Band 5, Heft 1

Catchments hydrological conditions and responses are anticipated to be affected by the changes in weather patterns, increasing in climate variability and extreme rainfall. Thus, engineers have no choice but to consider climate change in their practices in order to adapt and serve the public interests. This paper is an exploration of the impacts of climate change on the hydrology that underlies the hydraulic design of urban drainage system. Future rainfall has been downscaled from the Global Climate Model (GCM) employing a hybrid Generalised Linear Model (GLM) and Artificial Neural Network (ANN) downscaling techniques under different greenhouse emission scenarios. The output from this model is applied to a combined sewer system of an urban drainage catchment in the Northwest of England during the 21st Century to monitor its future behaviour in winter and summer seasons. Potential future changes in rainfall intensity are expected to alter the level of service of the system, causing more challenges in terms of surface flooding and increase in surcharge level in sewers. The results obtained demonstrate that there is a real chance for these effects to take place and therefore would require more attention from designers and catchment managers.

The voltage source converter (VSC) based multiterminal high voltage direct current (MTDC) transmission system is an interesting technical option to integrate offshore wind farms with the onshore grid due to its unique performance characteristics and reduced power loss via extruded DC cables. In order to enhance the reliability and stability of the MTDC system, an adaptive neuro fuzzy inference system (ANFIS) based coordinated control design has been addressed in this paper. A four terminal VSC-MTDC system which consists of an offshore wind farm and oil platform is implemented in MATLAB/ SimPowerSystems software. The proposed model is tested under different fault scenarios along with the converter outage and simulation results show that the novel coordinated control design has great dynamic stabilities and also the VSC-MTDC system can supply AC voltage of good quality to offshore loads during the disturbances.

This study presents the thermoelastic analysis of laminated composite plates subjected to sinusoidal thermal load linearly varying across the thickness. Analytical solutions for thermal displacements and stresses are investigated by using a unified plate theory which includes different functions in terms of thickness coordinate to represent the effect of shear deformation. The theory presented is variationally consistent, does not require shear correction factor, and gives rise to transverse shear stress variation such that the transverse shear stresses vary parabolically across the thickness satisfying shear stress free surface conditions. Governing equations of equilibrium and associated boundary conditions of the theory are obtained using the principle of virtual work. The Navier solution for simply supported laminated composite plates has been developed. Numerical results are presented to demonstrate the thermal response of the laminated composite plates.

In this paper, the variational iteration method (VIM) is used to examine the Volterra integro-differential forms of the singular Lane–Emden and the Emden–Fowler initial value problems and boundary value problems arising in physics, astrophysics and stellar structures. The Volterra integro-differential forms of the Lane–Emden and the Emden–Fowler equations overcome the singularity behavior at the origin x = 0. The Lagrange multiplier, needed for the VIM, is λ = −1 for the various cases of the specified equations having distinct shape factors. We illustrate our work by analyzing few initial value problems and boundary value problems to emphasize the convergence of the acquired results.

Thermal energy storage has very important prospects in many applications related to the use of renewable energies (solar energy, etc.) or other energy sources, such as waste heat from industrial processes. Thermochemical storage is very attractive for long-term storage, since it could be conducted at room temperature without energy losses. In the present paper, a novel nanocomposite material, Ca 2 − α Zn α (OH) 4 , is prepared using coprecipitation methodology and is characterized by XRD and DSC tests. The XRD result shows that the grain size of the nano-composite ranges from 40 nm to 95 nm. The DSC test result shows that the nano-composite exhibits high thermal storage capacity: 764.5 J/g at α = 0.8555. Its thermal decomposition temperature was found to be approximately 180º. Itwas found possible to recover 63.25% of the stored heat energy.

In order to understand sediment transport process based on knowledge of their soil properties and hydrodynamic behaviour a series of 2D laboratory controlled small-scale experiments were conducted using the Ahlborn sediment mobile bed tank (4.0×0.6×0.2 m). Experiments were conducted in smooth and rough bed conditions with purposely-built Soil Protrusion Apparatus (SPA) to measure the basic parameters on which erosion depends. Sediment deposition patterns in equilibrium stage associated with different bed roughness and particle size distributionswere fundamentally investigated. Extended physical modelling of crescent zones also included analysing their grain size distribution. Dimensional analysis and multiple linear regression methodswere employed to derive a simple empirical relationship for erosion rate (ER) in terms of the shear stress (τ s ), average grain diameter (d50) and soil protrusion (z) for smooth and rough sediment bed conditions. These analyses also suggest ways to refine empirical models, examining transport rates to explore the limits of erosion and deposition influences in shallow flow conditions.

In this paper, we present a reliable algorithm to calculate positive solutions of homogeneous nonlinear boundary value problems (BVPs). The algorithm converts the nonlinear BVP to an equivalent nonlinear Fredholm– Volterra integral equation.We employ the multistage Adomian decomposition method for BVPs on two or more subintervals of the domain of validity, and then solve the matching equation for the flux at the interior point, or interior points, to determine the solution. Several numerical examples are used to highlight the effectiveness of the proposed scheme to interpolate the interior values of the solution between boundary points. Furthermore we demonstrate two novel techniques to accelerate the rate of convergence of our decomposition series solutions by increasing the number of subintervals and adjusting the lengths of subintervals in the multistage Adomian decomposition method for BVPs.

Cognitive computing and cognitive technologies are game changers for future engineering systems, as well as for engineering practice and training. They are major drivers for knowledge automation work, and the creation of cognitive products with higher levels of intelligence than current smart products. This paper gives a brief review of cognitive computing and some of the cognitive engineering systems activities. The potential of cognitive technologies is outlined, along with a brief description of future cognitive environments, incorporating cognitive assistants - specialized proactive intelligent software agents designed to follow and interact with humans and other cognitive assistants across the environments. The cognitive assistants engage, individually or collectively, with humans through a combination of adaptive multimodal interfaces, and advanced visualization and navigation techniques. The realization of future cognitive environments requires the development of a cognitive innovation ecosystem for the engineering workforce. The continuously expanding major components of the ecosystem include integrated knowledge discovery and exploitation facilities (incorporating predictive and prescriptive big data analytics); novel cognitive modeling and visual simulation facilities; cognitive multimodal interfaces; and cognitive mobile and wearable devices. The ecosystem will provide timely, engaging, personalized / collaborative, learning and effective decision making. It will stimulate creativity and innovation, and prepare the participants to work in future cognitive enterprises and develop new cognitive products of increasing complexity. http://www.aee.odu.edu/cognitivecomp

This article presents an experimental analysis of the turbulent flow of water in a heat exchanger tube fitted with peripherally-cut dual twisted tapes (PDTs) under a constant wall heat-flux condition. The peripherallycut dual twisted tapes with different cutting pitch ratios (l/y = 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0) were tested for Reynolds numbers in the range of 5400 to 14,000. The experimental results showed thatNusselt number and friction factor of the tubes fitted with PDTswere considerably higher than those of the plain tube and those of the tubes with single twisted tape (ST) and dual twisted tapes (DTs). It was found that PDTs with l/y = 0.5, 0.75 and 1.0 gave higher heat transfer rate than the typical DTs, with average Nusselt numbers greater by 12.1%, 7.8% and 3.8%, respectively. For the range investigated, PDTs with the smallest l/y ratio offered the highest thermal performance factor of 1.14.

V-band clamp joints are used in a wide range of applications to connect circular flanges, for ducts, pipes and the turbocharger housing. Previous studies and research on V-bands are either purely empirical or analytical with limited applicability on the variety of V-band design and working conditions. In this paper models of the V-band are developed based on the classical theory of solid mechanics and the finite element method to study the behaviour of theV-bands under axial loading conditions. The good agreement between results from the developed FEA and the classical model support the suitability of the latter to modelV-band joints with diameters greater than 110mm under axial loading. The results from both models suggest that the axial stiffness for thisV-band cross section reaches a peak value for V-bands with radius of approximately 150 mmacross a wide range of coefficients of friction. Also, it is shown that the coefficient of friction and the wedge angle have a significant effect on the axial stiffness of V-bands.

In the literature, studies show that nanosilica particles and artificial pozzolans possessing can improve structural properties of cement-based materials. This paper studies the effect of cement and nanosilica on the engineering properties (compaction, unconfined compressive strength) of sand. Three different cement ratios (5, 9, and 14% by weight of dry sand) were mixed with four different nano silica ratios (0, 5, 10, and 15% by weight of cement), and then compacted into a cylindrical specimen. The results of the study presented that the addition of the cement and nanosilica improves the engineering properties of sands. The increase of maximum dry unitweight of sand was noted with the increase in the cement content. The presence of nanosilica in optimal percentages can significantly improve the mechanical properties of cement sand.

The concept of wearable products such as textile antenna are being developed which are capable of monitoring, alerting and demanding attention whenever hospital emergency is needed, hence minimizing labour and resource. In the proposed work by using textile material as a substrate the ultra wideband antenna is designed especially for medical applications.Simulated and measured results here shows that the proposed antenna design meets the requirements of wide working bandwidth and provides 13.08 GHz bandwidth with very small size, washable (if using conductive thread for conductive parts) and flexible materials. Results in terms of bandwidth, radiation pattern, return loss as well as gain and efficiency are presented to validate the usefulness of the current proposed design. The work done here has many implications for future research and it could help patients with such flexible and comfortable medical monitoring techniques.

In this paper, two different types of envelope solitons: solitary wave and shock wave have been obtained for the (1+1)-dimensional perturbed Klein-Gordon, (1+1)- dimensional Kaup-Keperschmidt and (2+1)-dimentional ZK-BBM equations using the solitary wave ansatz. The parameter regimes, for the existence of the solitons are identified during the derivation of the solution. Since, the nonlinear wave is one of the fundamental object of nature and a growing interest has been given to the propagation of nonlinear wave in dynamical system.

This work is mainly concerned with the nondestructive post-impact damage evaluation of carbon fibre reinforced laminated composite panels subject to low velocity drop-weight impact by flat and round nose impactors. Quasi-isotropic laminates consisting of eight-, sixteen-, and twenty-four plies were impacted by flat and round nose impactors at different velocity levels. Load-time history data were recorded and plotted to correlate loaddrop as damage level to the impactor nose profiles. Test produced data, non-destructive damage detection techniques: visual, ultrasonic, and eddy- current, and computer simulations were utilised to identify and quantify status of the impact induced damage. To evaluate damage in relatively thick laminates (consisting of 24-Ply), the damage ratios and deflection quantities were correlated to the corresponding impactor nose profiles. Damage induced by the flat nose impactor to thick laminates was compared against the data produced by the round nose impactor. Results show that relatively thin laminates were largely affected by the impactor nose. Reasonable difference was observed in damage caused by flat and round impactor nose profiles to thick laminates impacted at relatively higher velocity impacts. Resultswere compared and validated against simulation produced data.

In this work, we present a dynamic behavior of the avian-human influenza epidemic model by using efficient computational algorithm, namely the multistage differential transform method(MsDTM). The MsDTM is used here as an algorithm for approximating the solutions of the avian-human influenza epidemic model in a sequence of time intervals. In order to show the efficiency of the method, the obtained numerical results are compared with the fourth-order Runge-Kutta method (RK4M) and differential transform method(DTM) solutions. It is shown that the MsDTM has the advantage of giving an analytical form of the solution within each time interval which is not possible in purely numerical techniques like RK4M.

This paper reports on the latest results concerning the active noise control approach using net flow of acoustic energy. The test set-up consists of two loudspeakers simulating the engine noise and two smaller loudspeakers which belong to the active noise system. The system is completed by two acceleration sensors and one microphone per loudspeaker. The microphones are located in the near sound field of the loudspeakers. The control algorithm including the update equation of the feed-forward controller is introduced. Numerical simulations are performed with a comparison to a state of the art method minimising the radiated sound power. The proposed approach is experimentally validated.

Most of the electrical infrastructure in use around the world today is decades old, and may be illsuited to widespread proliferation of personal Electric Vehicles (EVs) whose charging requirements will place increasing strain on grid demand. In order to reduce the pressure on the grid and taking benefits of off peak charging, this paper presents a smart and cost effective EV charging methodology for residential homes equipped with renewable energy resources such as Photovoltaic (PV) panels and battery. The proposed method ensures slower battery degradation and prevents overcharging. The performance of the proposed algorithm is verified by conducting simulation studies utilizing running data of Nissan Altra. From the simulation study results, the algorithm is shown to be effective and feasible which minimizes not only the charging cost but also can shift the charging time from peak value to off-peak time.

The present article is dedicated to the determination of a possible connection between the composition, specific properties of the composite material and molding pressure as an important technological parameter. Apparent density, Shore C hardness, compressive modulus of elasticity and compressive stress at 10% deformation was determined for composite material samples. Definite formation conditions – varying molding pressure conditions at ambient temperature and corresponding relative air humiditywere realized. The results obtained showed a significant effect of molding pressure on the apparent density, mechanical properties of composite material as well as on the compressive stress change at a cyclic mode of loading. Some general regularities were determined - mechanical properties of the composite material, as well as values of Shore C hardness increases with an increase of molding pressure.

The purpose of this paper is to improve theVelocity Update Relaxation Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm (VURPSO). The improved algorithm is called Adaptive VURPSO (AVURPSO) algorithm. Then, an optimal design of a Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) controller is obtained using the AVURPSO algorithm. An adaptive momentum factor is used to regulate a trade-off between the global and the local exploration abilities in the proposed algorithm. This operation helps the system to reach the optimal solution quickly and saves the computation time. Comparisons on the optimal PID controller design confirm the superiority of AVURPSO algorithm to the optimization algorithms mentioned in this paper namely the VURPSO algorithm, the Ant Colony algorithm, and the conventional approach. Comparisons on the speed of convergence confirm that the proposed algorithm has a faster convergence in a less computation time to yield a global optimum value. The proposed AVURPSO can be used in the diverse areas of optimization problems such as industrial planning, resource allocation, scheduling, decision making, pattern recognition and machine learning. The proposed AVURPSO algorithm is efficiently used to design an optimal PID controller.

Enumeration search method (ESM) checks all possible combinations of design variables in a bottom-up approach until it finds the global optimum solution for the design conditions. In this paper an optimum design of a multilayered laminated plate made of unidirectional fibre reinforced polymer (FRP) composite subject to uniaxial compression is sought.ESMtogether with classical laminated plate theory (CLPT) has been used to find the lightest laminate for maximizing the buckling load capable of providing structural stability for a set target uniaxial compression load. The choice of the design variables is limited to 4 possible fibres orientation angles (0,90,-45,+45) and the sequence of the laminate, making the problem an integer programming. Experimental and finite element analyses were used to verify the optimum solution. It has been shown that the exhaustive enumeration search method is a powerful tool for finding the global optimum design.

The inverter is the most fundamental logic gate that performs a Boolean operation on a single input variable. In this paper, an optimal design of CMOS inverter using an improved version of particle swarm optimization technique called Craziness based Particle Swarm Optimization (CRPSO) is proposed. CRPSO is very simple in concept, easy to implement and computationally efficient algorithm with two main advantages: it has fast, nearglobal convergence, and it uses nearly robust control parameters. The performance of PSO depends on its control parameters and may be influenced by premature convergence and stagnation problems. To overcome these problems the PSO algorithm has been modiffed to CRPSO in this paper and is used for CMOS inverter design. In birds’ flocking or ffsh schooling, a bird or a ffsh often changes direction suddenly. In the proposed technique, the sudden change of velocity is modelled by a direction reversal factor associated with the previous velocity and a "craziness" velocity factor associated with another direction reversal factor. The second condition is introduced depending on a predeffned craziness probability to maintain the diversity of particles. The performance of CRPSO is compared with real code.gnetic algorithm (RGA), and conventional PSO reported in the recent literature. CRPSO based design results are also compared with the PSPICE based results. The simulation results show that the CRPSO is superior to the other algorithms for the examples considered and can be efficiently used for the CMOS inverter design.

The attempt to improve aircraft engines efficiency resulted in the evolution from turbojets to the first generation low bypass ratio turbofans. Today, high bypass ratio turbofans are the most traditional type of engine in commercial aviation. Following many years of technological developments and improvements, this type of engine has proved to be the most reliable facing the commercial aviation requirements. In search of more efficiency, the engine manufacturers tend to increase the bypass ratio leading to ultra-high bypass ratio (UHB) engines. Increased bypass ratio has clear benefits in terms of propulsion system like reducing the specific fuel consumption. This study is aimed at a parametric analysis of a UHB turbofan engine focused on short haul flights. Two cycle configurations (conventional and regenerated) were studied, and estimated values of their specific fuel consumption (TSFC) and specific thrust (Fs) were determined. Results demonstrate that the regenerated cycle may contribute towards a more economic and friendly aero engines in a higher range of bypass ratio.

The study has established the main regularities of a fatigue failure of offshore gas steel pipes installed using S-lay and J-lay methods.We have numerically analyzed the influence of preliminary deformation on the fatigue life of 09Mn2Si steel at different amplitudes of cyclic loading. The results have revealed the regularities of formation and development of a fatigue crack in 17Mn1Si steel after 40 years of underground operation. The quantitative analysis describes the regularities of occurrence and growth of fatigue cracks in the presence of a stress concentration.

Damage detection at early cracking stages in shear-critical reinforced concrete beams, before further deterioration and their inevitable brittle shear failure is crucial for structural safety and integrity. The effectiveness of a structural health monitoring technique using the admittance measurements of piezoelectric transducers mounted on a reinforced concrete beam without shear reinforcement is experimentally investigated. Embedded “smart aggregate” transducers and externally bonded piezoelectric patches have been placed in arrays at both shear spans of the beam. Beam were tested till total shear failure and monitored at three different states; healthy, flexural cracking and diagonal cracking. Test results showed that transducers close to the critical diagonal crack provided sound and graduated discrepancies between the admittance responses at the healthy state and thedamage levels.Damage assessment using statistical indices calculated from the measurements of all transducers was also attempted. Rational changes of the index values were obtained with respect to the increase of the damage. Admittance responses and index values of the transducers located on the shear span where the critical diagonal crack formed provided cogent evidence of damage. On the contrary, negligible indication of damage was yielded by the responses of the transducers located on the other shear span, where no diagonal cracking occurred.

Shape functions have been derived to describe different forms of elements, notably triangles and rectangles in 2-D, and tetrahedrons, cuboids, and triangular prisms in 3-D. There are generalised solutions for some regular node configurations, and hierarchical correction algorithms help with more difficult node distributions. But to this point there is no single formula or set of formulae that allows the direct determination of shape functions for any node configuration without restrictions. This paper shows how a general set of formulae can be derived which is applicable to any isoparametric element type with arbitrary node configuration. This formulation is in such a form that it is clear and concise. The approach is based on the Lagrange polynomial considering up to three Cartesian and four volume coordinates. Additionally, the correction procedure that is inherent in the formulation to guarantee an appropriate evaluation of the generalised shape functions and to fulfil all four isoparametric shape function criteria is discussed. The proof of validity illustrates the correctness of the method.

During the last 20–30 years many researchers have paid attention to the studies of properties of thewood polymer composites (WPC). A lot of works are closely related to investigations of exploitation properties of wood fibres or wood flour containing polyolefine composites [1, 2]. The most useful from wide selection of polyolefines are polypropylenes, but timber industry waste materials comprising lignocellulose fibres are often used as reinforcement of WPC [3–12]. Plywood industry is not an exception – part of waste materials (by-products) are used for heat energy, i.e. burned. In this work we have approbated reinforcing of polypropylene (PP) with one of the plywood industry by-products, such as birch plywood sawdust (PSWD),which containswood fibre fractions with different length [13]. The main fraction (50%) includes fibres with length l = 0.5 − 1 mm. Our previous study [13] has confirmed that PSWD is a promising filler for PP reinforcing. Addition of PSWD up to 40–50 wt.% has increased WPC tensile and flexural modulus, but decreased deformation ability of PP matrix, impact strength, water resistance and fluidity of composite melts. It was shown [13] that modification of the composites with interfacial modifier – coupling agent maleated polypropylene (MAPP content up to 5–7 wt.%) considerably improved all the abovementioned properties. SEM investigations also confirmed positive action of coupling agent on strengthening of adhesion interaction between components wood and PP matrix. Another way how to make better properties of the WPC is to form hybridcomposites [1, 14–24]. Very popular WPC modifiers are nanoparticle additions like organonanoclays, which increase WPC physical-mechanical properties - microhardness, water resistance and diminish barrier properties and combustibility [1, 2, 14–17, 19, 20]. The goal of this study was to investigate organonanoclays influence on plywood production industry by-product birch plywood sawdust (PSWD) containing polypropylenewood hybrid composites (WPHC) physical-mechanical and other exploitation properties.

River Tigris is a major river in Iraq. Sediment at the bed of the river within a reach of about 18 km from the center of Baghdad upstream was investigated. Sixty five cross sections were surveyed, and 46 sediment samples were collected and analyzed. It was noticed that fine sand was dominant in the bed (90.74%). The average median size within the reach was 2.49 phi (0.177 mm), while the mean size was 2.58 phi (0.16 mm). In addition, the sediments were moderately sorted, fine skewed and leptokurtic. The size of the bed sediment decreased relative to previous investigations due to the construction of the Adhaim dam on tributary, which used to be the main sediment supplier to the Tigris River before entering Baghdad. Furthermore, the discharge of the Tigris River for the period 1983–2013 (715 m3/s) decreased by about 40% and 30%since 1983when compared with the periods 1931–1956 (1208 m3/s) and 1956–1980 (1015 m3/s), respectively, due to climate change and construction of dams upstream from Baghdad. This has decreased the capacity and the competence of the river. The bed elevation has increased compared to previous surveys. Itwas noticed that dredging operations and obstructions (e.g. fallen bridges and islands) have disturbed the flow of the river and sediment characteristics in several sites.

This paper reviews the main advances of our group on the measurements of the diffusion coefficient through partially saturated porous materials. The technique that we developed is based on the definition of an equivalent electrical model reproducing the behavior of the porous microstructure. The electrical characteristics are measured by means of Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy. After validating the approach on saturated samples, the method was applied to partially saturated materials. We showed that the pore solution ionic composition has not impact on the results, and documented the effect of the pore size distribution on the macroscopic diffusion coefficient.

Soot emission has been the focus of numerous studies due to the numerous applications in industry, as well as the harmful effects caused to the environment. Thus, the purpose of this work is to analyze the soot formation in a flat flame burner using premixed compressed natural gas and air, where these quasi-adiabatic flames have one-dimensional characteristics. The measurements were performed applying the light extinction technique. The air/fuel equivalence ratiowas varied to assess the soot volume fractions for different flame configurations. Soot production along the flamewas also analyzed by measurements at different heights in relation to the burner surface. Results indicate that soot volume fraction increases with the equivalence ratio. The higher regions of the flamewere analyzed in order to map the soot distribution on these flames. The results are incorporated into the experimental database for measurement techniques calibration and for computational models validation of soot formation in methane premixed laminar flames, where the equivalence ratio ranging from 1.5 up to 8.

Smart features such as self-healing and selfcooling require bathing the entire volume with a coolant or/and healing agent. Bathing the entire volume is an example of point to area (or volume) flows. Point to area flows cover all the distributing and collecting kinds of flows, i.e. inhaling and exhaling, mining, river deltas, energy distribution, distribution of products on the landscape and so on. The flow resistances of a point to area flow can be decreased by changing the design with the guidance of the constructal law, which is the law of the design evolution in time. In this paper, how the flow resistances (heat, fluid and stress) can be decreased by using the constructal law is shown with examples. First, the validity of two assumptions is surveyed: using temperature independent Hess-Murray rule and using constant diameter ducts where the duct discharges fluid along its edge. Then, point to area types of flows are explained by illustrating the results of two examples: fluid networks and heating an area. Last, how the structures should be vascularized for cooling and mechanical strength is documented. This paper shows that flow resistances can be decreased by morphing the shape freely without any restrictions or generic algorithms.

The wave energy conversion into electricity has been increasingly studied in the last years. There are several proposed converters. Among them, the oscillatingwater column (OWC) device has been widespread evaluated in literature. In this context, the main goal of this work was to perform a comparison between two kinds of physical constraints in the chimney of the OWC device, aiming to represent numerically the pressure drop imposed by the turbine on the air flow inside the OWC. To do so, the conservation equations of mass,momentumand one equation for the transport of volumetric fraction were solved with the finite volume method (FVM). To tackle thewater-air interaction, the multiphase model volume of fluid (VOF)was used. Initially, an asymmetric constraint inserted in chimney duct was reproduced and investigated. Subsequently, a second strategywas proposed,where a symmetric physical constraint with an elliptical shapewas analyzed. Itwas thus possible to establish a strategy to reproduce the pressure drop in OWC devices caused by the presence of the turbine, as well as to generate its characteristic curve.

This paper shows the performance of a cylindrical micro-pin fins with multiples-arrays structures for maximum heat transfer. The structures has a varying geometric sizes (diameter, height and spacing). The effects of Reynolds number and thermal conductivity ratio on the optimized geometric configurations and the maximum heat transfer rate is documented. Two design configuration were considered. Scales and computational fluid dynamics analysis shows that the benefits of varying fin height is minimal. Results show that performace is increased when three rows of micro pin fin heat sinks with a reduced degree of freedom (fixed height) when compared to two rows of micro pin fins heat sink for the same amount of material. The optimized diameters of the fins seems to have greatest effect on perfomance of the heat sink.

This paper reports a numerical study on mixed convection within a square enclosure, filled with a mixture of water and Cu (or Ag) nanoparticles. It is assumed that the temperature difference driving the convection comes from the side moving walls, when both horizontal walls are kept insulated. In order to solve the general coupled equations, a code based on the finite volume method is used and it has been validated after comparison between the present results and those of the literature. To make clear the effect of the main parameters on fluid flow and heat transfer inside the enclosure, a wide range of the Richardson number, taken from 0.01 to 100, the nanoparticles volume fraction (0% to 10%), and the cavity inclination angle (0º to 180º) are investigated. The phenomenon is analyzed through streamlines and isotherm plots, with special attention to the Nusselt number.

Erosion induced by solid particle impingement is a very commonwear mechanism in turbomachinery and Computational Fluid Dynamics is one of the most widely used tools for its prediction. In this article, erosion is modeled in one of the channels of a centrifugal pump using OpenFOAM®,which is an Open Source CFD package. A review of some of the most commonly used erosion models is carried out in an Eulerian-Lagrangian frame along with a comparative study of the erosion rates obtained with each model. Results yielded some disparities between models due to the different factors taken into consideration. The mesh is then deformed to obtain the resulting eroded geometry.

The Diffuser Augmented Wind Turbine (DAWT) is an innovative mean to increase the power harvested by wind turbine. By encompassing the rotor with a diffusershaped duct it is possible to increase the flow speed through the turbine by about 40-50%. The study presents the development of a numerical model and its validation by the experiments performed in the wind tunnel of the Institute of Turbomachinery, TUL. Then, the numerical model is used for the geometry sensitivity study to optimize the shape of a diffuser. The paper presents that the DAWT technology has the potential to even double the power outcome of wind turbine when compared to a bare rotor version.

The paper presents the application of a compliant foil bearing for estimation of the thrust force in a single stage radial blower under operational conditions. The bump foil of the thrust bearing behaves as a nonlinear spring. The knowledge of the spring deflection curve allows estimation of the actual thrust force for a measured bump deflection at the given rotational speed. To acquire the deflection curve, static calibration of the axial shaft displacement sensor was performed. During the calibration, the information about voltage signals of the sensor for the given loading force was collected. The measured voltage values at different speeds and loadswere then converted into the thrust force. The results were verified by comparison to the thrust force resulting from the pressure distribution on the impeller.

The present paper describes an experimental and numerical study of steam condensing flow in a linear cascade of turbine stator blades. The experimental research was performed on the facility of a small scale steam power plant located at Silesian University of Technology in Gliwice, Poland. The test rig of the facility allows us to perform the tests of steam transonic flows for the conditions corresponding to these which prevail in the low-pressure (LP) condensing steam turbine stages. The experimental data of steam condensing flow through the blade-to- blade stator channel were compared with numerical results obtained using the in-house CFD numerical code TraCoFlow. Obtained results confirmed a good quality of the performed experiment and numerical calculations.

Time frequency analysis of the surge onset was performed in the centrifugal blower. A pressure signal was registered at the blower inlet, outlet and three locations at the impeller shroud. The time-frequency scalograms were obtained by means of the Continuous Wavelet Transform (CWT). The blower was found to successively operate in four different conditions: stable working condition, inlet recirculation, transient phase and deep surge. Scalograms revealed different spectral structures of aforementioned phases and suggest possible ways of detecting the surge predecessors.

This paper discusses the issue of measuring velocity fluctuations of turbulent boundary layer using hot-wire probes. The study highlights the problem of spatial resolution, which is essential when measuring small-scales in wall-bounded flows. Additionally, attention was paid to the inconsistency in streamwise fluctuation measurements using single- and X-wire probes. To clarify this problem, the energy spectra using wavelet transformation were calculated. The analysis was performed for turbulent boundary layer flow, which was characterized by Reynolds number based on the friction velocity equal Re τ ≈ 1000.

An influence of the overlap on the performance of the Classical Savonius wind turbine was investigated. Unsteady two-dimensional numerical simulations were carried out for a wide range of overlap ratios. For selected configurations computation quality was verified by comparison with three-dimensional simulations and the wind tunnel experimental data available in literature. A satisfactory agreement was achieved. Power characteristics were determined for all the investigated overlap ratios for selected tip speed ratios. Obtained results indicate that the maximum device performance is achieved for the buckets overlap ratio close to 0.

An advanced transient CFD model of a positive displacement reciprocating pump was created to study its behavior and performance in cavitating condition during the inlet stroke. The “full” cavitation model developed by Singhal et al. was utilized, and a sensitivity analysis test on two air mass fraction amounts (1.5 and 15 parts per million) was carried out to study the influence of the dissolved air content in water on the cavitation phenomenon. The model was equipped with user defined functions to introduce the liquid compressibility, which stabilizes the simulation, and to handle the two-way coupling between the pressure field and the inlet valve lift history. Estimation of the performance is also presented in both cases.

Methods of dynamical system analysis were employed to analyze unsteady phenomena in a centrifugal blower. Pressure signals gathered at different control points were decomposed into their Principal Components (PCs) by means of Singular Spectrum Analysis (SSA). Certain number of PCs was considered in the analysis based on their statistical correlation. Projection of the original signal onto its PCs allowed to draw the phase trajectory that clearly separated non-stable blower working conditions from its regular operation.

Modern distributed energy systems, which are used to provide an alternative to or an enhancement of traditional electric power systems, require small size highspeed rotor turbomachinery to be developed. The existing conventional oil-lubricated bearings reveal performance limits at high revolutions as far as stability and power loss of the bearing are concerned. Non-conventional, oil-free bearings lubricated with the machine working medium could be a remedy to this issue. This approach includes a correct design of the machine flow structure and an accurate selection of the bearing type. Chosen aspects of the theoretical and experimental investigations of oil-free bearings and supports; including magnetic, tilting pad, pressurized aerostatic and hydrostatic bearings as well as some applications of oil-free bearing technology for highspeed turbomachinery; are described in the paper.

Basic operational advantages of the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) systems and specific issues of turbines working in these systems are discussed. The strategy for CFD simulation of the considered ORC turbine and the main issues of the numerical model are presented. The method of constructing the 3D CAD geometry as well as discretisation of the flow domain are also shown. Main features of partial admission flow in the multi-stage axial turbine are discussed. The influence of partial admission on the working conditions of the subsequent stage supplied at the full circumference is also described.

The topic of the article is the analysis of the influence of selected design parameters and operating conditions on the radial steam micro-turbine, which was adapted to operate with low-boiling agent in the Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC). In the following parts of this article the results of the thermal load analysis, the residual unbalance and the stiffness of bearing supports are discussed. Advanced computational methods and numerical models have been used. Computational analysis showed that the steam micro-turbine is characterized by very good dynamic properties and is resistant to extreme operating conditions. The prototype of micro-turbine has passed a series of test calculations. It has been found that it can be subjected to experimental research in the micro combined heat and power system.

The paper describes an algorithm for the design of axial and radial-axial type turbines. The algorithm is based on using mathematical models of various levels of complexity – from 1D to 3D. Flow path geometry is described by means of analytical methods of profiling using a limited number of parameters. 3D turbulent flow model is realised in the program complex IPMFlow, developed based on the earlier codes FlowER and FlowER-U. Examples of developed or modernized turbines for differentpurpose power machines are presented. They are: an expansion turbine, ORC turbine and cogeneration mediumpressure turbine.

The paper presents the results of experimental investigations of the ORC system with two scroll expanders which have been used as a source of electricity. Theworking fluidwas HFE7100 – a newly engineered fluid with a unique heat transfer and favourable environmental properties. In the ORC system three heat exchangers were used (evaporator, regenerator, condenser) and before expanders the droplet separator was installed. As a source of heat an innovative biomass boiler was used. Studies have been carried out for the expanders worked in series and in parallel. The paper presents the thermal and fluidflow properties of the ORC installation for the selected flow rates and different temperatures of the working medium. The characteristics of output electrical power, operating speed and vibrations for scroll expanders were also presented.

Considered here is concept of steam turbine stress control, which is based on Nonlinear AutoRegressive neural networks with eXogenous inputs. Using NARX neural networks,whichwere trained based on experimentally validated FE model allows to control stresses in protected thickwalled steam turbine element with FE model quality. Additionally NARX neural network, which were trained base on FE model, includes: nonlinearity of steam expansion in turbine steam path during transients, nonlinearity of heat exchange inside the turbine during transients and nonlinearity of material properties during transients. In this article NARX neural networks stress controls is shown as an example of HP rotor of 18K390 turbine. HP part thermodynamic model as well as heat exchange model in vicinity of HP rotor,whichwere used in FE model of the HP rotor and the HP rotor FE model itself were validated based on experimental data for real turbine transient events. In such a way it is ensured that NARX neural network behave as real HP rotor during steam turbine transient events.

This paper describes several modernization aspects of the process 8 MW air compressor and its driver. The main aim of the revamp was to increase internal efficiencies of both the compressor and turbine and increase the load of the compressor without additional power consumption. The original pressure ratio was preserved. To meet these requirements a redesign of the flow path of both machineswas necessary.Moreover, the turbineworking conditions were changed from extraction-condensing to condensing. In terms of compressor, impeller blade redesign, adaptation of diffusers and Abradable seals were a part of the scope. The revamp was completed in April 2014 with all the requirements met. This paper covers the general outline and a comparison of the original and modernized machine operating parameters, design and technical assumptions and also describes some problematic issues which occurred during the realization of the project.

This paper provides a tool for the estimation of the operational severity of a high pressure turbine blade of an aero engine. A multidisciplinary approach using aircraft/ engine performance models which provide inputs to a thermo-mechanical fatigue damage model is presented. In the analysis, account is taken of blade size, blade metal temperature distribution, relevant heat transfer coefficients and mechanical and thermal stresses. The leading edge of the blade is selected as the critical part in the estimation of damage severity for different design and operational parameters. The study also suggests a method for production of operational severity data for the prediction of maintenance intervals.

The paper presents three-dimensional numerical simulations of combustion in the GTM-140 miniature turbine engine. The main aim of the work is to understand the processes occurring in the combustion chamber. The coupling of chemical kinetics, thermochemistry, transport of mass, energy and momentum, and fluid mechanics is a challenge for the engineers. The knowledge of these issues is essential to achieve a high performance product. The k- ϵ (RANS) Turbulence Model and Non-Premixed Model for the combustion was used. The particles of fluid droplets were described by the Discrete Phase Model.

Design processes and numerical simulations have been presented for a few cases of turbines designated to work in ORC systems. The chosen working fluid isMDM. The considered design configurations include single stage centripetal reaction and centrifugal impulse turbines as well as multistage axial turbines. The power outputs vary from about 75 kW to 1 MW. The flow in single stage turbines is supersonic and requires special design of blades. The internal efficiencies of these configurations exceed 80% which is considered high for these type of machines. The efficiency of axial turbines exceed 90%. Possible turbine optimization directions have been also outlined in the work.

In the operation of special-purpose turbomachines, diagnostic tools are necessary. They enable control of the machine technical state and its operation parameters in the on-line mode. The acquisition and processing of the measurement data in real time is crucial as they are indicators of the machine functioning under various operating conditions. The paper presents two types of computer designed diagnostic tools to monitor in real time the dynamic and thermodynamic parameters of special-purpose turbomachines. The first one monitors the dynamics of the rotating system with an active magnetic bearing, the second - monitors the instant value of polytropic efficiency of the compression process, which was designed for the industrial machine.