Engineering Commons^™

Investigation Of Oxidation And Corrosion Resistance Of Ni-Based Alloys And Stainless Steels Under Co2 Environments At Elevated Temperatures, Spencer Roy Fultineer

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

High mechanical strength integrity, high robustness towards oxidation, and high resistance to carburization under CO2 environments at elevated temperatures are usually required for metallic systems that are employed for power generation. INCONEL 625 is a nickel-based superalloy that started development in the 1950s. This material was designed with the distinct purpose of use in high-temperature and high-pressure systems. While various materials possess the physical properties to handle these conditions, the creation of IN625 addresses the need for a material to withstand the highly corrosive properties of these kinds of environments. In order to evaluate the oxidation and corrosion resistance of …

Evaluating Electrification Of Fossil Fuel-Fired Boilers For Decarbonization Using Discrete Event Simulation, Nahian Ismail Chowdhury

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Decarbonizing fossil fuel usage is crucial in mitigating the impacts of climate change. CO2, which comprises the major portion of greenhouse gas, is emitted from burning fossil fuels. One of the significant sources of fossil fuel user is industrial process heating, and most of the heating in industrial processes is achieved through boilers. Electrification is a promising solution for decarbonizing these boilers, as it enables renewable energy sources to generate electricity, which can then be used to power the electric boilers. The electrification of boilers can reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and increase energy efficiency. However, it requires …

Structural Health Monitoring Using Machine Learning And Synthetic Data, Michail Tzimas

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Structural health monitoring spans many decades of research across multiple engineering fields. However, typical monitoring processes for damage detection of complex structures usually prohibit real-time or fast detection of debilitating damage to the structure. One of the major issues of real-time detection of damage is the enormity of data that needs to be processed, which is worsened by the relative inability of fast relaying of data to structural engineers. With the rapid advancement of Machine Learning, both issues can be overcome, and detection of failure is achieved with non-invasive techniques. This dissertation explores the applicability of Machine Learning as a …

Optimal Path Planning For Aerial Robots Using Genetic Algorithm, Anna Puigvert I Juan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This thesis presents a path optimization solution for a robot in two different constrained 3-dimensional (3D) environments. The robot is required to travel from its current position to a goal position following minimum cost paths (optimal paths). The first environment has 3D obstacles that interfere with the robot’s path. The path cost for this environment accounts for the minimum distance traveled by the robot from the start to the goal position while avoiding obstacles. The second environment is the atmosphere of Venus, specifically a flyable region of this atmosphere with characteristics similar to Earth’s. This environment has strong westward winds …

Lithium-Ion Battery Safety Analysis With Physical Sub-Models, Samuel Abimbola Ogunfuye

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Ever-increasing explosions occurring globally at a rapid rate and in diverse situations have re-established the fact that novel, faster, and more accurate approaches must be developed to analyze and possibly curb these explosions and avert their future occurrences. Experimental endeavors and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations as compared to engineering models generally require enormous time, and resources, as well as a high-level of expertise and technicalities. This might, however, delay prompt analysis and the ability to draw conclusions, thereby causing setbacks in recommending safety measures for different situations and conditions. Therefore, robust models which are accurate and fast to give …

Methane Emissions Produced By Pneumatic Devices And Produced Water Tanks On Natural Gas Wellsites, Benjamin William Thornton

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Abstract

Methane Emissions Produced by Pneumatic Devices and Produced Water Tanks on Natural Gas Wellsites

Benjamin W. Thornton

In recent years, more scrutiny has been placed on the release of greenhouse gasses (GHGs) by the oil and gas industry in North America as climate concerns increase. In the coming years, stricter regulations proposed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) concerning the release of GHGs will further direct attention to GHG emissions quantification, modeling, and overall reduction. Active natural gas wellsites employ production equipment that routinely emits methane during normal operation. Production equipment often includes, but is not limited to, gas …

Development Of Inconel 718f And Inconel 718e Powders For Parts Manufacturing Utilizing Binder Jet Three-Dimensional Printing And Compressed Pellet Methods, Duncan Eric Manor Ii

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Alloy Inconel 718 is a Ni based superalloy used for high temperature applications including turbine blades, turbocharger rotors and nuclear reactors. Inconel 718 is a popular commercial atomized powder that has limitations in performance for use in additive manufacturing applications due to poor part quality and efficiency of current fabrication methods. Developing new compositions and additive manufacturing (AM) methodologies of IN718 is critical to improve the quality and the efficiency of IN718 parts manufacturing. Developing new additive manufacturing methodology that produces higher quality parts made of IN718 as compared to current methods has the potential to greatly impact industry, academia, …

Combustion Characteristics Of Methane, Ethane, Propane, And Butane Blends Under Conditions Relevant Of A Dual-Fuel Diesel And Natural Gas Engine, Christopher Joseph Ulishney

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

As natural gas production infrastructure is already in place in most of the world and will continue expanding for the foreseeable future, natural gas is an alternative to traditional liquid petroleum fuels in heavy-duty engines. Dedicated natural gas or dual-fuel diesel-natural gas heavy-duty engines are alternatives to diesel-only power generation equipment. One challenge is the large variation in the natural gas composition available for such applications, which is known to significantly affect engine’s combustion characteristics and the emissions composition. As the literature on dual-fuel combustion under low load engine operating conditions that use more realistic natural gas mixtures (i.e., mixtures …

Accelerating Manufacturing Decisions Using Bayesian Optimization: An Optimization And Prediction Perspective, Taofeeq Olajire

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Manufacturing is a promising technique for producing complex and custom-made parts with a high degree of precision. It can also provide us with desired materials and products with specified properties. To achieve that, it is crucial to find out the optimum point of process parameters that have a significant impact on the properties and quality of the final product. Unfortunately, optimizing these parameters can be challenging due to the complex and nonlinear nature of the underlying process, which becomes more complicated when there are conflicting objectives, sometimes with multiple goals. Furthermore, experiments are usually costly, time-consuming, and require expensive materials, …

Imitation Learning For Swarm Control Using Variational Inference, Hafeez Olafisayo Jimoh

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Swarms are groups of robots that can coordinate, cooperate, and communicate to achieve tasks that may be impossible for a single robot. These systems exhibit complex dynamical behavior, similar to those observed in physics, neuroscience, finance, biology, social and communication networks, etc. For instance, in Biology, schools of fish, swarm of bacteria, colony of termites exhibit flocking behavior to achieve simple and complex tasks. Modeling the dynamics of flocking in animals is challenging as we usually do not have full knowledge of the dynamics of the system and how individual agent interact. The environment of swarms is also very noisy …

Design And Validation Of An Aerodynamic System For A Formula Sae® Vehicle Using Vehicle Dynamic Simulation And Experimentation, Evan S. Cole

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This thesis presents the design, simulation, and experimental validation for the aerodynamic system for a Formula SAE® vehicle. The Society of Automotive Engineers ® (SAE) hosts a collegiate competition annually called Formula SAE® where students design, fabricate, and test a small “formula style” vehicle. The vehicle performs in relatively slow maneuvers, around different courses and tests to evaluate the vehicle’s overall performance. Over the years, collegiate teams have put significant research into the design and manufacturing of the aerodynamics of these vehicles. In order to justify this undertaking for future teams at West Virginia University’s Formula SAE® program, a comprehensive …

Stability Of Ruddlesden-Popper Phase Lanthanum Nickelate As Air Electrode For Reversible Solid Oxide Cells, Daniel De Lorenzo Moreira

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This thesis studied the long-term stability of Ruddlesden-Popper phase Lanthanum Nickelate under operating conditions as the air electrode for Reversible Solid Oxide Cells (R-SOC). Renewable energies have gone through increase in popularity throughout the last decades, mainly due to the consequences of the rapid population growth in the world. These new energies have been pointed as the rightful successor of fossil fuel energies in order to decrease the environmental impact of our day-to-day life. Solid Oxide Fuel Cells as well as Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells are believed to be the key to stabilizing the energy supply when environmental conditions are …

Multimaterial, Core-Shell Direct Ink Writing Of Flexible Strain Sensors For Pneumatically-Actuated Soft Robotic Hinge Joints, John Michael Burke

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Direct ink writing (DIW) provides for an expansive material library and the ability to print multiple materials with tailored functionalities in a controllable and single-step process. Particularly beneficial is the net shape printing under ambient conditions of a wide range of materials normally incompatible with one another. Coaxial DIW is a 3D printing technique that allows for two dissimilar inks to be extruded simultaneously in a co-flow manner. In this work, custom-designed coaxial nozzles were 3D-printed using a stereolithography printer. Composite inks comprised of thermoplastic polyurethane and silver were developed and studied. The coaxial nozzles were then used to co-extrude …

Biologically – Plausible Load Feedback From Dynamically Scaled Robotic Model Insect Legs, William Zyhowski

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Researchers have been studying the mechanisms underlying animal motor control for many years using computational models and biomimetic robots. Since testing some theories in animals can be challenging, this approach can enable unique contributions to the field. An example of a system that benefits from this modeling and robotics approach is the campaniform sensillum (CS), a kind of sensory organ used to detect the loads exerted on an insect's legs. The CS on the leg are found in groups on high-stress areas of the exoskeleton and have a major influence on the adaptation of walking behavior. The challenge for studying …

Localization Of People In Gnss-Denied Environments Using Neural-Inertial Prediction And Kalman Filter Correction, Lauren N. Cash

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This thesis presents a method based on neural networks and Kalman filters for estimating the position of a person carrying a mobile device (i.e., cell phone or tablet) that can communicate with static UWB sensors or is carried in an environment with known landmark positions. This device is used to collect and share inertial measurement unit (IMU) information — which includes data from sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers — and UWB and landmark information. The collected data, in combination with other necessary initial condition information, is input into a pre-trained deep neural network (DNN) which predicts the movement …

Development Of A Quasi-Dimension Gci Combustion Model Aided By Cfd, Jinsu Kim

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Advanced combustion strategies have been proposed to improve fuel efficiency while minimizing exhaust emissions. Gasoline compression ignition (GCI) combustion featuring partially premixed compression ignition (PPCI) and diffusion combustion has been recognized as an attractive, viable combustion strategy for its potential and advantages over conventional diesel and gasoline engines. The optimization of the GCI engine system requires the development of a quasi-dimensional GCI combustion model capable of simulating GCI combustion while requesting less computational burden than CFD simulation, which is very critical in engine system simulation. This study developed a quasi-dimension, phenomenological combustion model for PPCI and diffusion combustion to facilitate …

System Analysis Of An Internal Combustion Engine (Ice) – Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (Sofc) Hybrid Cycle, Jose Javier Colon Rodriguez

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Due to the intermittent nature of renewable energy and the rigid operation of existing coal plants, the need for flexible power generation technology is eminent. Hybrid energy systems have shown potential for flexible, grid following dynamics while maintaining higher efficiencies. The work below focuses on the performance analysis of a proposed 100 kW pressurized Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) and Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) hybrid system. The un-utilized fuel from the SOFC stack provided the chemical energy to operate the engine. A turbocharger was used to deliver the necessary air flow for both the stack and engine. An external reformer …

Material Characterization Of Thermoplastic Polyurethane (Tpu) And Thermoplastic Elastomers (Tpe) For Development Of 3d-Printed Surrogate Organs For Medical Training, Anastasia Elizabeth Lucci

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Cadaveric specimens are a necessary, albeit limited, resource for training medical students on basic surgical skills. The availability of surrogate 3D-printed organs would readily allow access to resources that could reduce or potentially eliminate the need for cadaveric specimens or, at a minimum, provide students the opportunity to practice with 3D-printed surrogates before transitioning to those specimens. This research focuses on determining which thermoplastic material most closely mimics mechanical properties such as hardness and stiffness of human organs and allows 3D printing surrogate organs to be used as safe, educational tools. Relatively “soft” materials such as thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPU) and …

Analytical Heat Transfer Modeling Of The Microwave Heating Process: A Focus On Carbon Black, Craig Offutt

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Electronic waste (e-waste) has become a significant environmental issue due to the rapid advancement of technology, increasing demand for electronic devices, and shorter lifespan of electronics. One critical step in processing the e-waste involves ball milling as a means of preparing the recycling e-waste for the recovery of critical materials. Ball milling is a technique that involves the mechanical crushing and grinding of electronic waste to reduce its size and improve its reactivity during recovery. Our focused recovery technique is based on a microwave recovery technique of these critical materials from e-waste. The size and distribution of the e-waste with …

Development Of Machine Learning Based Approach To Predict Fuel Consumption And Maintenance Cost Of Heavy-Duty Vehicles Using Diesel And Alternative Fuels, Sasanka Katreddi

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

One of the major contributors of human-made greenhouse gases (GHG) namely carbon dioxide (CO2), methane (CH4), and nitrous oxide (NOX) in the transportation sector and heavy-duty vehicles (HDV) contributing to about 27% of the overall fraction. In addition to the rapid increase in global temperature, airborne pollutants from diesel vehicles also present a risk to human health. Even a small improvement that could potentially drive energy savings to the century-old mature diesel technology could yield a significant impact on minimizing greenhouse gas emissions. With the increasing focus on reducing emissions and operating costs, there is a need for efficient and …

A Comparative Analysis Of Coastdown Testing Methods From An Electric Drive Unit Engagement Perspective Using A Student-Designed Parallel Hybrid Electric Vehicle, Dawson Everett Dunnuck

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Coastdown testing and road load determination are pivotal parts of the automotive design process. Vehicle manufacturers and independent companies perform and analyze road loads determined through a coastdown or similar method to determine a vehicle’s road load for modeling and EPA certification. For a traditional coastdown, the vehicle’s drivetrain must be disconnected through a clutch between the engine and the transmission while traveling at a high rate of speed to place the vehicle in neutral. This changes for hybrid and electric vehicles. Some hybrid, and most electric, vehicles delivered to customers do not have this clutch action to grant the …

Development And Testing Of A Biochar Combustor For A Stirling Engine, Kyle Bryant Vickery

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Nonrenewable resources persist as a necessity for perpetuating the current technology and standards of living maintained throughout the world. Biochar is an alternative and renewable fuel source that constitutes the potential to provide energy comparable to coal. Designing and fabricating components that can efficiently harness biochar’s energy to power machinery would demonstrate a successful renewable energy source. The scope of this research is to explain the feasible design, fabrication, and results of technology involving the burning of biochar and transference of hot combustion products for the purpose of powering a Stirling Engine. This design consists of a solid fuel burner, …

Development Of Methane Emissions Model To Assess Fuel Recovery Potential At Gas Well Sites Using On Site Compression, Nicholas G. Lindenfeldar

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The US natural gas production and consumption has increased 85.5% since 2005 primarily due to the unconventional production methods of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. Natural gas used as a fuel has a lower greenhouse gas (GHG) footprint than coal and petroleum due to lower Carbon Dioxide (CO₂) emissions when combusted. However, the “greener” benefit to natural gas may be consumed by leaks in production and transmission systems. Methane (CH₄), the primary hydrocarbon in natural gas, has an estimated Global Warming Potential (GWP) of 28-36 over 100 years, meaning it can absorb 28-36 more energy than …

Development Of Machine Learning Algorithm To Identify High-Emitters From On-Road Data For Heavy-Duty (Hd) Vehicles, Filiz Kazan

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

The process of on-road, heavy-duty engine family certification is regulated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA). Currently, the US EPA 2010 emissions standards require the threshold from the Federal Testing Procedure (FTP) engine dynamometer cycle to be at or below a brake-specific NO_x (bs-NO_x) value of 0.20 g/bhp-hr for heavy-duty (HD) engines. The engine manufacturers are also required to conduct in-use portable emission measurement system (PEMS) testing to prove their products' compliance. The selected vehicles are required to satisfy not-to-exceed (NTE) analysis under normal driving conditions in the heavy-duty in-use testing (HDIUT) program. California …

Development Of A Thermal Desalination System Using Low Quality Thermal Energy, Takudzwa C. Chipunza

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Abstract

Development of a Thermal Desalination System Using Low Quality Thermal Energy

Takudzwa Chipunza

The blowdown water from the cooling tower of the power plant and the produced water from shale gas industry cannot be disposed directly to the environment as they may contain dissolved solids that are harmful to the environment. A detailed physical and chemical process to remove the mineral and organic solids has been developed in West Virginia University. Such a process includes running the blowdown and produced water through a softening tank, activated carbon tank, and a reverse osmosis (RO) system. The RO reject contains a …

Combustion Feature Characterization Using Computer Vision Diagnostics Within Rotating Detonation Combustors, Kristyn B. Johnson May

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

In recent years, the possibilities of higher thermodynamic efficiency and power output have led to increasing interest in the field of pressure gain combustion (PGC). Currently, a majority of PGC research is concerned with rotating detonation engines (RDEs), devices which may theoretically achieve pressure gain across the combustor. Within the RDE, detonation waves propagate continuously around a cylindrical annulus, consuming fresh fuel mixtures supplied from the base of the RDE annulus. Through constant-volume heat addition, pressure gain combustion devices theoretically achieve lower entropy generation compared to Brayton cycle combustors. RDEs are being studied for future implementation in gas turbines, where …

Controlling The Thermal And Electrical Properties Of Camno3-Δ Based Perovskite Ceramics, Sergio Andres Paredes Navia

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Most of the energy lost during the conversion process comes in the form of waste heat. The world's energy consumption loses over 60% of its energy after conversion. In order to increase the efficiency of the conversion process, it is essential to harness waste heat and reutilize this energy resource. Heat recovery technology as thermoelectric (TE) technology is one of the growing alternatives to harvest excessive amounts of energy lost as waste heat for a more efficient, safe, and sustainable future. Due to the Seebeck effect, TE materials have the potential to convert waste heat directly into electricity, improving efficiency …

Analysis Of Emissions Profiles Of Hydraulic Fracturing Engine Technologies, Nicholas Joseph Wells

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

In the past twenty years natural gas production in the United States has significantly increased. This is largely due to technological advancements in unconventional methods of horizontal drilling and hydraulic fracturing. With these new and improved technologies, the United States has been able to increase its natural gas dry production per year by 14.5 trillion cubic feet per year from 2001-2021, a 74.1% increase. Horizontal drilling allows the wellbore to have more contact with the source rock, thus allowing more hydrocarbons to be extracted. Hydraulic fracturing allows oil and gas companies to have access to low permeable source rock, previously …

Top-Down & Bottom-Up Approaches To Robot Design, Dylan Michael Covell

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

This thesis presents a study of different engineering design methodologies and demonstrates their effectiveness and limitations in actual robot designs. Some of these methods were blended together with focus on providing an easily interpreted project design flow while implementing more bottom-up, or feedback, elements into the design methodology. Typically design methods are learned through experience, and design taught in academia aims to shape and formalize previous experience. Usually, inexperienced engineers are taught approaches resembling the Verein Deutscher Ingenieure (VDI) 2221 process. This method presented by the Association of German Engineers in 2006 is regarded as the general system design process. …

Computational Analysis Of The Stability Limits Of Premixed Methane-Air Combustion In Micro-Channels, Almoutazbellah Adnan Kutkut

Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Problem Reports

Technological progress in the last decades facilitated the development of integrated microsystem devices, including electrical and mechanical components for micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS). Such systems necessitate an external power supply, but typical batteries yet have some unavoidable limitations. To address this problem, numerous studies have been conducted to develop alternatives powered by micro combustion – in order to effectively utilize the high-density energy of hydrocarbon fuels. Such a global need has resulted in much more attention devoted to the combustion-based micro-power generation systems. However, to better understand the typical combustion characteristics in such microscale systems, design and performance restrictions need to …