THERMIX, novel adaptable heat exchanger inserts for ultra-efficient heat transfer in viscous complex fluids

随着我们走向一个去碳化的世界，对过程工业能源效率的关注变得越来越大。仅供暖行业就消耗了英国至少11%的供暖能源需求，目前的重点是使供暖过程的每一步都尽可能高效，以减少能源使用和二氧化碳排放。过程工业主要使用热交换器来加热和冷却过程流体或回收能量。CALGAVIN专注于过程交换器管内传热增强装置的研究，设计，规范和制造，并在全球销售。管内插片通常是安装在管内的金属结构，可以控制流体流动，改善两种流体之间的传热，使热交换器体积更小，成本更低，效率更高。然而，有些流体的特性使其难以增强。这种液体可能具有很高的粘性，这使它们具有粘稠的蜂蜜状质地，严重抑制了传热的有效性。其他类型的流体研究相对较少，这些“复杂”流体的流动容易与否取决于施加在它们身上的压力有多大。高粘度和复杂流体用于各种各样的产品，包括石油化工，塑料，聚合物，油漆/涂料，食品和快速消费品。目前，用于混合管内流体的插入物几何形状也用于增强热交换器的性能，但尚未针对这一用途进行优化。相对于获得的有限传热增强，它们需要较大的泵送功率，因此代价很高。CALGAVIN将利用现有的最先进的测量技术，与伯明翰大学合作，进一步开发专门用于高粘性和复杂流动的插入技术。每个工艺都有不同的特点，需要独特的设计，客户需要工艺保证。由此产生的联合研究，开发和测试计划将导致CALGAVIN扩大其独特产品和技术解决方案的范围，以满足其全球不断增长的处理器列表。

As we move to a decarbonised world, the focus on energy efficiency in the process industry becomes ever greater. This industry alone uses at least 11% of the UK's heating energy demand with the focus now narrowing on making every step of the process as efficient as possible to reduce energy use and carbon dioxide emissions. The process industry largely uses heat exchangers to heat and cool process fluids or to recover energy. CALGAVIN specialises in the research, design, specification and manufacturing of in-tube heat transfer enhancement devices for process exchangers which it sells worldwide. In-tube inserts are in general metal structures that are installed into the tubes and manipulate the fluid flow to improve the heat transfer between two fluids and that allow heat exchangers to be smaller, less expensive and more efficient. However, some fluids have properties that make them difficult to enhance. Such fluids can be highly viscous which gives them a thick, honey-like texture that severely inhibits the effectiveness of heat transfer. Other types of fluids are comparatively little studied, "complex" fluids that change how easily or otherwise they flow, depending on how much stress is applied to them. High viscosity and complex fluids are used in a huge variety of products including petrochemicals, plastics, polymers, paints/coatings, food products and fast-moving consumer goods. Currently insert geometries, established for use in mixing fluids inside tubes, are also used for enhancing heat exchanger performance but not having been optimised for this use, they carry a high penalty in terms of large pumping power needed relative to the limited heat transfer enhancement gained. CALGAVIN will use the now available, state-of-the-art technologies for measurement, in conjunction with the University of Birmingham, to further develop insert technology made specially for high viscous and complex flows. Each process has varying characteristics, requiring unique designs and for which clients require process guarantees. The resulting joint research, development and testing programme will lead to CALGAVIN expanding its range of unique products and technical solutions to satisfy its growing list of processors worldwide.