Engineering Commons^™

Contactless Measurement Of Angular Velocity Using Circularly Polarized Antennas, Vit Sipal, Adam Narbudowicz, Max Ammann

Articles

An innovative method to measure the angular velocity using circularly polarized antennas is proposed. Due to the properties of circular polarization, the angular velocity is frequency modulated (FM) on a wireless carrier. This enables a low-cost precise continuous measurement of angular velocity using a standard FM demodulator. The hardware can be easily adapted for both high and low angular velocity values. The precise alignment angle between the antennas can be determined if the initial antenna orientation is known. The angular error is shown to be

Impact Of Hub Location On The Performance Of Wireless Body Area Networks For Fitness Applications, Vit Sipal, Domenico Gaetano, Patrick Mcevoy, Max Ammann

Articles

This letter compares the propagation properties of Wireless Body Area Networks for three different locations (head, foot and waist) of the hub/internet gateway on the human body. The wireless channels between the hubs and four nodes (chest, back, and upper arms) are measured on a female and a male subject performing push-ups and squats. A framework using spider plots is used for cumulative performance description. The results show that the best overall performance is for hub located on the left temple and the worst overall performance is achieved for a hub on the waist. These results are expected to stimulate …

Multifunctional Glazing System: Solution For Modern Smart Glazing, Aritra Ghosh, Brian Norton, Aidan Duffy

Conference papers

Multifunctional glazing combines various glazing ,that have potential to control solar heat gain by changing the window transmittance and low heat loss. In autonomous multifunctional glazing it s function will be powered by PV layer attached to the glazing. This glazing obviates the necessity for shading devices to control the glare. Glare control for such a small scale south facing vertical surface multifunctional glazing is discussed.

Process Simulation Of Biomass Gasification Integrated With A Solid Oxide Fuel Cell Stack, Wayne Doherty, Anthony Reynolds, David Kennedy

Articles

Biomass gasification-solid oxide fuel cell (BG-SOFC) combined heat and power (CHP) systems are of major interest in the context of climate change mitigation, energy security and increasing energy efficiency. Aspen Plus is employed to simulate various BG-SOFC CHP systems. The aim of the research work is to investigate the technical feasibility of these systems and to study the influence of important operating parameters and examine integration options. Systems based on dual fluidised bed steam gasification and tubular SOFC technologies are modelled. The cathode recycle and electric heater integration options are not attractive in comparison to the base case anode recycle …

The Progressive Development Of Turbulence Statistics And Its Impact On Wind Power Predictability, Thomas Woolmington, Keith Sunderland, Jonathan Blackledge, Michael Conlon

Articles

Wind resource assessment is a critical parameter in a diverse range of considerations within the built environment. Engineers and scientists, engaging in building design, energy conservation/application and air-quality/air-pollution control measures, need to be cognisant of how the associated wind resource imposes increased complexities in their design and modelling processes. In this regard, the morphological heterogeneities within these environments, present significant challenges to quantifying the resource and its turbulent characteristics.

This paper presents three aspects of turbulence assessment within the built environment. Firstly, an analysis of how turbulence is currently quantified is considered. The industry standard, Turbulent Intensity (TI) is compared …

Analysing The Impact Of Digital Photography Projects On Student Engagement And Performance In A Higher Education Engineering Discipline, Michael Gleeson

Conference papers

Developing and implementing engaging activities aligned with the learning outcomes of a module within a higher education programme is essential to successful teaching practice in the 21^st century. Substantial research evidence indicates that student engagement plays a pivotal role in the academic performance and success of the student. The aim of this research is to compare student performance after adopting an alternative pedagogic approach utilising digital photography as a tool to engage the student in an engineering discipline. The activity was designed to promote student engagement by integrating digital photography, replicating authentic construction professional practice and focusing on images …

Printed Triple-Band Circularly Polarised Antenna For Wireless Systems, Xiulong Bao, Max Ammann

Articles

A triple-band circularly polarised microstrip patch antenna operating in the 2.4, 3.5 and 5.7 GHz bands is presented. The antenna consists of two substrate layers with an electromagnetically coupled low-band patch in the middle layer and a probe-fed dual-band patch on the top layer. The impedance bandwidths (voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) < 2.5) for the three frequency bands are 112, 118 and 427 MHz with 3 dB axial-ratio bandwidths of 15, 44 and 36 MHz, respectively. The peak gains across the operating bands are 4.2, 5.5 and 4 dBic, respectively.

Economically Rational Trading Between The All Island Single Electricity Market And Great Britain; Theory Vs Practice, Aoife Wilson

Masters

Economic trading across electricity interconnectors is considered to be a key factor in delivering the economic welfare benefits of an integrated European electricity market. This research examines this assumption as it applies to the interconnection between the electricity markets in Ireland, Northern Ireland and Great Britain. In doing so it reviews the assumption of economically rational trading behaviour by participants in the market. This assumption underpinned the cost benefit studies justifying construction of the East-West interconnector. Actual patterns of trading that have arisen post commissioning are compared with projected rational behaviour.

The research also considers the consequences of these behavioural …

Conceptualization Of A Photovoltaic Powered Electrochromic Switching Of A Multifunctional Glazing, Aritra Ghosh, Brian Norton, Aidan Duffy

Conference papers

A multifunctional glazing system has the potential to reduce the heat loss through a window with control of solar heat gain and daylight. Thus it can reduce both the cooling load and heating load depending on weather, occupancy and building construction. A photovoltaic (PV) panel can be used to generate energy to change the colour of the electrochromic (EC) material. Battery storage system has been included to activate the EC behaviour using stored solar electricity. PV area and cost can thus be smaller. As a window can be placed in different sides of a building, incident solar irradiation on a …

Optimised Integration Of Grid-Connected Renewable Energy Technologies For Domestic Application In Ireland, Zhe Li

Doctoral

The utilisation of renewable energy resources for electricity and thermal generation is extremely important in Ireland due to the lack of indigenous fossil fuel resources and the high dependence on imported fossil fuels. The release of environmentally-damaging greenhouse gases in the combustion of fossil fuels in electricity and thermal generation is also a major issue. In Ireland, the domestic dwelling is recognised as one of the biggest energy consumers. The use of renewable energy technologies to provide electricity, heating and hotwater can effectively offset the usage of fossil fuels. The aim of this research study was to develop a novel …

Bs News November/December

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Demographic Growth In Ireland Since 2011: Some Geographic Implications For Future Spatial Planning, Housing And Infrastructure Provision, Brian Hughes

Other Resources

Urbanisation; long-term population growth on the Island of Ireland; recent population growth and where that growth is occurring; Analysis of spatial growth; the demographic components of growth and CSO growth projections; Housing and Infrastructure; City Formation and City-led growth; Nature and Change of ‘Work’, Economics and Wealth Creation; Employment Potential; the Forthcoming National Economic and Spatial Strategy and Growth Options; A case-study of County Mayo and the role of Public Representatives, exemplifying conflicting Urban versus Rural policy objectives.

Shaping The Axial-Ratio Footprint Of Crossed-Dipole Antennas, Adam Narbudowicz, Max J. Ammann, Janusz Przewocki

Conference papers

A method is proposed to adaptively change the axial-ratio beam of simple circularly-polarized antennas. It is shown, that by varying the phase shift between two orthogonal elements the axial-ratio beam shape can be dynamically adjusted. This allows control of the direction of minimum axial-ratio and the ability to increase or decrease the beamwidth in one of two planes. The method is intended for satellite navigation systems: it can improve the rejection of reflected signals in varying propagation conditions (e.g. urban canyons), while using simple and low-cost circularly-polarized antennas.

Six Things That Need To Change In Ireland's Rental Market, Lorcan Sirr

Media

No abstract provided.

Spatial Skills As Predictors Of Success In First-Year Engineering, Sheryl Sorby, Edmund Nevin, Avril Behan, Eileen Mageean, Sarah Sheridan

Conference papers

Numerous research studies have highlighted the importance of well-developed 3-D spatial skills for success in STEM related programs. Poor spatial skills, particularly among first-year students, can place them at a distinct disadvantage when completing introductory courses in mathematics, CAD, descriptive geometry, and graphic communications - first-year requirements in many STEM related programs. This in turn can lead to poor grades and retention issues. Women are disproportionally among the group of students with weak or poorly developed 3-D spatial skills meaning that they are at a greater risk of leaving engineering when compared to their male counterparts. In this study, the …

Mortgage Clampdown Propsosals Will Have Serious Knock-On Effects, Lorcan Sirr

Media

No abstract provided.

Online Resource Platform For Mathematics Education, Marisa Llorens, Edmund Nevin, Eileen Mageean

Reports

The aim of this project was to develop and explore the use of a Sharable Content Object Reference Model (SCORM) integrating a web-based platform for the study of mathematics as part of an active learning environment. The platform was designed to provide active support to engineering students especially those in their first year of study. Early use of the platform can identify possible areas of weakness and provide the self-learning environment required for students to become more proficient in areas where they are lacking key skills or are finding the concepts difficult to understand.

The platform consists of a set …

An Optimal Calibration Procedure For A Telemac-2d Model Of The Eastern Coast Of Ireland, Garrett Keane, Andrew Stokes, Zeinab Bedri, John O'Sullivan

Conference papers

A review of the literature shows that most model calibrations involve the adjustment of the bottom friction coefficient to minimise the error between predicted and measured tidal elevations. In this study, an alternative procedure is adopted when calibrating a Telemac2D model covering an area on the Eastern coast of Ireland. The model is forced with eight principal tidal constituents derived from the MIKE 21 global model. It is calibrated separately for the two principal constituents, M2 and S2. The field data comprises tidal elevations recorded at five locations over a full lunar cycle in October 1998 and Spring and Neap …

Pump Design And Development For High Shear Grout Mixing Applications, John Kijak, David Kennedy

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Breast Cancer Detection Using Interferometric Music: Experimental And Numerical Assessment, Giuseppe Ruvio, Raffaele Solimene, Antonio Cuccaro, Domenico Gaetano, Jacinta Browne, Max Ammann

Articles

Purpose: In microwave breast cancer detection, it is often beneficial to arrange sensors in close proximity to the breast. The resultant coupling generally changes the antenna response. As an a priori characterization of the radio frequency system becomes difficult, this can lead to severe degradation of the detection efficacy. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate the advantages of adopting an interferometric multiple signal classification (I-MUSIC) approach due to its limited dependence from a priori information on the antenna. The performance of I-MUSIC detection was measured in terms of signal-to-clutter ratio (SCR), signal-to-mean ratio (SMR), and spatial displacement (SD) …

A Complex Social Network Analyses Of Online Finanical Communties In Times Of Geopolitcal Military And Terrorist Events, James Usher

Dissertations

Given the advances in technology the field of social network analysis has very much hit the forefront in recent years. The information age harnesses the use of social network analysis for multiple industries and for solving complex problems. Social network analysis is an important tool in the world of the military and counter intelligence, whether it’s the capture of Osama Bin Laden or uncovering hidden Al Qaeda terrorist networks, the world around us is built on networks, be that hidden or otherwise. Online social networks give new information in the world of intelligence agencies similarly online financial communities such as …

A Collagen‐Glycosaminoglycan‐Fibrin Scaffold For Heart Valve Tissue Engineering Applications, Claire Brougham, Stefan Jockenhoevel, Thomas Flanagan, Fergal O'Brien

Conference Papers

The field of heart valve biology and tissue engineering a heart valve continue to expand. The presentatio ns at this meeting reflect the advances made in both areas due to the multi-disciplinary approach taken by many laboratories.

Electric Bike Photovoltaic Charging Station (Pv-Cs): Experimental Design For Electrical Fault Investigations, Ayda Esfandyari, Kevin O'Farrell, Brian Norton, Sarah Mccormack

Conference Papers

Electric Vehicles (EV) have gained interest over the past decade. Accordingly, to support EV technology installation of charging stations are required. A Photovoltaic Charging Station (PV_CS) can generate clean electricity from the sun for charging electric bikes but as can be exposed to harsh weather conditions and faults, which can result in deviations of system characteristics from their normal operating conditions. Reliability of these charging stations is extremely important for supplying adequate charge to EVs, and therefore it must be maintained at all times. This paper presents a systematic approach to electrical reliability issues for PV_CS, by establishing an experimental …

Sustainable Business Development: An Irish Perspective, Tony Kealy

Conference Papers

This research investigates the current status of sustainable business development practises in Ireland using qualitative analysis on data obtained from semi-structured interviews. The thirteen interviewees were chosen to represent a wide spectrum of influential organisations in Irish society and included private businesses, charity organisations, faith-based organisations, farmer associations, and government representatives. Analysis of the findings confirmed that the three well established key elements that must be considered if businesses are to be developed in a sustainable way, namely Profit, People, and Planet are still valid. However, this research also found that there were other elements important for developing sustainable business. …

Bs News September/October

Building Services Engineering

No abstract provided.

Applied Energy Systems - Rudimentary Thermodynamics, Jim Mcgovern

Book/Book Chapters

This is a compact textbook for a module addressing rudimentary thermodynamics within the context of applied energy systems. It is at an introductory level for engineers or technologists. The book does not attempt to cover the principles of thermodynamics comprehensively. Rather, it provides a practical but theoretically sound foundation, linked to some key areas. Energy, heat and work are all introduced, as are units and dimensions. Ideal gases and properties of liquids and vapours are treated. Non-flow and steady flow processes are described. Simple theory is provided for pumps and for the reciprocating compressor. Rudimentary steam and refrigeration or heat …

Semantic Model Alignment For Business Process Integration, Janina Fengel

Doctoral

Business process models describe an enterprise’s way of conducting business and in this form the basis for shaping the organization and engineering the appropriate supporting or even enabling IT. Thereby, a major task in working with models is their analysis and comparison for the purpose of aligning them. As models can differ semantically not only concerning the modeling languages used, but even more so in the way in which the natural language for labeling the model elements has been applied, the correct identification of the intended meaning of a legacy model is a non-trivial task that thus far has only …

Resolution-Enhanced All-Optical Analog-To-Digital Converter Employing Cascade Optical Quantization Operation, Zhe Kang, Xianting Zhang, Jinhui Yuan, Xinzhu Sang, Qiang Wu

Articles

In this paper, a cascade optical quantization scheme is proposed to realize all-optical analog-to-digital converter with efficiently enhanced quantization resolution and achievable high analog bandwidth of larger than 20 GHz. Employing the cascade structure of an unbalanced Mach-zehnder modulator and a specially designed optical directional coupler, we predict the enhancement of number-of-bits can be up to 1.59-bit. Simulation results show that a 25 GHz RF signal is efficiently digitalized with the signal-tonoise ratio of 33.58 dB and effective-number-of-bits of 5.28-bit.

A Soft Condensed Matter Approach Towards Mathematical Modelling Of Mass Transport And Swelling In Food Grains, Michael Chapwanya, N. Misra

Articles

Soft condensed matter (SCM) physics has recently gained importance for a large class of engineering materials. The treatment of food materials from a soft matter perspective, however, is only at the surface and is gaining importance for understanding the complex phenomena and structure of foods. In this work, we present a theoretical treatment of navy beans from a SCM perspective to describe the hydration kinetics. We solve the transport equations within a porous matrix and employ the Flory–Huggin’s equation for polymer–solvent mixture to balance the osmotic pressure. The swelling of the legume seed is modelled as a moving boundary with …

Predicting Professional Golfer Performance Using Proprietary Pga Tour “Shotlink” Data, Brian Leahy

Dissertations

It can cost a minimum of $110,000 a year for a professional golfer to compete on the PGA Tour. For the successful golfers who earn millions every year, this is not a problem. For those lower ranked golfers, it is a problem. This is due to the fact that almost half the golfers who compete in any one PGA Tour tournament will not get paid, because they have missed the dreaded cut. When a golfer begins to consistently miss the cut, they can come under financial pressure which may manifest itself into poor further tournament performances. This dissertation attempts to …