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Old 07-09-2014, 11:04 PM   #103 (permalink)
JRMichler
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Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Phillips, WI
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Nameless - '06 GMC Canyon
90 day: 37.45 mpg (US)

22 Maverick - '22 Ford Maverick XL
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Quote:
Originally Posted by dustyfirewalker View Post
i havent taken heat transfer systems yet, so im not exactly sure how to go about finding the right surface area to transfer the heat trough a particular substance.

im hoping someone could point me in the right direction, alot of what ive found is just "maximize surface area for best heat transfer" but i dont have a whole lot of room in my engine bay
I'll take a stab at calculating heat transfer area. Some assumptions:

Exhaust gas temperature 1500 deg F.
Exiting heated mixture temperature 700 deg F.
Counterflow heat exchanger.
Heat transferred 113 Kw.
Heat transfer coefficient 5 BTU/hr-ft2-deg F

Estimate average temperature difference between hot and cold side is 700 deg F. Then the heat transfer rate per square foot is 5 BTU/hr-ft2-deg F X 700 deg F = 3500 BTU/hr-ft2.

The total heat transfer rate is 113 Kw X 3412 BTU per KwH = 386,000 BTUH.

Then the heat exchanger area needed is 386,000 BTU/hr / 3500 BTU/hr-ft2 = 110 ft2. This seems large. If the real heat transfer rate is larger, the required area will be smaller.

Another source of error is the average temperature difference. I just made a SWAG. If you feel ambitious, calculate the heat capacity of exhaust gases resulting from 500 ACFM into the carburetor, then calculate a more correct average temperature difference.
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06 Canyon: The vacuum gauge plus wheel covers helped increase summer 2015 mileage to 38.5 MPG, while summer 2016 mileage was 38.6 MPG without the wheel covers. Drove 33,021 miles 2016-2018 at 35.00 MPG.

22 Maverick: Summer 2022 burned 62.74 gallons in 3145.1 miles for 50.1 MPG. Winter 2023-2024 - 2416.7 miles, 58.66 gallons for 41 MPG.
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