This award supports cooperative research in the basic thermal design of heat exchangers by Ramesh Shah of General Motors and SUNY at Buffalo and Alberto Pignotti of Techint Corporation and the University of Buenos Aires. Realistic effects to be studied include variable heat transfer coefficients, various heat transfer areas, longitudinal heat conduction, number of baffles and the maldistribution of flow. The results will lead to new efficient two-fluid exchanger configurations. Dr. Shah is a widely-experienced expert on heat exchanger design procedures and current technology. A graduate level textbook is in preparation. Dr. Pignotti has a strong background in mathematics and theoretical physics. He will contribute innovative concepts and methods for solving complex heat exchanger configurations. The computer facilities of the two institutions complement each other as do the specialized capabilities of these two groups. Thus the results of this collaboration will be comprehensive in advancing heat exchanger technology and in contributing to the conservation of energy resources in both countries.
