Design Development and Experimental Investigations on Air Glycol Microchannel Heat Exchanger

Abstract

This thesis details the design, development, and experimental analysis of an air-glycol microchannel heat exchanger intended to improve heat transfer efficiency in compact thermal systems. Microchannel heat exchangers have garnered considerable interest owing to their elevated surface area-to-volume ratio, facilitating enhanced thermal performance and compactness relative to traditional heat exchangers. This research presents a unique microchannel architecture suited for air-glycol heat exchange applications, particularly in systems where spatial limitations and energy economy are paramount. The design process utilized computational simulations and analytical modeling to ascertain the ideal channel size, fluid-flow properties, and heat transfer efficiency. Glycol was chosen as the working fluid because of its thermal characteristics and compatibility with various operational situations. Experimental studies were performed to assess the efficacy of the heat exchanger under differing air and glycol flow rates, temperatures, and pressure conditions. The outcomes were juxtaposed with theoretical expectations to authenticate the design. The experimental results indicated a notable enhancement in heat transfer efficiency, exhibiting improved heat dissipation at reduced temperature differentials relative to conventional heat exchangers. The research additionally examines the influence of microchannel geometry, material choice, and surface treatments on performance indicators like pressure drop and total thermal resistance. The study culminated in the establishment of an empirical connection linking the heat transfer coefficient to critical operational factors, including flow rates, temperature gradients, and microchannel dimensions. newlineThis research yields significant insights into the practical utilization of microchannel heat exchangers in sectors including HVAC, automotive, and electronics cooling. This study establishes a basis for subsequent progress in micro-scale heat exchanger technology, targeting enhanced energy efficiency and environmentally sustainable thermal management systems newlineChapter 1 discusses the overall methodology of the research work and also the layout of this thesis. Chapter 2 is based on the literature survey and also includes the research gap and the objectives set for the research work. Chapter 3 discusses the methodology used for the design and development of MCHX. Experimental setup along with the integration of instruments used for measurement are discussed in Chapter 4. The experimental observations are tabulated in the form of useful data. Various analyses performed on the data which includes ANN techniques are discussed in Chapter 5. The outcome of all the elaborations of this research work is discussed in Chapter 6 and summarised in Chapter 7. newline