Faculty Publications

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    Comparative computational appraisal of supercritical CO2-based natural circulation loop: effect of heat-exchanger and isothermal wall
    (Springer Science and Business Media B.V., 2020) Thimmaiah, S.; Wahidi, T.; Yadav, A.; Mahalingam, A.
    Natural circulation loop (NCL) is a geometrically simple heat transfer device in which fluid flow occurs due to density gradient of loop fluid, induced by the temperature difference between the source and the sink. NCL has an inherent problem of instability caused by the combined effect of buoyancy, friction and inertia forces at varying operating conditions, and hence it requires an elegant solution of instability. The primary objective of the present work is to do a comparative study on the dynamic performance between two different configurations of NCL based on supercritical CO2, i.e. (i) NCL with isothermal heater and a cold heat-exchanger (ISO-CHX), and (ii) NCL with hot and cold heat-exchangers (HHX-CHX). To explore these NCLs, two-dimensional transient computational fluid dynamics studies have been carried out on the stability of supercritical CO2-based natural circulation loop. Results are obtained for different operating pressures and temperatures in the form of mass flow rate and velocity variation with respect to time. Results show the higher instabilities in both side heat-exchanger loop than an isothermal heater with heat-exchanger loop. At a lower rate of heat input at source in the HHX-CHX loop, the mass flow is bidirectional, whereas it is unidirectional in the ISO-CHX loop at all level of heat input. It is also observed that as pressure increases, flow instability also increases. Obtained results are validated with the published experimental and numerical data and found in good agreement. © 2020, Akadémiai Kiadó, Budapest, Hungary.
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    Stability enhancement of supercritical CO2 based natural circulation loop using a modified Tesla valve
    (Elsevier B.V., 2020) Wahidi, T.; Chandavar, R.A.; Yadav, A.K.
    This article deals with the comparative investigation of instability phenomenon in supercritical CO2 based regular natural circulation loop and a new modified Tesla natural circulation loop. Two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics simulation is carried out for square loops. Fluid flow behaviour and performance of both the loops are determined over a range of pressures (80–100 bar) and heat inputs (500–2000 W). Results show that the use of a modified Tesla valve leads to better stabilization for all supercritical pressures and heat inputs. It is also found that loop with Tesla mitigates the temperature and velocity oscillations without reducing the heat transfer performance. A good agreement with existing correlations is also obtained in the present study. The unidirectional fluid flow circulation achieved in loop with Tesla valve, makes it an efficient technique to combat instability. © 2020 Elsevier B.V.
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    Instability mitigation by integrating twin Tesla type valves in supercritical carbon dioxide based natural circulation loop
    (Elsevier Ltd, 2021) Wahidi, T.; Yadav, A.K.
    Flow instability in supercritical fluid based natural circulation loop (NCL) is still an investigation aspect of physical and mathematical problems to comprehend. Therefore, NCLs require precise design assessment that focuses on the interaction of all the transient responses of buoyancy and friction forces which can ensure a stable zone of operation. To promote the uni-directional circulatory movement of loop fluid and to decrease the magnitude of instability, this research emphasizes the development of NCL integrated with two modified Tesla type valves. In this article, numerical simulations have been carried out for a range of supercritical pressures (80–100 bar) and heat inputs (500–2000 W) to do the comparative investigation of instability phenomenon in supercritical carbon dioxide based regular natural circulation loop and a new modified twin Tesla NCL. Results show that the use of modified Tesla valves leads to better stabilization for all supercritical pressures and heat inputs considered in the study. It is also found that the proposed Tesla NCL mitigates the temperature and velocity oscillations with a marginal drop of ?3% in the heat transfer performance. Using asymmetrical flow resistance to stimulate directional circulation is an efficient technique to combat this instability issue. Obtained results are validated with the existing correlations, and a good agreement is obtained. © 2020 Elsevier Ltd