Date of Award

2011

Degree Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Engineering Science

Program

Mechanical and Materials Engineering

Supervisor

Dr. Anthony Straatman

Abstract

The principle aim of the presented work is to extend the capability of conjugate heat/flow models to include moisture exchange such that applications in food storage/ripening and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) can be simulated. To accomplish this, several modifications were made to an existing finite-volume model developed in-house. The most significant change was the implementation of a mass fraction transport equation to track the evolution of the water vapour field in all regions of the conjugate domain. This approach also required re-formulation of the energy transport model to account for a dry air/water vapour binary mixture. Developments in the porous regions are implemented using the technique of volume averaging, wherein the governing equations are considered macroscopically. A non-equilibrium approach in

volume averaging the species and energy transport equations is implemented to allow more versatility for future work. This non-equilibrium versatility is beneficial over traditional equilibrium approaches, as often in agricultural or processing applications, internal moisture and temperature conditions dictate the transfer between constituents. Additionally, these conjugate domains consist of fluid-porous, fluid-solid, and porous- solid interfaces, and interface conditions between governing equations must be developed. Applications in the HVAC industry are chosen for validation, as the model is utilized to predict operating temperatures in evaporative cooling cycles, and study energy and humidity transport throughout these domains.

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