Post-Doctoral Project Report "Modelling & Development of Novel Sustainable Thermo-fluids"
Authors: Nazir, M.H. and Khan, Z.A.
Publisher: BU
Abstract:This research develops a novel optimisation numerical model for thermo-fluids to maximise their thermal efficiency and to minimise their required pumping power. The developed model is used to analyse the efficiency of existing heat transfer fluids and assists in selecting the best fit existing heat transfer fluid for particular solar thermal application. Further an optimisation method is developed to use the new model for the development of novel sustainable heat transfer fluid. This optimisation method optimises the thermophysical properties of fluids such as; coefficient of expansion, viscosity, thermal capacity, freezing point, boiling point in addition to the corrosion rate. The developed model incorporates the corrosive modelling with the thermophysical modelling of fluids in a holistic manner such that the fluid performance is not just function of fluid properties but also the corrosive proprieties of fluid and channel in which it flows.
The model integrates the optimisation techniques of heat transfer fluid properties and flow to develop a governing law for optimising the performance of concentrated solar power system as shown in Pictorial Abstract & Novelty section (next page). The fluid properties include the thermophysical and the corrosive while fluid flow includes the Renaults number and the channel dimensions. Optimising the above parameters can significantly reduce the pumping power and increase the efficiency of fluid.
Source: Manual