TFLVC Computer Controlled Laminar/Viscous Flow Heat Transfer Unit

The Computer Controlled Laminar/Viscous Flow Heat Transfer Unit, "TFLVC", is a laboratory scale unit designed to study heat transfer between hot oil flowing in laminar flow through an internal tube and cold water that flows through the annulus (ring-shaped area).

Oil circuit (hot fluid):

• The hot oil flows along a closed circuit through the internal tube of the exchanger. An electric heating element, placed in the heating tank, heats the oil up to a specific temperature. This temperature is controlled by the heating element (PID control), limiting the temperature to 90 ºC. The oil goes out of the tank impelled by a pump. A flow sensor measures the oil flow. The oil cools down along the exchanger and then returns to the heating tank, starting a new cycle. There is a regulation valve at the inlet of the heating tank to determine the flow rate of hot oil in the circuit.
• The flow of oil can also be controlled by changing the speed of the pump through the software and with the regulation valve located in the bypass.
• There is a purge valve in the circuit to drain and clean the circuit and the heating tank.

Water circuit (cold fluid):

• The cold water comes from of the tap and flows through the annulus formed between the internal and external tube of the exchanger.
• The cold water flow is controlled by a regulation valve and is measured by a flow sensor. Water enters the exchanger and its temperature rises. Afterwards, water goes out of the system.
• The cold water can enter the exchanger by both ends (co-current or counter-current flow), depending of the position of the valves.

This Computer Controlled Unit is supplied with the EDIBON Computer Control System (SCADA), and includes: The unit itself + a Control Interface Box + a Data Acquisition Board + Computer Control, Data Acquisition and Data Management Software Packages, for controlling the process and all parameters involved in the process.