What is it about?
This research introduces a way to instantly measure how heat moves inside a steam generator that uses alternative energy sources such as solar, geothermal, or industrial waste heat. The system utilizes a plate heat exchanger and a working fluid called Carrol (a mixture of lithium bromide, ethylene glycol, and water). By placing sensors along the exchanger, the study measures temperature profiles and calculates the heat transfer coefficients—the key values that show how efficiently energy is being converted into steam. These measurements help determine the best conditions to operate the generator so that low-temperature heat sources can be “upgraded” into higher-temperature energy, making them more useful for industrial processes.
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Why is it important?
This was the first study in our laboratory to measure heat transfer coefficients for the Carrol™ solution in a steam generator. Understanding these values is crucial for designing absorption heat transformers that recover waste heat and reduce the use of fossil fuels. By identifying the conditions that improve heat transfer, the research supports more efficient and sustainable industrial energy systems, contributing to energy savings and reduced greenhouse gas emissions.
Perspectives
The paper demonstrates that plate heat exchangers can successfully be used as steam generators in alternative energy systems. It provides a new methodology for the real-time measurement of heat transfer coefficients and experimental data for a working solution that has not been previously studied. This work opens the door to optimizing absorption systems, improving industrial energy recovery, and advancing renewable energy integration.
Professor Rosenberg J Romero
Universidad Autonoma del Estado de Morelos
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Instantaneous Determination of Heat Transfer Coefficients in a Steam Generator for an Alternative Energy Upgrade System, The Open Renewable Energy Journal, January 2009, Bentham Science Publishers,
DOI: 10.2174/1876387100902010116.
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