Thermal science and engineering 

About: Thermal science and engineering is an academic journal. The journal publishes majorly in the area(s): Heat transfer & Nusselt number. It has an ISSN identifier of 0918-9963. Over the lifetime, 1309 publications have been published receiving 9959 citations.

Waste Heat Recovery Technologies and Applications

Abstract: Horizon 2020 Project “Design for Resource and Energy efficiency in CerAMic Kilns- DREAM Project (Grant No: 723641), Horizon 2020 Industrial THERMal energy recovery conversion and management (Grant No:680599) and ESPRC (Grant No: EP/P004636/1)

Potential of pyrolysis processes in the waste management sector

Abstract: The fundamentals of pyrolysis, its latest developments, the different conditions of the process and its residues are of great importance in evaluating the applicability of the pyrolysis process within the waste management sector and in waste treatment. In particular the types of residue and their further use or treatment is of extreme interest as they could become the source of secondary raw materials or be used for energy generation in waste treatments. The main area of focus of this paper is the investigation of the link between the pyrolysis conditions, the chemical and mineralogical composition of their products and the benefits of pyrolysis in the waste management sector. More specifically the paper covers the fast, intermediate and slow pyrolysis of organic waste and mixtures of inorganic and organic waste from households. The influence of catalysts during fast pyrolysis on the product yield and composition is not being considered in this review.

Experimental investigation of using nano-PCM/nanofluid on a photovoltaic thermal system (PVT): Technical and economic study

Abstract: This paper shows a technoeconomic evaluation of a PVT system. The PV cooling system consists of a tank attached to the panel back side filled with PCM (paraffin wax) mixed with nano-SiC to increase its thermal conductivity and the reservoir is cooled by recycling nanofluid (water + nano-SiC). The MATLAB program was used for economic evaluation. The experimental work was also carried out and the data obtained were used for evaluation. To improve heat transfer more, nanofluid was used with nano-PCMs in the studied PVT compound. The nanomaterial used in the current study was silicon carbide (SiC) and the PCM selected was paraffin wax. The economic evaluation aspect provided that the cost of the life cycle, the cost per item, and the percentage cost of the system. The technical side introduced the efficiency of the inverter, the specific yield, and the capacity factor which were 97.3%, 190.4 kWh/kWp, and 25.9%, respectively. The output power of this system, electrical and thermal efficiencies were found to be 12.7 W, 13.7% and 72.0%, respectively. The cost of electricity and payback periods were 0.125 $/kWh and 5–6 years, respectively. The results indicated that the studied system is economically feasible and shows great promise.

Pumped Thermal Electricity Storage: A technology overview

Abstract: A large penetration of variable intermittent renewable energy sources into the electric grid is stressing the need of installing large-scale Energy Storage units. Pumped Hydro Storage, Compressed Air Energy Storage and Flow Batteries are the commercially available large-scale energy storage technologies. However, these technologies suffer of geographical constrains (such as Pumped Hydro Storage and Compressed Air Energy Storage), require fossil fuel streams (like Compressed Air Energy Storage) or are characterised by low cycle life (Flow Batteries). For this reason, there is the need of developing new large-scale Energy Storage Technologies which do not suffer of the above-mentioned drawbacks. Among the in-developing large-scale Energy Storage Technologies, Pumped Thermal Electricity Storage or Pumped Heat Energy Storage is the most promising one due to its long cycle life, no geographical limitations, no need of fossil fuel streams and capability of being integrated into conventional fossil-fuelled power plants. Based on these evidences, in the present work, a literature survey on the Pumped Thermal Electricity Storage technology is presented with the aim of analysing its actual configurations and state of development.

A review of Backward-Facing Step (BFS) flow mechanisms, heat transfer and control

Abstract: Backward-Facing Step (BFS) flow is one representative model for separation flows, which can be widely seen in aerodynamic flows (airfoil, spoiler, high attack angle process), engine flows, condensers, vehicles (cars, boat), heat transfer systems, and even the flow around buildings, etc. The flow separation after a simple stage will introduce separation bubble formation, evolution and re-attachment process, which is dependent on the BFS geometric design, the inlet and outlet conditions, turbulent intensity, as well as heat transfer conditions. In the past decades, it has been widely studied by various theoretical, experimental and numerical methods. Considering the importance of BFS flow in both theoretical and engineering aspects, this paper is focused on a review study of BFS flows from fundamental understandings to various experimental and numerical developments in a historical viewpoint. Basic models and the parameter-based after-step flow laws are summarized and categorized in this study. It is shown that the step size (duct expansion ratio) will define the basic re-circulation and re-attachment process, while the coupled effects of inflow parameters and the perturbation designs also help shape the flow behaviors after BFS. The review is also extended with model generalizations and the implications on system design, especially the heat transfer effects and the representative control designs are discussed in detail. Future trends and prospects in BFS studies are also included in this study.