CFD Performance Prediction of a Parallel-Counterparallel Flow Heat Exchanger Used for the Treatment of Hypothermia
Publication: Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 142, Issue 3
Abstract
The aim of this study is to investigate the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in evaluating the thermal performance of a parallel/counterparallel flow heat exchanger used as part of a fluid warmer to treat hypothermia. The developed CFD model was validated in a parametric study using previously collected experimental data. The effects of heat exchanger length and inlet mass flow rate were considered. To more accurately represent the thermodynamic average temperature profile, the current CFD analysis evaluated outlet temperatures in terms of mean bulk temperature as opposed to the centerpoint temperature probe used in the experimental study. Despite this difference, the CFD results were found to agree well with the experimental values. As such, the CFD simulations are not only applicable to future design considerations but elicit further understanding of the thermal and hydrodynamic characteristics within the heat exchanger. Using the validated CFD model, thermal hydraulic entrance lengths and pressure drop within the semiannular geometry of the heat exchanger were investigated. CFD results of the semiannulus were compared to calculated values for a true concentric annulus. It was shown that the entrance length of a concentric annulus is generally longer than the semiannulus under laminar flow, and the difference is more prominent for increasing Reynolds number. Under both laminar and turbulent flow, the studied semiannulus of the hot water region demonstrated a greater pressure drop than a true concentric annulus with similar dimensions and flow conditions. The thermal and hydrodynamic properties revealed in this CFD analysis can be used to improve future design considerations, which may lead to improved hypothermia treatment protocols.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
References
Aragon, D. (1999). “Temperature management in trauma patients across the continuum of care: The TEMP group. Temperature evaluation and management project.” AACN Clin. Issues, 10(1), 113–123.
Bernabel, A. F., Levison, M. A., and Bender, J. S. (1992). “The effects of hypothermia and injury severity on blood loss during trauma laparotomy.” J. Trauma, 33(6), 835–839.
Dou, H. S., Khoo, B. C., and Tsai, H. M. (2010). “Determining the critical condition for turbulent transition in a full-developed annulus flow.” J. Pet. Sci. Eng., 73(1–2), 41–47.
Fritsch, D. E. (1995). “Hypothermia in the trauma patient.” AACN Clin Issues., 6(2), 196–211.
Gentilello, L. M., et al. (1990). “Continuous arteriovenous rewarming: Experimental results and thermodynamic model simulation of treatment for hypothermia.” J. Trauma, 30(12), 1436–1449.
Gregory, J. S., Flancbau, L., Townsend, M. C., Cloutier, C. T., and Jonasson, O. (1991). “Incidence and timing of hypothermia in trauma patients undergoing operations.” J. Trauma, 31(6), 795–800.
Gupta, S. C., and Garg, V. K. (1981). “Developing flow in a concentric annulus.” Comput. Methods Appl. Mech. Eng., 28(1), 27–35.
Heaton, H. S., Reynolds, W. C., and Kays, W. M. (1964). “Heat transfer in annular passages: Simultaneous development of velocity and temperature fields in laminar flow.” Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer, 7(7), 763–781.
Jiji, L. M. (2009). Heat convection, Springer, Berlin.
Jurkovich, G. J., Greiser, W. B., Luterman, A., and Curreri, P. W. (1987). “Hypothermia in trauma victims: An ominous predictor of survival.” J. Trauma, 27(9), 1019–1024.
Lin, M. J., Wang, Q. W., and Tao, W. Q. (2000). “Developing laminar flow and heat transfer in annular-sector ducts.” Heat Transfer Eng., 21(2), 53–61.
Mitchell, R. F., and Miska, S. Z. (2011). Fundamentals of drilling engineering, Society of Petroleum Engineers, Richardson, TX.
Moujaes, S., and Oliver, D. (1998). “Computer simulation of the thermal performance of a parallel/countercurrent flow heat exchanger for patient thermal comfort in medical applications.” Proc. ASME Heat transfer Div., 361(3), 303–307.
Nouar, C., Ouldrouis, M., Salem, A., and Legrand, J. (1995). “Developing laminar flow in the entrance region of annuli—Review and extension of standard resolution methods for the hydrodynamic problem.” Int. J. Eng. Sci., 33(10), 1517–1534.
Poole, R. J. (2010). “Development-length requirements for fully developed laminar flow in concentric annuli.” J. Fluids Eng., 132(6), 064501.
Sinclair, W. H., Rudzki, S. J., Leicht, A. S., Fogarty, A. L., Winter, S. K., and Patterson, M. J. (2009). “Efficacy of field treatments to reduce body core temperature in hyperthermia subjects.” Med. Sci. Sports Exercise, 41(11), 1984–1990.
Smalley, B., Janke, R. M., and Cole, D. (2003). “Exertional heat illness in air force basic military trainees.” Mil. Med., 168(4), 298–303.
Smith, C. E., and Wagner, K. (2008). “Principles of fluid and blood warming in trauma.” Int. Trauma Care, 18(1), 71–79.
SolidWorks [Computer software]. Waltham, MA, Dassault Systèmes SolidWorks.
Sparrow, E. M., and Lin, S. H. (1964). “The developing laminar flow and pressure drop in the entrance region of annular ducts.” J. Fluids Eng., 86(4), 827–834.
STAR-CCM+ [Computer software]. Version 9.02.005 CD-adapco, Melville, NY.
Tsuei, B. J., and Kearney, P. A. (2004). “Hypothermia in the trauma patient.” Injury, 35(1), 7–15.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Energy Engineering
Volume 142 • Issue 3 • September 2016
Copyright
© 2015 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Nov 19, 2014
Accepted: May 4, 2015
Published online: Aug 4, 2015
Discussion open until: Jan 4, 2016
Published in print: Sep 1, 2016
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.