Entropy Analysis of Isobar - Isothermal Processes

GABRIELA HUMINIC*, ANGEL HUMINIC

Transilvania University of Brasov, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, Department of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics, 29
Eroilor Bdl., 500036, Brasov, Romania

In this paper, the authors present some recent results concerning the entropy analysis of the isobar – isothermal
processes based on a parameter of order called coupling ratio. The particularization of the obtained relations,
for liquid – vapor and solid – vapor phase changes, allowed the identification of three components of the
latent heats of vaporization and sublimation, and established of a new expression of the latent heats of
vaporization and sublimation. Also, there are correct descriptions phenomena, accompanying the vaporization
at the critical parameters, namely the transformation of the polarized liquid into vapours with associated
molecules.

Key Words: coupling ratio, heat, ice, liquid, solid, vapours, water

Solid, liquid and vapor phases are well-known states of

matter. Thermodynamic properties of each state and phase (3)
equilibrium among these states are major interests in
applied thermodynamics, where equations of state play
an important role [20, 21]. In the case of isobar-isothermal processes, the variations
Although the solid-liquid-vapor coexistence (triple point) of the temperature T and of Helmholtz specific free energy
was known for more than 130 years [17, 18], numerous f, being zero, it follows [3]:
equations of state developed in the past have been devoted (4)
to fluid-only (liquid and vapor) states, and hardly any
equations of state for solid, liquid and vapor states in a The entropy s can be expressed by means of either
unified way has been studied for long time. Planck’s equation [13] (known as Boltzman’s equation),
Vaporization of water, sublimation of ice, and vice versa, or using the equation of informational entropy, formulated
liquefying (condensation) and deposition of vapor is taking by Shannon [15].
place everywhere in the nature. Water exists as a mixture In the first case have:
of liquid and vapor in many of thermal plants (boiler,
condenser, turbine, heat exchanger, a.o.).
The entropy analyze proposed, based on a parameter of (5)
order, called coupling ratio, allows the establishing of links
between macroscopic and microscopic transforms of the Through application of the Stirling’s transform:
physical systems.
In the case of the isobar-isothermal processes
(vaporization and sublimation processes) the macroscopic it results the expression:
variable is the specific volume. Through the coupling ratio,
one can interrelate the variation of the specific volume (6)
and the modification at molecular level accompanying the
vaporization processes. Using coupling ratio as parameters Using the following notation for probability
of order one performs an entropy analyze of isobar-
isothermal processes.
The mathematical expression of the latent heats of
vaporization and sublimation it results the entropy expression:
For determination of the latent heats of vaporization and
sublimation (or the enthalpy of vaporization and (7)
sublimation) starting from the energy balance of isobar-
isothermal processes which is a particular case of the In the case of Shannon expression [15] information
general energy balance [3, 10]: entropy is given by:
(8)
δq = du + δw (1)
Applying the equivalence between physical and
Due to the fact that the specific internal energy u is the information entropy [5]
sum between Helmholtz specific free energy F and the
product between the absolute temperature and the specific (9)
entropy Ts we find again the same expression (7).
(2)
For the systems having equiprobable molecules relation
(7) becomes:
it results:
* email: gabi.p@unitbv.ro

518 http/www.revistadechimie.ro REV. CHIM. (Bucureºti) ♦ 60♦ Nr. 5 ♦ 2009

 Simulation for Innovative Design

CFD STUDY OF THE HEAT PIPES WITH WATER -

NANOPARTICLES MIXTURE
Gabriela HUMINIC1, Angel HUMINIC1
1
Department of Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics
Transilvania University of Brasov

Abstract:
The steady incompressible flow has been solved in both vapour and liquid regions and wall.
The governing equations in vapour and liquid regions are continuity, momentum and energy
equations. In the present study, the enhancement of heat pipe efficiency with water–
nanoparticles mixtures, using professional CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) software is
presented. The heat pipe is made from copper tube with the outer diameter 8.9 [ mm ] and
the length 200 [ mm ] . The water is used as a base working fluid while the nanoparticles
used in the present study are the copper oxide nanoparticles. Three cases with volume
fraction 0, 1% and 4% for CuO are considered.

Keywords: Heat pipe, heat transfer, multiphase flow

1. INTRODUCTION

Due to the heat transport by evaporation and condensation of the working fluid, a heat pipe is
an effective by simple device, which has a very high thermal conductance. Since 1960’s,
these devices have been developed tested and put into operation in various types. With
these developments, heat pipe are used in many engineering field nowadays [1], [2]

The heat pipe can be divided into three sections: the evaporator which is located near the
heat source, the condenser which is located near the heat sink and the middle portion called
the adiabatic section.

Thermal input at the evaporator region vaporizes the working fluid and this vapor travels to
the condenser section through the inner core of heat pipe. At the condenser region, the
vapor of the working fluid condenses and the latent heat is rejected via condensation. The
condensate returns to the evaporator by means of capillary action in the wick. As previously
mentioned there is liquid vapor equilibrium inside the heat pipe. When thermal energy is
supplied to the evaporator, this equilibrium breaks down as the working fluid evaporates. The
generated vapor is at a higher pressure than the section through the vapor space provided.
Vapor condenses giving away its latent heat of vaporization to the heat sink.

The idea of dispersing solid particles into liquids initially came from James Clerk Maxwell [3].
In previous years, the lack of industrial interest for enhanced thermal properties by those
suspensions containing millimeter– or micron-sized particles was mainly due to their poor
stability and rheological problems. Particle sedimentation from the suspensions resulted in
 3rd International Conference on Thermal Engines and Environmental Engineering, Galaţi, 2009

CFD STUDY OF A DOUBLE PIPE HELICAL

HEAT EXCHANGER

Gabriela HUMINIC, Angel HUMINIC

Transilvania University of Brasov, ROMANIA
29, B-dul Eroilor, Brasov, tel.0268422921, fax0268474768
e-mail: gabi.p@unitbv.ro

ABSTRACT. Numerical studies for a double-pipe helical heat exchanger are performed with the aid of a
commercial computational fluid dynamics CFD package for the fluid flow and heat transfer characteristics.
The goal of this study is to evaluate a double-pipe helical heat exchanger for fluid-to-fluid flow. Simulations
were performed using various flow rates (laminar regime) in the inner tube and in the annulus, as well as for
parallel flow and counterflow heat exchangers.

KEYWORDS: CFD, heat exchanger, heat transfer.

1. INTRODUCTION

Helical coiled tubes can be found in many applications including compact heat
exchangers, heat recovery systems, food processing, nuclear reactors, chemical processing,
low value heat exchange, and medical equipment.
Helical coils are very alluring for various processes such as heat exchangers (Fig. 1) and
reactors because they can accommodate a large heat transfer area in a small space, with high
heat transfer coefficients and narrow residence time distributions.

Fig. 1 - Helical coil Fig. 2 –Double-pipe helical coil

Comparisons for the heat transfer coefficients between straight tubes and helically
coiled tubes immersed in a water bath were performed by Prabhanjan et al. (2002). Findings
showed that the heat transfer coefficient were greater in the helically coiled system. Inagaki et
al. (1998) studied the outside heat transfer coefficient for helically coiled bundles for
INVESTIGATING A LIQUID-VAPOR MIXTURE
OF SULFUR HEXAFLUORIDE
AT THE CRITICAL STATE

G. HUMINIC1 A. HUMINIC1

Abstract: The aim of the present work was observing the dissolution of the
phase boundary between liquid and gas when heating above the critical
temperature, observing the critical opalescence and measured temperatures
until critical state.

Key words: critical state, sulfur hexafluoride

1. Introduction
One important characteristic of an ideal
gas is that it does not condense not even
when the temperature approaches absolute
zero. Such a gas does not exist in nature, as
it would have to consist of particles which
are small in relation to their mean spacing
even at low temperatures, and, except for
elastic collisions, do not interact with each
other. When an ideal gas is compressed at
a constant temperature, the pressure
increases inversely proportional to the
volume.
The relationships between the pressure p,
the temperature T and the molar volume V
of an ideal gas are described by the state
equations. There are several state
equations, some simple and other very
complex. The simplest and best – know
state equation for substances in the vapor
phase is the ideal gas state equation:
T 
P = R 
v
or
Pv = RT
where the constant of proportionality
R = 8.314 [kJ /( kmol ⋅ K ] is the gas
constant, P is absolute pressure, T is
absolute temperature and v is the specific
volume.
Most real gases approach the properties
of an ideal gas when they are far enough
away from their condensation or
liquefaction point, e.g. at room temperature
and atmospheric pressure. As the gas
approaches the condensation point, i.e. at
high pressure for low temperature T, its
properties deviate significantly from those
of an ideal gas. The density of the gas
increases and the particles are on average
extremely close together. The behavior of
real gases is approximately described by
the van der Waals equation of state:
 a 
 P + 2 (v − b ) = RT (3)
 v 
(1)
where the term a / v 2 is a correction for
the mutual attraction of the molecules
and b is a correction for the actual
(2) volume of the molecules themselves.

1
Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics Department, Transilvania University of Braşov.