropy generation due to heat transfer, fluid flow, mass transfer, activation loss, and ohmic loss are studied. The results show that the MOLB-PPA SOFC reaches a 7.5% higher power density than the P-TBFA SOFC. Furthermore, the P-TBFA SOFC has a more homogeneous temperature distribution than the MOLB-type SOFC. The entropy generation analysis indicates that the MOLB-PPA SOFC exhibits lower global entropy generation due to heat transfer compared to the P-TBFA SOFC. The entropy generation due to ohmic losses is predominant for both geometries. Finally, the total irreversibilities are 24.75% higher in the P-TBFA SOFC than in the MOLB-PPA SOFC. Full article

This study presents numerical analyses of the thermal, metallurgical, and mechanical processes involved in welding. The temperature fields were computed by solving the transient heat transfer equation using the ABAQUS/Standard 2024 finite element solver. Two types of moving heat sources were applied: a surface Gaussian distribution and a volumetric model, both implemented via DFLUX subroutines to simulate welding on butt-jointed plates. The simulation accounted for key welding parameters, including current, voltage, welding speed, and plate dimensions. The thermophysical properties of the INC 738 LC nickel superalloy were used in the model. Solidification characteristics, such as dendritic arm spacing, were estimated based on cooling rates around the weld pool. The model also calculated transverse residual stresses and applied a hot cracking criterion to identify regions vulnerable to cracking. The peak transverse stress, recorded in the heat-affected zone (HAZ), reached 1.1 GPa under Goldak’s heat input model. Additionally, distortions in the welded plates were evaluated for both heat source configurations. Full article

Experimental and theoretical design on thermal and structural properties of Cu-Zn-Al alloys are established. As such, from an experimental point of view, differential thermal analysis has been performed with the help of a DSC Netzsch STA 449 F1 Jupiter calorimeter with high levels of sensitivity, and the structural analysis has been accomplished through X-ray diffraction and SEM analysis. An unusual specific property for a metallic material has been discovered, which is known as “rubber-type behavior”, a characteristic determined by micro-structural changes. From the theoretical point of view, the thermal transfer in Cu-Zn-Al is presented by assimilating this alloy, both structurally and functionally, with a multifractal, situation in which the order–disorder transitions assimilated with thermal “dynamics” of Cu-Zn-Al, are mimed through transitions from non-multifractal to multifractal curves. In such a context, the thermal expansion velocity contains both the propagation speed of the phase transformation (be it a direct one: austenitic–martensitic transformation, or an indirect one: martensitic–austenitic transformation) and the thermal diffusion speed. Then, through self-modulations of the thermal field, the Cu-Zn-Al alloy will self-structure in channel-type or cellular-type thermal patterns, which can be linked to obtained experimental data. Consequently, since the thermal conductivity becomes a function of the observation scale, and heat transfer is modified to reflect the multifractal, non-differentiable paths in the material, it leads to anomalous diffusion and complex thermal behaviors. Full article

Marine transportation of liquefied carbon dioxide (LCO₂) is crucial for Carbon Capture, Transportation, Utilization, and Storage (CCTUS) technology, aiding in CO₂ emission reduction and greenhouse effect control. This study investigates the thermodynamic and fluid dynamic characteristics of LCO₂ in Type C storage tanks using numerical simulations, focusing on heat transfer, flow phenomena, and boil-off gas (BOG) generation under varying storage pressures. Results show that heated liquid rises along the tank wall, forming vortices, while gas-phase vortices are driven by central upward airflow. Over time, liquid velocity near the wall increases, enhancing flow field mixing. Gas-phase temperatures rise significantly, while liquid-phase temperature gradients remain minimal. Higher storage pressures reduce fluid velocity, vortex range, and thermal response speed. BOG generation is higher at low pressures and decreases as pressure rises, slowing beyond 1.5 MPa. Under sloshing conditions, interfacial fluctuations enhance heat and mass transfer, reducing thermal stratification. Resonance periods amplify interfacial disturbances, improving thermal mixing and minimizing temperature gradients (ΔT ≈ 0.1 K). Higher filling rates suppress surface rupture, while lower rates exhibit gas-dominated instabilities and larger thermal gradients (ΔT ≈ 0.3 K). Full article

Compared to a single horizontal or inclined tunnel, a U-shaped underwater tunnel combines both types. If such tunnels catch fire, the resulting scenarios will lead to varying intensities of induced airflow, which significantly impact the internal heat transfer mechanisms. This study numerically simulated the effects of varying induced airflow strengths on the heat transfer proportion and temperature distribution within the tunnel. Key variables including the inclination angle of tunnel sections, the heat release rate (HRR) of the fire source, and its distance to the tunnel opening were systematically investigated. The results indicate that when the fire is in the horizontal tunnel section, the primary factor affecting the temperature field distribution is the HRR of the fire. As the fire source moves toward the inclined tunnel section, a transition to strong induced airflow occurs above the corner at low angles of inclination. As the slope increases, the transition position shifts downstream, toward the lower side of the corner. At this point, the tunnel is affected by strong induced airflow. Using dimensionless analysis, models were developed for temperature field distribution under strong and weak induced airflow, guiding underwater tunnel spray activation temperature and firefighting and rescue efforts. Full article