A testing apparatus and an associated method for assessing the performance and integrity of a ground source heat exchanger installation are provided. The testing apparatus is configured to form a fluid tight, pressure resistant connection with the pipework of a ground source heat exchanger so as to create a test system. Fluid can then be pumped through the test system as the flow rate and/or fluid pressure are measured. By collecting this data about the fluid before and after it passes through the pipework the testing apparatus enables an operator to identify differences in the upstream and downstream values that may be indicative of a fault in the pipework. Preferably, fluid is circulated through the pipework in a first flow direction and then a second flow direction and measurements collected for both are compared to provide further detail of possible faults in the pipework.

The invention relates to a method for determining the state of a heat exchanger device (10) that comprises means for transferring heat with the aid of at least one process stream. A thermohydraulic simulation of the at least one process stream through at least one passage (14) in the heat exchanger device (10) is carried out in order to determine temperature and/or heat transfer coefficient profiles of the means for transferring heat.

An inspection system for a heat exchanger having a vision system to obtain an image of an inner surface of the at least one tube.

A component, and a method of forming a component, including a plurality of representative volume elements, each of the representative volume elements abutting at least one other representative volume element to form the component. Each of the representative volume elements includes at least one dividing structure bound by surfaces offset from a parting surface. The shape and contour of the parting surface defined by a mathematical expression that equals a non-zero constant, the mathematical expression selected to define a triply periodic surface when the expression equals zero.

In one aspect, a heat exchanger system is provided that includes a cooling system and a sensor configured to detect a variable of the cooling system. The heat exchanger system includes processor circuitry configured to provide the variable and a plurality of potential operating parameters of the cooling system to a machine learning model representative of the cooling system to estimate at least one of energy consumption, water usage, and chemical usage for the potential operating parameters. The processor circuitry is further configured to determine, based at least in part on the estimated at least one of energy consumption, water usage, and chemical consumption, for the potential operating parameters, an optimal operating parameter of the cooling system to satisfy a target optimization criterion.

A heater system for an exhaust system is provided. The heater system includes a heater disposed in an exhaust conduit. The heater includes a plurality of heating elements disposed in the exhaust conduit. A heating control module controls the plurality of heating elements differently according to operating conditions specific to each heating element. In other forms, the heater system for an exhaust system has a plurality of heating zones, instead of a plurality of heating elements. The heating control module controls the plurality of heating zones differently according to operating conditions specific to each heating zone.

A supporting force inspection device for inspecting a supporting force of a vibration suppression member interposed between bend portions of a plurality of heat transfer tubes of a steam generator includes: an acceleration sensor for detecting a vibration state of the bend portion; a sensor holding part disposed inside the heat transfer tube and configured to hold the acceleration sensor; and a vibration force generation part configured to generate a vibration force for vibrating the heat transfer tube along a plane in which a curvature circle of the bend portion exists. The vibration force generation part is configured to cooperate with the sensor holding part and vibrate the heat transfer tube along the plane in which the curvature circle exists.

A heat exchanger is disclosed, having a vessel for containing a refrigerant, the vessel having a chamber bounded by a surface of a vessel wall, the vessel including an inlet and an outlet for transport of a refrigerant into and out of the chamber. At least one tube portion is inside the chamber, to enable fluid communication into and/or out of the tube portion through a first orifice and a second orifice. This at least one tube portion has an average diameter. The chamber has a space for the refrigerant, with the space having a volume, and the at least one tube portion has an outer surface in contact with the space for the refrigerant, this surface having an area. The volume divided by a product of the area and the average diameter is smaller than or equal to a constant.

A fluid control system is provided that in one form includes a first flow channel, a second flow channel, a heater disposed in the second flow channel, and a fluid control device disposed upstream from the first and second flow channels. When the heater is turned on, the fluid control device changes a fluid flow rate through at least one of the first flow channel and the second flow channel. In another form, the fluid control system includes a bypass conduit, a heater disposed within the bypass conduit, and a fluid control device disposed near the inlet and outlet of the bypass conduit. In still another form, the fluid control system includes a regeneration device disposed downstream from at least one exhaust aftertreatment system and closes an outlet of the exhaust pipe.

A diffusion bonding heat exchanger includes a first heat transfer plate and a second heat transfer plate. A high-temperature flow path of the first heat transfer plate includes a connection channel portion configured such that a high-temperature fluid can flow across a plurality of channels within at least a range that overlaps a predetermined range in a stacking direction, the predetermined range being a range from a flow path inlet of the second heat transfer plate to a position downstream of the flow path inlet.