Heat exchanger is a critical component in HVAC systems and thus an important topic to cover in courses such as Heat Transfer, Introduction to Thermal Systems, Automotive HVAC Systems, etc. It always helps the students to better understand the fundamental principles when the instructor brings a heat exchanger unit to the classroom. However, a more engaging way is to show a heat exchanger in a “working” mode – as a component in the system and be able to observe its performance. Due to the required fluid circulation systems it is not easy to bring such a system into classroom. Funded by an Undergraduate Program Equipment Grant from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHARE), five undergraduate students in Mechanical Engineering were tasked to design and build a heat-exchanger demonstration kit as a teaching aid for classroom usage.The project was funded by ASHRAE for $5000, and students were allotted one semester for design and one semester for assembly. With a clear vision and mission statement, the student team researched existing products, performed theoretical calculations, and further identified their constraints with student surveys. The team also consulted several faculty members who are teaching Heat Transfer and Thermal Science Lab to get their input in order to provide a design and construction that best serves the teaching purpose. It was decided that all the components would be built on a display unit with wheels which allow it being moved between labs and classrooms. It was also important that the demo system to be fully equipped with instrumentation (flow rate, temperature, pressure measurements, etc.) so that students in the classroom not only see the demonstration but also can obtain quick data and compare to theoretical calculations they learn during the lecture.The final product is a rolling display board (approximately 4 feet wide and 5 feet tall) featuring a concentric tube heat exchanger prominently. An LCD screen allows students to see real-time temperature readings at four predetermined locations. Flow meters output the individual fluid flow rate of the coolant contained in two discrete piping loops. The fluid in these loops can operate in either parallel or counter-flow orientations (relative to each other in the heat exchanger) with the flip of a switch. Provisions were made to ensure sustainability and environmental consciousness, such as serviceable components and non-toxic coolant. The project concluded on time and under budget. This teaching kit is expected to help implementing active collaborative learning (ACL) activities in the classroom.&nbsp;

Senior Capstone Project: A Classroom Heat Exchanger Demonstration Kit

Paper Proceedings: https://asmedigitalcollection.asme.org/IMECE/IMECE2021/volume/85543

ASME 2021 International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE2021)

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