Title: Irreversibilities reduction of a flow distribution system by means of the EGM methodology

Authors: Bladimir Ramos-Alvarado; Abel Hernandez-Guerrero; V.H. Rangel-Hernandez

Addresses: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Salamanca-Valle de Santiago Road, km. 3.8+1.5, Palo Blanco Community, Mexico. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Salamanca-Valle de Santiago Road, km. 3.8++1.5, Palo Blanco Community, Mexico. ' Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Guanajuato, Salamanca-Valle de Santiago Road, km. 3.8+1.5, Palo Blanco Community, Mexico

Abstract: The present work reports the results of an entropy generation analysis on a symmetric flow distributor. The entropy generation minimisation method (EGM) was applied in order to lower the intrinsic irreversibilities associated to the geometric configuration of the flow pattern, aiming to improve the uniformity of flow distribution. 3D Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods were used to simulate the flow conditions, including a local entropy generation model. The implementation of the entropy generation minimisation method enabled to achieve a significant optimisation of the original design.

Keywords: flow distribution; irreversibilities reduction; EGM; entropy generation minimisation; computational fluid dynamics; 3D CFD.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEX.2012.045063

International Journal of Exergy, 2012 Vol.10 No.1, pp.94 - 109

Received: 30 Mar 2011
Accepted: 09 Jul 2011
Published online: 24 Jan 2012 *

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