Objectives

General goal

The IAMHEX project proposes revolutionizing compact Heat Exchanger's design based on a symbiotic
creation of realistic and model-based optimization methods, additive manufacturing techniques, and
experimental assessment of novel CHEXs.

 

SMART objectives

The IAMHEX project allows us to set the following ambitious SMART objectives (SOs) for the IAMHEX project:

  • SO1. Find designs that promise an increase of energy efficiency (either an increase of thermal
    effectiveness or a decrease in pressure drop) by 15 to 30% for the same overall HEX volume or
    material for condenser/evaporator-type HEXs (within 2 years from the start of the project) as well as
    balanced heat recuperators (by the end of the project) using our newly developed automated design
    tools
  • SO2. Enable Additive Manufacturing of dense (>99% for Laser Powder Bed Fusion and >95% for 3D microextrusion)
    pure copper and Al(/Cu) alloys within two years from the start of the project with two AM
    technologies reaching (i) conductivity increase of >70% IACS for Al/Cu alloys and resp. >95% and >85%
    IACS for Laser Powder Bed Fusion and 3D micro-extrusion of pure Cu and (ii) surface roughness Ra
    decrease from 10micron to 2micron with dual laser PBF and (iii) dimensional accuracy improvement
    by 30% compared to the state-of-the art and (iv) yield strength tuned by the alloy composition for the
    intended design and minimum feature size.
  • SO3. Realise, test (with a maximum of 5% uncertainty), and analyse 3D printed HEX designs (at least the
    finned part - a scaled model or a real prototype). Evaluate the accuracy of 3D-printing and the
    increased/adequate mechanical properties after 3 years from the start of the project.
  • SO4. Validate models and verify the 15 to 30% performance improvements of the manufactured
    prototypes (at least the finned part) at laboratory scale after 3 years from the start of the project.
  • SO5. Develop within the 2 years from the start of the project performance correlations for innovative fins
    allowing for an increase in effectiveness by 15% in the turbulent regime for the same overall HEX
    volume or material.
  • SO6. Develop a realistic roadmap for the further valorisation of the research results in future ICON,
    Horizon Europe, and O&O projects in the context of Smart Energy Region in Flanders.