Calculation Approach for Ceramic Heat Pipe Heat Exchangers for High‐Temperature Applications

• Published in: ChemBioEng reviews 2018-08, Vol.5 (4), p.270-280
• Main Authors: Unz, Simon, Hack, Nina, Beckmann, Michael
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ceramic material; Heat exchanger; Heat pipe; High‐temperature heat transfer
• ISSN: 2196-9744; 2196-9744
• DOI: 10.1002/cben.201800011

Metal materials show poor lifetime behavior under high‐temperature conditions and aggressive atmospheres. An alternative solution is the use of ceramic material, e.g., silicon carbide ceramics. These ceramics cannot be processed and joined like metal materials. For this reason, the simple geometry of a heat pipe can be used as a basic design for ceramic heat exchanger systems in the high‐temperature process technology for industrial and power plant applications. Heat pipes are hermetically sealed tubes filled with a working fluid. By transferring heat to one side and by releasing heat from the other side a two‐phase cycle is set up. For these apparatuses a numerical calculation model for a more exact determination of the working behavior of large units under high‐temperature conditions is introduced, considering both convective and radiative heat transfer. Ceramic materials are suitable for high‐temperature applications in difficult atmospheres. For manufacturing reasons, the use of simple heat pipe technology is pursued. For the design of heat pipe high‐temperature heat exchangers, a numerical calculation model for the determination of the operating behavior of large apparatus considering the convective and radiation‐induced heat transfer is described.