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Full-Text Articles in Engineering

Evolutionary View Planning For Optimized Uav Terrain Modeling In A Simulated Environment, Ronald A. Martin, Ivan Rojas, Kevin W. Franke, John Hedengren Dec 2016

Evolutionary View Planning For Optimized Uav Terrain Modeling In A Simulated Environment, Ronald A. Martin, Ivan Rojas, Kevin W. Franke, John Hedengren

Faculty Publications

This work demonstrates the use of genetic algorithms in optimized view planning for 3D reconstruction applications using small unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). The quality of UAV site models is currently highly dependent on manual pilot operations or grid-based automation solutions. When applied to 3D structures, these approaches can result in gaps in the total coverage or inconsistency in final model resolution. Genetic algorithms can effectively explore the search space to locate image positions that produce high quality models in terms of coverage and accuracy. A fitness function is defined, and optimization parameters are selected through semi-exhaustive search. A novel simulation …


Fabrication Of High Performing Pemfc Catalyst-Coated Membranes With A Low Cost Air-Assisted Cylindrical Liquid Jets Spraying System, Xiong Peng, Travis Omasta, William Rigdon, William E. Mustain Nov 2016

Fabrication Of High Performing Pemfc Catalyst-Coated Membranes With A Low Cost Air-Assisted Cylindrical Liquid Jets Spraying System, Xiong Peng, Travis Omasta, William Rigdon, William E. Mustain

Faculty Publications

In this work, a low cost air-assisted cylindrical liquid jets spraying (ACLJS) system was developed to prepare high-performance catalyst-coated membranes (CCMs) for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). The catalyst ink was flowed from a cylindrical orifice and was atomized by an air stream fed from a coaxial slit and sprayed directly onto the membrane, which was suctioned to a heated aluminum vacuum plate. The CCM pore architecture including size, distribution and volume can be controlled using various flow parameters, and the impact of spraying conditions on electrode structure and PEMFC performance was investigated. CCMs fabricated in the fiber-type break-up …


Development And Optimization Of Voltammetry For Real Time Analysis Of Multi-Component Electrorefiner Salt, Chao Zhang, Devin Rappleye, Michael F. Simpson Oct 2016

Development And Optimization Of Voltammetry For Real Time Analysis Of Multi-Component Electrorefiner Salt, Chao Zhang, Devin Rappleye, Michael F. Simpson

Faculty Publications

Normal pulse voltammetry was performed on LiCl-KCl-UCl3- MgCl2 molten salt mixtures while varying parameters such as pulse time, relaxation potential, and interval time. Concentrations of UCl3 up to 7 wt% were tested with a fixed 1.5 wt% MgCl2 concentration. The correlation between diffusion limited partial current density to UCl3 concentration exhibited an excellent fit to a 2nd order polynomial. A similar fit was obtained for the correlation between MgCl2 concentration and the diffusion limited partial current density at a fixed UCl3 concentration of 1.0 wt%.


Application Of Voltammetry For Electroanalytical Measurement Of Concentrations In Lacl3-Mgcl2 Mixtures In Eutectic Licl-Kcl, Zhonghang Wang, Devin Rappleye, C S. Yang, Michael Simpson Aug 2016

Application Of Voltammetry For Electroanalytical Measurement Of Concentrations In Lacl3-Mgcl2 Mixtures In Eutectic Licl-Kcl, Zhonghang Wang, Devin Rappleye, C S. Yang, Michael Simpson

Faculty Publications

For electroanalytical measurement of molten chloride salts, various voltammetry methods have been used on mixtures of MgCl2 and LaCl3 in eutectic LiCl-KCl. These salt mixtures are of primary interest to spent nuclear fuel electrorefining systems. MgCl2 is used as a surrogate for PuCl3, while LaCl3 represents rare earth fission product salts. Cyclic voltammetry scans with these salt mixtures exhibited extra peaks, presumably due to underpotential deposition of La(III) ions onto Mg. Quantitatively, the current contribution from each peak was best determined using normal pulse voltammetry and fit to the Cottrell equation. This yielded linear …


Comparison Of Sfm Computer Vision Point Clouds Of A Landslide Derived From Multiple Small Uav Platforms And Sensors To A Tls Based Model, Samantha Ruggles, Joseph Clark, Kevin W. Franke, Derek Wolfe, Brandon Reimschiissel, Ronald Abraham Martin, Trent Okeson, John Hedengren Jul 2016

Comparison Of Sfm Computer Vision Point Clouds Of A Landslide Derived From Multiple Small Uav Platforms And Sensors To A Tls Based Model, Samantha Ruggles, Joseph Clark, Kevin W. Franke, Derek Wolfe, Brandon Reimschiissel, Ronald Abraham Martin, Trent Okeson, John Hedengren

Faculty Publications

Structure from motion (SfM) computer vision is a remote sensing method that is gaining popularity due to its simplicity and ability to accurately characterize site geometry in three dimensions (3D). While many researchers have demonstrated the potential for SfM to be used with unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to model in three dimensions various geologic features such as landslides, little is understood how the selection of the UAV platform can affect the resolution and accuracy of the model. This study evaluates the resolution and accuracy of 3D point cloud models of a large landslide that occurred in 2013 near Page, Arizona …


Highly Conductive In-Sno2/Rgo Nano-Heterostructures With Improved Lithium-Ion Battery Performance, Ying Liu, Alessandro Palmieri, Junkai He, Yongtao Meng, Nicole Beauregard, Steven L. Suib, William E. Mustain May 2016

Highly Conductive In-Sno2/Rgo Nano-Heterostructures With Improved Lithium-Ion Battery Performance, Ying Liu, Alessandro Palmieri, Junkai He, Yongtao Meng, Nicole Beauregard, Steven L. Suib, William E. Mustain

Faculty Publications

The increasing demand of emerging technologies for high energy density electrochemical storage has led many researchers to look for alternative anode materials to graphite. The most promising conversion and alloying materials do not yet possess acceptable cycle life or rate capability. In this work, we use tin oxide, SnO2, as a representative anode material to explore the influence of graphene incorporation and In-doping to increase the electronic conductivity and concomitantly improve capacity retention and cycle life. It was found that the incorporation of In into SnO2 reduces the charge transfer resistance during cycling, prolonging life. It is also hypothesized that …


A Continuous Formulation For Logical Decisions In Differential Algebraic Systems Using Mathematical Programs Of Complementarity Constraints, Kody Powell, Ammon N. Eaton, John Hedengren, Thomas F. Edgar Mar 2016

A Continuous Formulation For Logical Decisions In Differential Algebraic Systems Using Mathematical Programs Of Complementarity Constraints, Kody Powell, Ammon N. Eaton, John Hedengren, Thomas F. Edgar

Faculty Publications

This work presents a methodology to represent logical decisions in differential algebraic equation simulation and constrained optimization problems using a set of continuous algebraic equations. The formulations may be used when state variables trigger a change in process dynamics, and introduces a pseudo-binary decision variable, which is continuous, but should only have valid solutions at values of either zero or one within a finite time horizon. This formulation enables dynamic optimization problems with logical disjunctions to be solved by simultaneous solution methods without using methods such as mixed integer programming. Several case studies are given to illustrate the value of …


Thermal Transport Properties Of Dry Spun Carbon Nanotube Sheets, Heath E. Misak, James L. Rutledge, Eric D. Swenson, Shankar Mall Feb 2016

Thermal Transport Properties Of Dry Spun Carbon Nanotube Sheets, Heath E. Misak, James L. Rutledge, Eric D. Swenson, Shankar Mall

Faculty Publications

The thermal properties of carbon nanotube- (CNT-) sheet were explored and compared to copper in this study. The CNT-sheet was made from dry spinning CNTs into a nonwoven sheet. This nonwoven CNT-sheet has anisotropic properties in in-plane and out-of-plane directions. The in-plane direction has much higher thermal conductivity than the out-of-plane direction. The in-plane thermal conductivity was found by thermal flash analysis, and the out-of-plane thermal conductivity was found by a hot disk method. The thermal irradiative properties were examined and compared to thermal transport theory. The CNT-sheet was heated in the vacuum and the temperature was measured with an …


Independent Effects Of Surface And Gas Temperature On Coal Fly Ash Deposition In Gas Turbines At Temperatures Up To 1400 C, Robert Laycock, Thomas H. Fletcher Jan 2016

Independent Effects Of Surface And Gas Temperature On Coal Fly Ash Deposition In Gas Turbines At Temperatures Up To 1400 C, Robert Laycock, Thomas H. Fletcher

Faculty Publications

Deposition of coal fly ash in gas turbines has been studied to support the concept of integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC). Although particle filters are used in IGCC, small amounts of ash particles less than 5 microns in diameter enter the gas turbine. Previous deposition experiments in the literature have been conducted at temperatures up to about 1288 C. However, few tests have been conducted that reveal the independent effects of gas and surface temperature, and most have been conducted at gas temperatures lower than 1400 C. The independent effects of gas and surface temperature on particle deposition in a …


Global Sensitivity Analysis For A Comprehensive Char Conversion Model In Oxy-Fuel Conditions, Troy Michael Holland, Thomas H. Fletcher Jan 2016

Global Sensitivity Analysis For A Comprehensive Char Conversion Model In Oxy-Fuel Conditions, Troy Michael Holland, Thomas H. Fletcher

Faculty Publications

Oxy-fired coal combustion is a promising potential carbon capture technology. Predictive CFD simulations are valuable tools in evaluating and deploying oxy-fuel and other carbon capture technologies either as retrofit technologies or for new construction. However, accurate predictive simulations require physically realistic submodels with low computational requirements. In particular, comprehensive char oxidation and gasification models have been developed that describe multiple reaction and diffusion processes. This work focuses on the sensitivity of a recent comprehensive char conversion code named CCK, which treats surface oxidation and gasification reactions as well as the processes such as film diffusion, pore diffusion, ash encapsulation, and …


A Comparison Of Simple Global Kinetic Models For Coal Devolatilization With The Cpd Model, Andrew Richards, Thomas H. Fletcher Jan 2016

A Comparison Of Simple Global Kinetic Models For Coal Devolatilization With The Cpd Model, Andrew Richards, Thomas H. Fletcher

Faculty Publications

Simulations of coal combustors and gasifiers generally cannot incorporate the complexities of advanced pyrolysis models, and hence there is interest in evaluating simpler models over ranges of temperature and heating rate that are applicable to the furnace of interest. In this paper, six different simple model forms are compared to predictions made by the Chemical Percolation Devolatilization (CPD) model. The model forms included three modified one-step models, a simple two-step model, and two new modified two-step models. These simple model forms were compared over a wide range of heating rates (5000 to 106 K/s) at final temperatures up to …