Heat exchangers transfer energy is from one fluid or gas to another across a solid surface. Applications include systems for heating, cooling and ventilation, among others. The heat exchangers studied in this project are designed based on a single plate which anchors rows of fins.

A&T researchers, including Drs. Samuel P. Owusu-Ofori and Jagannathan Sankar of A&T's Center for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures, will work with Dunn to analyze how well the materials used to build these plate fin heat exchangers stand up to extreme conditions.

"Heat exchangers are exposed to temperatures from 1000 degrees Fahrenheit to subfreezing, and they experience several cycles of such extremes," said Dunn. "Because of these less-than-ideal conditions, heat exchangers must be made of state-of-the-art materials which can reliably perform without failure."

In the project, researchers will study how cracks due to fatigue occur on the heat exchangers. They will then use these data to predict lifecycles for various materials in a variety of conditions.

A&T's Center for Advanced Materials and Smart Structures, funded by the National Science Foundation, focuses on advanced ceramic materials and their composites. Since the Center's inception in 1988, the National Science Foundation has declared it a "best practices" example for its Centers of Research Excellence in Science and Technology (CREST) program.

Hamilton Sundstrand, a subsidiary of United Technologies Corporation, is among the largest global suppliers of technologically advanced aerospace and industrial products. Headquartered in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, U.S.A., the company designs and manufactures aerospace systems for commercial, regional, corporate and military aircraft, and is a major supplier for international space programs. Industrial products serve industries ranging from hydrocarbon, chemical and food processing to construction and mining.

For more information, contact Dunn at (336) 334-7620.
 

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