What is it about?
This work presents a new way to measure, in real time, how efficiently heat is transferred inside a plate heat exchanger, one of the key components of absorption systems. Instead of relying only on theoretical estimates, the study directly measures temperatures along the exchanger using thermocouples and computer monitoring. The fluids tested were water and a special solution of lithium bromide with ethylene glycol (known as Carrol™), which is commonly used in advanced cooling and heating systems. The method allows researchers and engineers to quickly obtain the “heat transfer coefficient,” an important value that tells how well heat is being exchanged between fluids. This information is crucial for enhancing the performance of absorption systems, which serve as an alternative to traditional air conditioning and heating systems that consume substantial amounts of electricity.
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Why is it important?
This study is important because it is the first to report heat transfer data for the lithium bromide–ethylene glycol solution (Carrol™), which had not been studied before. Absorption systems using this solution can work more efficiently and with fewer risks than conventional solutions, since they avoid crystallization problems. By improving our understanding of heat transfer in these systems, the results contribute to the development of energy technologies that conserve electricity and reduce CO₂ emissions. This makes the research relevant not only for engineers but also for sustainable energy initiatives worldwide.
Perspectives
The paper provides a practical methodology for in-line measurement of heat transfer coefficients in plate heat exchangers, offering experimental data where previously only estimations or limited results were available. It opens up perspectives for testing other working fluid concentrations, optimizing the design of absorption heat transformers, and ultimately supporting the adoption of renewable energy sources, such as solar or geothermal energy, in industrial and building applications.
Professor Rosenberg J Romero
Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: In – line determination of heat transfer coefficients in a plate heat exchanger, December 2009, Springer Science + Business Media,
DOI: 10.1007/978-90-481-3660-5_87.
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