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Advanced Heat Transfer and Energy Saving Technology

A special issue of Energies (ISSN 1996-1073). This special issue belongs to the section "J1: Heat and Mass Transfer".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2023) | Viewed by 9758

Special Issue Editors

College of Mechanical and Vehicle Engineering, Hunan University, Changsha 410082, China
Interests: energy conservation and efficient utilization; supercritical carbon dioxide power cycle; modeling and optimization of various energy systems; heat transfer enhancement; aerodynamic optimization; turbomachinery design; gas turbine; CFD simulation
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Guest Editor
School of Power and Energy Engineering, Harbin Engineering University, Harbin 150001, China
Interests: chemical kinetics; clean combustion; emission control; flame instability

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Guest Editor
College of Aeronautics, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China
Interests: enhanced heat transfer; cooling technology; environmental control

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Climate change, environmental impact, and energy crisis have become more serious in recent decades; thus, scientific research and novel technical solutions aimed at reducing energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions, improving overall energy conversion efficiency and developing clean and sustainable energy utilization technologies are necessary. Heat transfer, as one of the fundamental forms of energy transportation, is widespread and a decision factor for energy and material saving in the energy generation, utilization, conversion, storage and transmission process. Consequently, advanced heat transfer and energy saving technology is a promising approach to enhancing energy utilization efficiency while reducing emissions. Scientific and technological research studies on advanced heat transfer technologies, heat exchanger devices and energy generation, harvesting, recovery, utilization, conversion, storage and transmission technologies related to the improvement in energy utilization efficiency and reduction in energy consumption and emissions are welcome.

This Special Issue aims to present the latest developments and applications on advanced heat transfer and energy saving technology.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:

  • Enhanced heat transfer theory and applications;
  • Enhanced heat transfer fluids;
  • Highly efficient heat-exchange device design;
  • Advanced thermal management for batteries, electronics and so on;
  • Active and passive cooling systems;
  • Complex flow and heat transfer in energy systems;
  • Energy conversion theory and applications;
  • Thermodynamic systems and efficiency improvement;
  • Thermal energy storage, cogeneration and thermal management;
  • Muti-energy systems design and optimization;
  • Other energy storage technologies and applications;
  • Advanced renewable energy utilization technologies;
  • Energy harvesting and recovery;
  • Low emission combustion;
  • Low carbon combustion.

Dr. Feng Zhang
Dr. Fuquan Deng
Dr. Daren Zheng
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. Energies is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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

  • heat transfer enhancement
  • heat exchanger
  • thermal management
  • energy conversion
  • active and passive cooling
  • low emission combustion
  • thermodynamic systems
  • energy storage
  • renewable energy
  • energy harvesting

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 4701 KiB  
Article
Investigation of the Efficacy of Horizontal Hollow Light Tubes for Energy Conservation in Illuminating Buildings
by Atthakorn Thongtha, Peeranat Laphom and Jiraphorn Mahawan
Energies 2023, 16(22), 7545; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16227545 - 12 Nov 2023
Viewed by 1273
Abstract
This study investigates the properties of light transmission and distribution, examining how incident light angles impact illuminance distribution and daylight factor. Light tubes are acknowledged as promising tools to enhance lighting conditions and reduce energy consumption in building design. The study involved installing [...] Read more.
This study investigates the properties of light transmission and distribution, examining how incident light angles impact illuminance distribution and daylight factor. Light tubes are acknowledged as promising tools to enhance lighting conditions and reduce energy consumption in building design. The study involved installing horizontal hollow light tubes, each measuring 0.5 m in length and 0.30 m in diameter, on a wooden test model. A 20-watt LED lamp was employed as the light source, and an illuminance meter recorded the values at various horizontal and elevation angles. The study’s assessment included calculating the average illuminance and daylight factor to obtain light transmission efficiency and energy-saving potential. The findings revealed that both aluminum alloy and zinc alloy tubes experienced a decrease in illuminance as incident elevation angles increased, with the most effective light transmission occurring at a horizontal angle of 90°. Notably, the aluminum alloy tube outperformed the zinc alloy tube, demonstrating more than a 15% increase in light transmission efficiency. Furthermore, the daylight factor values from both types of tubes aligned with established standards for residential and office activities, underscoring their potential as energy-efficient lighting solutions for spaces lacking natural light or with limited illumination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Heat Transfer and Energy Saving Technology)
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11 pages, 1328 KiB  
Article
Research on Gravity Energy Saving Reconstruction Technology of Circulating Cooling Water in Mechanical Ventilation Cooling Tower of a Steel Plant
by Chuan Tang, Chenghua Zhang, Dan He, Feng Zhang, Yu Wei, Zhongqing Yang and Yunfei Yan
Energies 2023, 16(17), 6274; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16176274 - 29 Aug 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1092
Abstract
There is a height drop in the rain area of the circulating cooling water in mechanical ventilation circulating cooling towers, resulting in the ineffective use of gravitational potential energy. High-level water collection is an effective way to reduce the energy consumption of the [...] Read more.
There is a height drop in the rain area of the circulating cooling water in mechanical ventilation circulating cooling towers, resulting in the ineffective use of gravitational potential energy. High-level water collection is an effective way to reduce the energy consumption of the cooling tower. Based on this, aiming to solve the gravity energy waste problem of circulating water in the cooling tower of a steel plant, this paper innovatively puts forward the high-level water tank to utilize the energy-saving transformation technology of turbine power generation and pump power saving. Additionally, this paper explores the energy-saving effects of the two methods under different height drops. The results show that the maximum utilizable rain area height of the cooling tower is 5 m, while the annual electric energy output of turbine technology can reach 4.704 million kW·h. The high water collection technology can reduce pump power consumption and save up to 7.35 million kW·h per year of electric energy, maintaining a more significant energy-saving ability compared with the turbine power generation technology. In terms of performance, the design of a high-level water tank is to help eliminate rain areas and improve the heat exchange efficiency of water and gas, so that the water temperature of the outgoing tower is 0.13 °C lower than that of the conventional cooling tower. Meanwhile, the ventilation resistance in the rain area is weakened, the resistance coefficient can be reduced by about 40–50%, and the noise can be reduced by about 10 dB (A) under the action of the water collection device. According to the economic evaluation, the total cost of turbine power generation technology is 0.563 million dollars and the total cost of high-level water collection technology is 0.446 million dollars. The cost can be realized within two years, but the high-level water collection technology avoids additional pump maintenance costs and has better economy. This study provides a theoretical basis for the transformation and optimization design of mechanical ventilation cooling towers, and has important reference value. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Heat Transfer and Energy Saving Technology)
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27 pages, 4023 KiB  
Article
Free Cooling for Saving Energy: Technical Market Analysis of Dry, Wet, and Hybrid Cooling Based on Manufacturer Data
by Paula M. Wenzel, Marc Mühlen and Peter Radgen
Energies 2023, 16(9), 3661; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16093661 - 24 Apr 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2459
Abstract
In light of energy and climate targets, free cooling unlocks a major resource-saving potential compared to refrigeration. To fill the knowledge gap in quantifying this saving potential, we aim to specify the physical and technical limits of cooling tower applications and provide comprehensive [...] Read more.
In light of energy and climate targets, free cooling unlocks a major resource-saving potential compared to refrigeration. To fill the knowledge gap in quantifying this saving potential, we aim to specify the physical and technical limits of cooling tower applications and provide comprehensive data on electricity and water consumption. For this purpose, we distinguish six types of package-type cooling towers: dry, closed wet, open wet, and three types of hybrid systems; defining one generalized system for all types enables comparability. Subsequently, we collect data from 6730 system models of 27 manufacturers, using technical information from data sheets and additional material. The analysis reveals, for example, specific ranges of electricity demand from 0.01 to 0.06 kWel/kWth and highlights influencing factors, including type and operating point. Refrigeration systems would consume approximately ten times more electricity per cooling capacity. Furthermore, the evaluation demonstrates the functional limits, for example, the minimum cooling temperatures. Minimum outlet temperatures using evaporative cooling are up to 16 K lower than for dry cooling. The collected data have crucial implications for designing and optimizing cooling systems, including potential analysis of free cooling and efficiency assessment of cooling towers in operation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Heat Transfer and Energy Saving Technology)
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21 pages, 5712 KiB  
Article
Numerical Study on Flow-Melt Characteristics of Ice Slurry in Horizontal Straight Pipe with a Local Large Heat Flux Segment
by Fushou Xie, Wan Guo and Yuhao Zhu
Energies 2023, 16(1), 476; https://doi.org/10.3390/en16010476 - 1 Jan 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1423
Abstract
Ice slurry is a high energy density coolant with excellent flow, phase change, and thermophysical properties. In order to investigate the recovery of ice slurry flowing through a local large heat flux segment, a 3D Eulerian-Eulerian model based on the granular kinetic theory [...] Read more.
Ice slurry is a high energy density coolant with excellent flow, phase change, and thermophysical properties. In order to investigate the recovery of ice slurry flowing through a local large heat flux segment, a 3D Eulerian-Eulerian model based on the granular kinetic theory considering the flow and melting phase change of ice slurry is developed. Sensitivity analysis of interphase forces is carried out. A comparison of the pressure drop, solid phase velocity, and heat transfer coefficient with empirical data is carried out, respectively. The calculated results are in good agreement with the experimental results, indicating that the numerical model could accurately describe the flow and melting characteristics. Thermophysical field distributions, the axial variation of ice volume fraction (IVF), recovery curve, the average heat transfer coefficient, as well as the re-uniformization length are obtained. After passing through local large heat flux segment, due to shear stress action, the IVF and the particle uniformity of the cross section have recovery characteristics. The gradient of the recovery curve decreases with increasing inlet IVF as well as with increasing Reynolds number. After the local large heat flux increases to a certain value, its effect on the recovery curve of the ice slurry is small. The re-uniformization length increases as the local large heat flux increases. The average heat transfer coefficient of local large heat flux segment increases due to damage of the boundary layer. These results can provide a theoretical basis for the design of ice slurry systems in practical application. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Heat Transfer and Energy Saving Technology)
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15 pages, 5223 KiB  
Article
Study of Rotation Effect on Nanofluid Natural Convection and Heat Transfer by the Immersed Boundary-Lattice Boltzmann Method
by Tianwang Lai, Jimin Xu, Xiangyang Liu and Maogang He
Energies 2022, 15(23), 9019; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15239019 - 29 Nov 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1453
Abstract
Aiming to investigate the rotation effect on the natural convection and heat transfer of nanofluid, which has an important application in the control of heat transfer, the velocity field and temperature distribution inside the square cylinder with the rotating heat source in the [...] Read more.
Aiming to investigate the rotation effect on the natural convection and heat transfer of nanofluid, which has an important application in the control of heat transfer, the velocity field and temperature distribution inside the square cylinder with the rotating heat source in the center were numerically studied and presented in detail at different Hartman numbers and aspect ratios using the immersed boundary-lattice Boltzmann method. Then, the average Nusselt number on the surface of the heat source was calculated to compare the heat transfer rate in different cases. The results showed that the rotation would reduce the effect of gravity on the flow and suppress the heat transfer between the rotating heat source and nanofluid, while the external magnetic field would reduce the rotation effect on the flow and suppress or promote the heat transfer depending on the rotational speed and aspect ratio. Moreover, the smaller aspect ratio of the heat source to the square cylinder would enhance the heat transfer rate and make the retarding effect of magnetic field on rotation more apparent. In addition, the dimensionless rotational speed was proposed in this work, by which much computational time could be saved during the calculation of the immersed-boundary lattice Boltzmann method for the problem of rotation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Heat Transfer and Energy Saving Technology)
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14 pages, 2562 KiB  
Article
Research on Performance Optimization of Gravity Heat Pipe for Mine Return Air
by Yu Zhai, Xu Zhao and Zhifeng Dong
Energies 2022, 15(22), 8449; https://doi.org/10.3390/en15228449 - 11 Nov 2022
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1326
Abstract
The mine return air flow has the characteristics of basically constant temperature and humidity all year round and is a high-quality waste heat resource. Its direct discharge not only wastes energy but also causes environment pollution. It has important economic value and application [...] Read more.
The mine return air flow has the characteristics of basically constant temperature and humidity all year round and is a high-quality waste heat resource. Its direct discharge not only wastes energy but also causes environment pollution. It has important economic value and application prospect to solve the problem of shaft antifreeze using new technology to recover the waste heat of mine return air. Gravity heat pipe is widely used in the heat recovery of mine return air. Its heat transfer process is a complex process with multiple parameters. The current research focuses on the influence of a single factor on heat transfer, which has many limitations. To analyze the effects of different parameters on the heat recovery effect of gravity heat pipe in mine return air and to optimize heat pipe heat exchanger parameters in the heat exchange system, mathematical models of gas–water countercurrent heat and mass transfer, entransy dissipation and exergy efficiency were established in this paper, based on the entransy dissipation theory. Under the condition of the given initial parameters, the effects of different parameters on the dimensionless factor, β, of heat transfer, total heat transfer, and entransy dissipation thermal resistance were analyzed. The experimental and calculation results show the entransy dissipation theory can be used to evaluate the heat transfer performance of the gravity heat pipe. When the entransy dissipation thermal resistance was minimum, the heat transfer performance was optimal. During the heat transfer process between the mine return air and the gravity heat pipe with high humidity under a given working condition, increasing the Reynolds number was beneficial to increase the heat transfer dimensionless factor, β. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advanced Heat Transfer and Energy Saving Technology)
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