Simulated Crossflow Heat Exchanger System Using Simulink Modeling

Kiril Alexandrov Nikolov; Mohammad Abu Rafe Biswas; Xuan Nguyen; Victor Eduardo Ortiz

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Conference: 2021 Fall ASEE Middle Atlantic Section Meeting
Location: Virtually Hosted by the section
Publication Date: November 12, 2021
Start Date: November 12, 2021
End Date: November 13, 2021
Page Count: 20
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--38447
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/38447
Download Count: 1663

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Paper Authors

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Kiril Alexandrov Nikolov The University of Texas at Tyler

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Kiril Nikolov is currently a senior undergraduate mechanical engineering student at the University of Texas at Tyler. His academic interests include mechanical design, thermal-fluids engineering, and aerospace engineering. After completing his undergraduate studies, he has aspirations to continue his education by pursuing a Master's Degree of Science in Mechanical Engineering.

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Mohammad Abu Rafe Biswas The University of Texas at Tyler orcid.org/0000-0002-4077-7979

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Dr. Mohammad (Rafe) Biswas is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Tyler Houston Engineering Center in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. His expertise and interests include process dynamics and control, fuel cell systems and thermal fluid engineering education. He has taught courses in system dynamics and control, process control, energy conversion, and thermal fluids laboratory. He also has advised and mentored several senior design project and research students.

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Xuan Nguyen The University of Texas at Tyler

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Xuan Nguyen is an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at the University of Texas at Tyler. Her interests include renewable energy, robotic, design, and automatic and HVAC systems. Also, she has a passion and interest in DIY projects and repairing things to understand how things or machines operate and be able to repair or optimize them.

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Victor Eduardo Ortiz The University of Texas at Tyler

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Victor Ortiz is an undergraduate student at The University of Texas at Tyler studying for a degree Mechanical Engineer. While in school, in the summer of 2021, was able to obtain a summer internship with Mauser Packing Solutions and apply academic knowledge and leadership skills. Passionate about increasing knowledge in understanding systems and gaining hands-on experience when things break/malfunction.

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Abstract

Applied engineering coursework that incorporates direct hands-on learning processes has been shown to provide a superior educational experience over indirect course structures. Emphasis on observational and empirical learning elements is an integral component in the creation of well-rounded and competent engineers and is a skill that is fostered in the laboratory environment. Just like all aspects of engineering, the structure of these experiential courses must be dynamic and adaptable. For example, these courses should be able to adapt to modern challenges and industry trends. Incorporating the use of simulators to provide practical engineering experiences, in addition to traditional face-to-face techniques, might help to accomplish this. The engineering Thermal-fluids Laboratory course (MENG 3211) at the University of Texas at Tyler is one such curriculum that has made substantial progress in the modernization of experiential teaching techniques by incorporating thermal system analysis in the form of virtually simulated heat exchangers. These virtual systems provide an innovative way for students to gain experience and knowledge with practical engineering applications through the use of an interactive user interface which provides a useful preview of what to expect when working with a physical heat exchanger. Given that physically constructing and maintaining a functioning heat exchanger is an expensive and laborious process, this use of computer software allows for a more accessible and convenient approach to test and analyze dynamic thermal-fluid systems. The system can be defined as a set of nonlinear transient energy balance equations for user-specified inputs such as fluid flow rates, and then thoroughly analyzed in real-time using MATLAB® and Simulink®. By using this model, the user is given the ability to control the heat exchanger system, as well as the disturbances which are occurring, and analyze how they affect the heat transfer process in real-time. Compared to data retrieved from a physical heat exchanger, the exiting fluid temperatures over any given timeframe simulated by the virtual software are shown to exhibit a similar profile and remain within 15% error. Furthermore, the simulated temperature response in reaction to a change in fluid flow rate is shown to properly depict the resulting output in accordance with established principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer. Overall, virtually simulated engineering systems such as this have the potential to provide a highly beneficial practical learning experience for undergraduate engineering students with the added benefit of being remotely accessible and not requiring physical upkeep and maintenance.

Citation
Format

Nikolov, K. A., & Biswas, M. A. R., & Nguyen, X., & Ortiz, V. E. (2021, November), Simulated Crossflow Heat Exchanger System Using Simulink Modeling Paper presented at 2021 Fall ASEE Middle Atlantic Section Meeting, Virtually Hosted by the section. 10.18260/1-2--38447

TY  - CPAPER
AB  - Applied engineering coursework that incorporates direct hands-on learning processes has been shown to provide a superior educational experience over indirect course structures. Emphasis on observational and empirical learning elements is an integral component in the creation of well-rounded and competent engineers and is a skill that is fostered in the laboratory environment. Just like all aspects of engineering, the structure of these experiential courses must be dynamic and adaptable. For example, these courses should be able to adapt to modern challenges and industry trends. Incorporating the use of simulators to provide practical engineering experiences, in addition to traditional face-to-face techniques, might help to accomplish this. The engineering Thermal-fluids Laboratory course (MENG 3211) at the University of Texas at Tyler is one such curriculum that has made substantial progress in the modernization of experiential teaching techniques by incorporating thermal system analysis in the form of virtually simulated heat exchangers. These virtual systems provide an innovative way for students to gain experience and knowledge with practical engineering applications through the use of an interactive user interface which provides a useful preview of what to expect when working with a physical heat exchanger. Given that physically constructing and maintaining a functioning heat exchanger is an expensive and laborious process, this use of computer software allows for a more accessible and convenient approach to test and analyze dynamic thermal-fluid systems. The system can be defined as a set of nonlinear transient energy balance equations for user-specified inputs such as fluid flow rates, and then thoroughly analyzed in real-time using MATLAB® and Simulink®. By using this model, the user is given the ability to control the heat exchanger system, as well as the disturbances which are occurring, and analyze how they affect the heat transfer process in real-time. Compared to data retrieved from a physical heat exchanger, the exiting fluid temperatures over any given timeframe simulated by the virtual software are shown to exhibit a similar profile and remain within 15% error. Furthermore, the simulated temperature response in reaction to a change in fluid flow rate is shown to properly depict the resulting output in accordance with established principles of thermodynamics and heat transfer. Overall, virtually simulated engineering systems such as this have the potential to provide a highly beneficial practical learning experience for undergraduate engineering students with the added benefit of being remotely accessible and not requiring physical upkeep and maintenance.
AU  - Kiril Alexandrov Nikolov
AU  - Mohammad Abu Rafe Biswas
AU  - Xuan Nguyen
AU  - Victor Eduardo Ortiz
CY  - Virtually Hosted by the section
DA  - 2021/11/12
PB  - ASEE Conferences
TI  - Simulated Crossflow Heat Exchanger System Using Simulink Modeling
UR  - https://peer.asee.org/38447
DO  - 10.18260/1-2--38447
ER  -