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Experimental and numerical analysis for optimal design parameters of a falling film evaporator

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Abstract

Present study exhibits an experimental examination of mass transfer coefficient and evaporative effectiveness of a falling film evaporator. Further, a statistical replica is extended in order to have optimal controlling parameters viz. non-dimensional enthalpy potential, film Reynolds number of cooling water, Reynolds number of air and relative humidity of up-streaming air. The models not only give an optimal solution but also help in establishing a correlation among controlling parameters. In this context, response surface methodology is employed by aid of design of experiment approach. Later, the response surface curves are studied using ANOVA. Finally, the relations established are confirmed experimentally to validate the models. The relations thus established are beneficent in furtherance of designing evaporators. Additionally, the present study is among the first attempts to reveal the effect of humidity on the performance of falling film evaporator.

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Acknowledgment

The authors gratefully acknowledge the infrastructure and test facility provided by the National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, India.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Kurukshetra, Haryana, 136119, India

    Rajneesh Kaushal & Gaurav Vats

  2. Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal, Haryana, 131039, India

    Raj Kumar

  3. School of Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology, Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, 175001, India

    Gaurav Vats

Authors
  1. Rajneesh Kaushal
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  2. Raj Kumar
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  3. Gaurav Vats
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Rajneesh Kaushal.

Appendices

Nomenclature

EE :

evaporative effectiveness

EP :

enthalpy potential

K :

mass transfer coefficient, kg/m2s

m:

mass flow rate, kg/s

Re :

Reynolds number

t:

temperature, °C

Greek symbols

ϕ:

relative humidity, %

Subscripts

a:

air

av:

average

c:

tube surface

dl:

non-dimensional

h:

hot water

w:

cooling water

1:

inlet

2:

outlet

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Kaushal, R., Kumar, R. & Vats, G. Experimental and numerical analysis for optimal design parameters of a falling film evaporator. Sādhanā 41, 643–652 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-016-0502-y

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12046-016-0502-y

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