Evaluation of Internal Fin Geometry for Heat Transfer Enhancement in Automobile Exhaust Energy Harvesting Systems

dc.contributor.authorAthavale, Jayati Deepaken
dc.contributor.committeechairEkkad, Srinath V.en
dc.contributor.committeememberVick, Brian L.en
dc.contributor.committeememberHuxtable, Scott T.en
dc.contributor.departmentMechanical Engineeringen
dc.date.accessioned2015-07-06T06:00:30Zen
dc.date.available2015-07-06T06:00:30Zen
dc.date.issued2014-01-11en
dc.description.abstractThermoelectric generators (TEGs) are currently being explored for their potential in harvesting energy from automobile exhaust. TEGs in form of an appropriate TEG- Heat exchanger module can utilize the temperature difference between the hot exhaust gases and the automobile coolant and convert it into electrical voltage. The amount of power is anticipated to be a few hundred watts depending on the temperature gradient and the material of the TEGs. The focus of this study is increasing the hot side heat transfer for improved performance of the thermoelectric generators using two different internal fins — louvered fins and herringbone wavy fins. The multi-louvered fins basically have 'multi flat plate' behavior and will enhance the heat transfer by deflecting the air from its original path and aligning it with the plane of the louvers. Herringbone fins are used to lengthen the path of airflow allowing for greater residence time and better mixing of the flow. They also provide for greater wetted surface area achieving higher heat transfer. The flow and heat transfer behavior inside the exhaust pipe test section with internal fins is modeled using commercial numerical software. The thermal and flow behavior through both these internal fins depends to a large extent on geometric parameters and fin arrangement. Optimization of the fin design is considered to determine the configuration that provides highest heat transfer while providing least pressure drop across the pipe length. The heat transfer and pressure drop characteristics are compared to the baseline flow without any fin enhancement.en
dc.description.degreeMaster of Scienceen
dc.format.mediumETDen
dc.identifier.othervt_gsexam:2017en
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10919/54017en
dc.publisherVirginia Techen
dc.rightsIn Copyrighten
dc.rights.urihttp://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/en
dc.subjectHeat Transfer enhancementen
dc.subjectHeat exchangeren
dc.subjectLouvered finsen
dc.subjectHerringbone wavy finsen
dc.subjectThermoelectric generationen
dc.subjectTEGen
dc.titleEvaluation of Internal Fin Geometry for Heat Transfer Enhancement in Automobile Exhaust Energy Harvesting Systemsen
dc.typeThesisen
thesis.degree.disciplineMechanical Engineeringen
thesis.degree.grantorVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State Universityen
thesis.degree.levelmastersen
thesis.degree.nameMaster of Scienceen

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