Partners: Carbon Group; NanotechTO (INRIM); NANOfacility (INRIM)
Genius is one percent inspiration and ninety-nine percent perspiration”, Thomas Edison
www.polito.itTHERMALSKIN
Project
In this project, we introduce a
breakthrough in the heat transfer mechanism between a solid wall and a
fluid, by means of nanotechnology applied to macroscopic surfaces.
Towards this purpose, we introduce the concept of thermal nano-fin,
with an entirely different
meaning with respect to standard terminology. By nano-fins we mean
slender nano-structures, sparse
enough not to interfere with the thermal boundary layer, but
sufficiently rigid and conductive to allow
direct energy transfer between the wall and the bulk fluid, thus acting
as thermal bridges. On the other
hand, the existing nano-structures are typically so dense to induce
fluid stagnation, and then shift the
boundary layer upward, with a modest increase in performance, despite a
significant increase in heat
transfer surface area (and additional weight). In contrast, our notion
of nano-fin produces a
short circuit between opposite sides of the thermal boundary layer. A
macroscopic analogy is given by the wind
tower, which is slim enough to avoid disturbing the planetary boundary
layer, but high enough to reach
the region where wind is stronger (see the following figure).
Partners: Carbon Group; NanotechTO (INRIM); NANOfacility (INRIM)
Partners: Carbon Group; NanotechTO (INRIM); NANOfacility (INRIM)