A self-excited vibration evaluation method for evaluating self-excited vibration of a tube bundle arranged in a fluid so as to be supported by a support member includes: for each of at least one eigenmode of the tube bundle, a time history response analysis step of performing time history response analysis of simulating a change in vibration amplitude of the tube bundle, while changing a negative damping ratio corresponding to an excitation force of the fluid; calculating a critical flow velocity of the fluid on the basis of a minimum negative damping ratio at which the change of the vibration amplitude of the tube bundle diverges in the time history response analysis; inputting an expected flow velocity of the fluid; and evaluating the self-excited vibration of the tube bundle for each eigenmode by comparing the expected flow velocity of the fluid with the critical flow velocity.

A method is disclosed for analyzing performance of a chilled water (CW) system having a plurality of CW components. The method may consider a collection of at least one of allowable operating points, allowable operating ranges or allowable operating conditions, for each one of the CW components. A user set or system measured ambient wet bulb (WB) temperature may be considered for an environment in which at least a subplurality of the CW components are located. Equivalent loop conditions may be calculated for each of the CW components covering a load being thermally managed by the CW system. For each one of the calculated equivalent loop conditions, a processor may generate information for balancing the CW components to meet load requirements, and then analyze and select a balance condition that yields the user preferable optimization.

The invention relates to a method for detecting deficiencies in a cooling tower (2) of a thermal facility (1) in operation in a given environment, comprising the implementation of the steps of: (a) measurement, by a plurality of sensors (13), of a set of values of physical parameters relating to the cooling tower (2), at least one of which being an endogenous parameter specific to the operation of the cooling tower (2) and at least one exogenous parameter specific to said environment; (b) calculation, by data processing means (11), of at least one expected optimum value of said endogenous parameter as a function of said values of the physical parameters and a model; (c) determination, by the data processing means (11), of at least one potentially deficient function of the cooling tower (2) as a function of the disparity between the measured value and the expected optimum value of said endogenous parameter and/or the variation of said disparity; (d) testing, by the data processing means (11), of each function of the cooling tower (2) determined as being potentially deficient; and (e) triggering of an alarm, by the data processing means (11), if at least one function of the cooling tower (2) is evaluated as being deficient in the test.

Various embodiments are directed to improving the accuracy of existing hardware-based fluid quality measurement systems and particular computer applications. For instance, some embodiments improve the accuracy of these technologies by generating, via a computer model, an estimate of a fluid life for a heat transfer fluid and/or a score that indicates a quality of the heat transfer fluid, among other things. Additional embodiments also improve human-computer interaction, user interfaces, and computer resource consumption relative to existing technologies.

Shell-and-tube devices typically require regular maintenance. Described herein is an automated method for tracking the status of individual tubes during maintenance activities and recording status data for review and analysis. Status data may optionally be reported in real-time summary format and/or used to predict time-to-completion. The method minimizes omission errors and helps to reduce the expense of performing maintenance activities in shell-and-tube devices, including shell-and-tube reactors and heat exchangers.

Systems, methods and devices for utilizing an energy chassis device designed to sense, collect, store and distribute energy from where it is available using devices that harvest or convert energy to locations requiring energy such as but not limited to HVAC (heating, ventilation and cooling) systems. The systems, methods and devices can also be used with a next generation geothermal heat exchanger that achieves higher energy harvesting efficiency and provides greater functionality than current geothermal exchangers.

A counter-flow simultaneous heat and mass exchange device is operated by directing flows of two fluids into a heat and mass exchange device at initial mass flow rates where ideal changes in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids are unequal. At least one of the following state variables in the fluids is measured: temperature, pressure and concentration, which together define the thermodynamic state of the two fluid streams at the points of entry to and exit from the device. The flow rates of the fluids at the points of entry and/or exit to/from the device are measured; and the mass flow rate of at least one of the two fluids is changed such that the ideal change in total enthalpy rates of the two fluids through the device are brought closer to being equal.

A heat exchanger and method for making a heat exchanger assembly is described, involving generating a digital model of a heat exchanger assembly that comprises a heat exchanger core within a housing. The digital model is inputted into an additive manufacturing apparatus or system comprising an energy source. The additive manufacturing apparatus applies energy from the energy source to successively applied incremental quantities of a metal powder, which fuses the powder to form incremental portions of the heat exchanger core and housing according to the digital model. Unfused or partially fused metal powder is enclosed in a first region of the heat exchanger assembly between the heat exchanger core and the housing.

There is provided a method for analyzing a vibration damping structure in which a tube bundle disposed in a fluid is supported by a vibration damping member disposed in a gap between tubes included in the tube bundle. The method includes a model making step of making a FEM model corresponding to the vibration damping structure, an error setting step of setting an error parameter for a parameter relating to an element included in the FEM model, and an analysis step of performing structural analysis by a finite-element method using the FEM model in which the error parameter is set.

An airflow sensor for a heat sink has a first portion having a first electrical point of contact, a second portion have a second electrical point of contact, and a deformable portion made of an electroactive material electrically coupled to the first and second portions. The deformable portion has first electrical properties measured between the first and second electrical points of contact when there is no airflow and the deformable portion is in a first position, and has second electrical properties different than the first electrical properties when a source of airflow blows air against the deformable portion, thereby causing the deformable portion to extend to a second position farther away from the source of airflow than the first position. The airflow sensor can be incorporated into a heat sink for an electronic component.