Improved braze joint quality through use of enhanced surface technologies

Gunnam, Hanmesh

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/101827 Copy

Description

Title

Improved braze joint quality through use of enhanced surface technologies

Author(s)

Gunnam, Hanmesh

Issue Date

2018-07-18

Director of Research (if dissertation) or Advisor (if thesis)

Miljkovic, Nenad

Department of Study

Mechanical Sci & Engineering

Discipline

Mechanical Engineering

Degree Granting Institution

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Degree Name

M.S.

Degree Level

Thesis

Keyword(s)

• Brazephilic
• Brazephobic
• Nanostructured
• Brazing

Abstract

Heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) is the technology of indoor and vehicular environmental comfort with the goal to provide thermal comfort and acceptable indoor air quality. The US HVAC market is currently worth $57 billion and refrigerant leakage is one of the major causes for concern in the current era of the market. The primary goal of this project is to reduce braze joint refrigerant leaks by 25% which would reduce the annual unitary rooftop leak rate of 4% to 3%. Though the goal of braze joint leak reduction is a noble one, the realities of business do necessitate that the brazing advancement comes at a cost that is equal to or better than today's brazing techniques leading up to the second goal for this project, to utilize the microengineered surface structures to decrease the amount of braze alloy and flux materials required for brazing by 10%. In this project, early results have shown reduction in braze joint leaks by 38% thereby equating to a saving of $1.78 billion dollars of US energy consumption bills per year if implemented. While still in the testing phase, the 10% reduction in alloy and flux material consumption could save the funding company, Trane INC a total of $300,000 per year.

Graduation Semester

2018-08

Type of Resource

text

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http://hdl.handle.net/2142/101827

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2018 Hanmesh Gunnam

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