Desarrollo y evaluación de un dispositivo de intercambio térmico con esponja metálica como elemento de transferencia del calor.

Energy consumption worldwide is growing continuously. Research in this area looks for opportunities to reduce energy demand, for example, in residential equipment for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) applications. The main component of HVAC equipment is the heat exchanger, which also plays a fundamental role in a variety of industrial applications and has a significant impact on energy efficiency, cost, and the size of the thermal system. Therefore, the possibility of having a more efficient and compact heat exchanger is an interesting alternative. This project aims to develop a compact and efficient thermal exchange system that uses metal sponges as innovative heat transfer elements. The solution investigated is to increase the thermal transfer surface by using cellular materials (open-cell metal foams or metal sponges). The purpose is to offer an alternative to thermal exchange systems that use fins to form sheets, which require more complex manufacturing and significant investment in their maintenance. It also valued the possibility of incorporating heat transfer mechanisms in the sponges using magnetocaloric effects, which represent very novel solutions but are still little investigated. In the latter case, the development of the research is accomplished through a Doctorate in Engineering work, due to the complexity of the subject and study, needing a specific dedication.

The project uses two effective methods to evaluate thermal exchange devices: experimental work and modern computational techniques, supported by adequate methods for the design of experiments and data analysis. We use traditional statistical techniques with Minitab and BigData methodologies with the R program. For the experiments, the flow system to the exchanger is designed and constructed using accessories and instruments for data acquisition. In addition, the main component of the exchanger is designed and constructed using metal sponges and other materials. The experiments are planned, and the thermal performance of the system is then evaluated. By analyzing the first results, adjustments are made to the exchanger for its final configuration. For the modeling and simulation work, energy and flow computational models are investigated. New-generation computer software (CAE) such as Comsol Multiphysics, Ansys, and Matlab is used to model and simulate the experimental thermal exchange device and to validate the computational results. Once the model is improved, it is used to simulate other cases of interest, evaluating the exchanger under different conditions to establish its efficiency in more general terms

Desarrollar y evaluar un intercambiador térmico con esponjas metálicas como
elementos de transferencia de calor.

Este proyecto se enmarca en el área de sostenibilidad de la línea de investigación Gestión de Operaciones y Sostenibilidad de la EIPI, quien se interesa de la generación en la producción y uso de bienes y servicios que mejoran la calidad de vida de la sociedad, haciendo un uso eficiente de los recursos naturales. En la línea Estadística Aplicada y Gestión de la Calidad se enmarca en la aplicación de la estadística para asegurar la validez y confiabilidad de la propuesta. Para ECIM / CIEMTEC la propuesta se enmarca en tres líneas de investigación: 1)Tecnologías Avanzadas para el Desarrollo y Aplicación de Materiales; 2) Caracterización de
Materiales y Ensayos No Destructivos; 3) Mecánica de Materiales.