Volumetric heat transfer via constructal theory, and its applications in permafrost and hydrogen energy storage

• Main Author: Kukkapalli, Vamsi Krishna
• Other Authors: Kim, Sun Woo, Lin, Chuen-Sen, Das, Debendra
• Format: Other/Unknown Material
• Language: English
• Published: 2016
• Subjects: Thermosyphons; Heat; Transmission; Permafrost; Thermal conductivity; Thermal properties; Hydrides; Hydrogen; Constructal theory; Embankments; Fairbanks; permafrost; Alaska
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/11122/8051

Master's Project (M.S.) University of Alaska Fairbanks, 2016 Constructal theory is widely used as a powerful tool in designing of engineering systems (flow configurations, patterns, geometry). This theory is observed in nature and its principles are applicable to general engineering. Constructal theory encompasses a wide range of space in the "design", drawing from each and every field from engineering to biology. The universal design of nature and the constructal law unify all animate schemata such as human blood circulatory systems, and inanimate systems, such as urban traffic and river basins. The proceeding research applies the overlying theories of constructal theory to the two different systems in order to achieve best thermal performance phenomena. The first is stabilization of roadway embankments in the permafrost regions with design modifications in existing thermosyphon evaporators with tree structure designs, and defining the optimal spacing between two neighboring thermosyphons based on thermal cooling phenomena. This research utilizes constructal law to the generation of tree-shaped layouts for fluid flow, so that the flow structures use the available space in optimally. The intention here is the optimization of geometry of the flow system. This begins with the most simple cases of tree-shaped flows: T- and Y-shaped constructs, the purpose of which is to create a flow connection between one point (defined as a "source" or "sink") to an infinity of points (via a line/area/volume). Empirically speaking, tree-shaped flows are natural examples of selforganization and optimization. By contrast, constructal law is theory which states that flow architectures such as these are the evolutionary results of nature which tend toward greater global flow access. Tree-shaped flows can be derived from this constructal law. The mathematical simulation revealed that there exists an optimal spacing between two neighboring thermosyphons, and the tree structures perform better than the existing configuration in terms ...