Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Design And Validation Of An Experimental Setup To Study Single Phase Heat Transfer Enhancement Of Femtosecond Laser Processed Metallic Surfaces, Sarah Jane Wallis

Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

In the present work, a single phase flow heat transfer experimental loop was designed with the intention of studying the effects of femtosecond laser surface processing (FLSP) on metallic surfaces with the specific goal of enhancing heat transfer in compact heat exchangers currently in use by NASA. This experimental setup went through two major design iterations which are detailed in this thesis. The first iteration consisted of a counterflow fluid-to-fluid heat exchanger, which measured overall heat transfer coefficients and pressure drops, where the overall heat transfer coefficient is defined in terms of the total thermal resistance to heat transfer between …

Energy Efficiency And Economic Feasibility Of An Absorption Air-Conditioning System Using Wet, Dry And Hybrid Heat Rejection Methods, Julia Aman, Paul Henshaw, David S-K Ting

Mechanical, Automotive & Materials Engineering Publications

In tropical and sub-tropical regions, air-conditioning systems account for the greatest electricity consumption and high water use. Solar-driven absorption cooling systems can conveniently reduce electricity consumption at need. The performance of this cooling system depends on the system’s heat rejection. A simulation was performed for a 15 kW single effect ammonia-water absorption cooling system driven by low temperature thermal energy and with three different heat rejection methods (wet cooling, dry cooling, and hybrid cooling). This hybrid cooling system uses wet cooling on the absorber and dry cooling on the condenser. The system performance and economics of the chiller with these …

Bubble-Pump-Driven Libr-H2o And Licl-H2o Absorption Air-Conditioning Systems, Julia Aman, Paul Henshaw, David S-K Ting

Mechanical, Automotive & Materials Engineering Publications

A thermally-driven bubble pump, powered by solar or waste heat energy, is a simple and efficient technique for lifting a liquid from lower to higher levels, after which it can flow by gravity. In this study, solar thermal driven pumps were incorporated in the solar collector as well as in the refrigerant cycle to provide a design of an air-conditioning system for a residential home that is independent of grid electricity. The crystallization challenge, low pressure, and low efficiency are the main downsides of bubble-pump-driven LiBr-H2O refrigeration systems, in comparison with other bubble-pump-driven diffusion absorption refrigeration systems. Therefore, a complete …

Resilient And Real-Time Control For The Optimum Management Of Hybrid Energy Storage Systems With Distributed Dynamic Demands, Christopher R. Lashway

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A continuous increase in demands from the utility grid and traction applications have steered public attention toward the integration of energy storage (ES) and hybrid ES (HESS) solutions. Modern technologies are no longer limited to batteries, but can include supercapacitors (SC) and flywheel electromechanical ES well. However, insufficient control and algorithms to monitor these devices can result in a wide range of operational issues. A modern day control platform must have a deep understanding of the source. In this dissertation, specialized modular Energy Storage Management Controllers (ESMC) were developed to interface with a variety of ES devices. The EMSC provides …

Semi-Annual Program Progress Performance Report For University Transportation Systems Pppr#8, Florida Solar Energy Center, Richard Raustad

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The major activity of the past reporting period has been the completing of the final project research reports. During the period, twelve projects (numbers 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 9, 22, 4, 5, 13, 20 and 18) were completed and the final project reports forwarded to DOT and the required associated organizations. Two additional final reports (numbers 12 and 21) are close to being completed. Final reports for the other 4 remaining projects (numbers 2, 8, 11 and 15) are in various stages of completion. For this reporting period, EVTC researchers concluded 12 project final reports, authored one publication, made …

Note On The Rate And Energy Efficiency Limits For Additive Manufacturing, Timothy Gutowski, Sheng Jiang, Daniel Cooper, Gero Corman, Michael Hausmann, Jan-Anders Manson, Timo Schudeleit, Konrad Wegener, Matias Sabelle, Jorge Ramos-Grez, Dusan P. Sekulic

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

We review the process rates and energy intensities of various additive processing technologies and focus on recent progress in improving these metrics for laser powder bed fusion processing of metals, and filament and pellet extrusion processing of polymers and composites. Over the last decade, observed progress in raw build rates has been quite substantial, with laser metal processes improving by about 1 order of magnitude, and polymer extrusion processes by more than 2 orders of magnitude. We develop simple heat transfer models that explain these improvements, point to other possible strategies for improvement, and highlight rate limits. We observe a …

Measured Performance Of A High-Efficiency Solar-Assisted Heat Pump Water Heater, Florida Solar Energy Center, Carlos Colon

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This paper describes a novel solar photovoltaic-assisted heat pump water heater (PV-HPWH). The system uses two 310 Wp PV modules, micro-inverters and innovative controls to produce and store daily hot water. The system likely costs half that of solar thermal systems, with greater reliability, no freeze protection and potentially superior performance in cloudy locations. Moreover, no net metering is needed for the PV, which with two modules makes for a simple installation.The HPWH controls have been modified through experimentation such that higher tank temperatures are achieved during the day when solar availability is high while avoiding triggering the compressor during …

Sensitivity Analysis For Best-Estimate Thermal Models Of Vertical Dry Cask Storage Systems, Remy R. Devoe, Kevin R. Robb, Steven Skutnik

Faculty Publications and Other Works -- Nuclear Engineering

Loading requirements for dry cask storage of spent nuclear fuel are driven primarily by decay heat capacity limitations, which themselves are determined through recommended limits on peak cladding temperature within the cask. This study examines the relative sensitivity of peak material temperatures within the cask to parameters that influence both the stored fuel residual decay heat as well as heat removal mechanisms. These parameters include the detailed reactor operating history parameters (e.g., soluble boron concentrations and the presence of burnable poisons) as well as factors that influence heat removal, including non-dominant processes (such as conduction from the fuel basket to …

Phased Deep Retrofit Project: Real-Time Measurement Of Energy End-Uses And Retrofit Opportunities, Florida Solar Energy Center, Karen Fenaughty

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This paper describes how utilities can 'make reductions real' through real-time measurement of energy end-uses and corresponding retrofit opportunities. A field evaluation of the methodology was conducted from 2012 to 2016 with Florida Power and Light (FPL), an investor owned utility. A collaborative program between the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Building America and FPL led to an ambitious residential energy-efficiency retrofit study aimed to represent FPL's customer base. Fifty-six existing, all electric, occupied Florida homes were instrumented to collect one-minute data on most all energy end-uses in advance of energy-efficiency retrofits. Baseline measurements enabled the development of end-use profiles …

Socio-Economic Implications Of Large-Scale Electric Vehicle Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, Omer Tatari

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Transportation is a complex, technology-intensive socio-technical system, which needs to be tackled in an integrated manner. Also, transportation as a sector is a significant component of any national economy, and has far-reaching implications both with regard to socio-economic and environmental well-being of the society and within the context of sustainability science. For this reason, sustainable transportation is not only an important field of research within the academia but also an indispensable constituent of a sustainable economy. Therefore, investigating the path to sustainable transportation requires a holistic approach, encompassing the three dimensions of sustainability, i.e. environment, society, and economy. There are …

The Impact Of Power Curve Estimation On Commercial Wind Power Forecasts - An Empirical Analysis, Gianni Goretti, Aidan Duffy, Tek Tjing Lie

Conference papers

An increasing number of utilities participating in the energy market require short term (i.e. up to 48 hours) power forecasts for renewable generation in order to optimize technical and financial performances. As a result, a large number of forecast providers now operate in the marketplace, each using different methods and offering a wide range of services. This paper assesses five different day-ahead wind power forecasts generated by various service providers currently operating in the market, and compares their performance against the state-of-the-art of short-term wind power forecasting. The work focuses on how power curve estimations can introduce systematic errors that …

Techno-Economic Analysis Of A Secondary Air Stripper Process, J. R. Heberle, Heather Nikolic, Jesse Thompson, Kunlei Liu, Lora L. Pinkerton, David Brubaker, James C. Simpson, Song Wu, Abhoyjit S. Bhown

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

We present results of an initial techno-economic assessment on a post-combustion CO₂ capture process developed by the Center for Applied Energy Research (CAER) at the University of Kentucky using Mitsubishi Hitachi Power Systems’ H3-1 aqueous amine solvent. The analysis is based on data collected at a 0.7 MWe pilot unit combined with laboratory data and process simulations. The process adds a secondary air stripper to a conventional solvent process, which increases the cyclic loading of the solvent in two ways. First, air strips additional CO₂ from the solvent downstream of the conventional steam-heated thermal stripper. This extra stripping …

Energy From Chemical Reactions: Understanding The Combustion Engine, Tammy Guthrie, Kathy Prophet, Greg Herzig, Cassie Kautzer

Middle School Lesson Plans

Automobiles produce a large amount of heat generated by the burning of gasoline. Burning gasoline is a chemical reaction that causes a phase change. This is called combustible energy. During combustion fuel combines with oxygen to release energy (such as heat, light, sound) along with another product that is often considered waste. Most of the energy produced is not used to power the automobile, but is released as heat. 19.3 pounds of the greenhouse gas, carbon dioxide, is produced from the combustion of 1 gallon of U.S. gasoline according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.

Kinetic Energy Investigation, Mike Jackson

High School Lesson Plans

Students will build a mouse trap powered car that converts elastic potential energy contained in the trap’s spring to linear kinetic energy of the car. The release of this energy results in a net force which leads to linear acceleration. This acceleration can be measured with Vernier Logger Pro®, and using Newton’s Second Law of Motion, the net force can be calculated. Finally, using the concept of work, the final kinetic energy of the car can be calculated. Once students become familiar with the calculation of work and energy, the teacher will challenge the students to modify their cars to …

Thermal Degradation Pathways Of Aqueous Diamine Co2 Capture Solvents, Jesse Thompson, Henry Richburg, Kunlei Liu

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

Diamines have shown promise as CO₂ capture solvents, yet very little is known about their pathway for thermal degradation. In this study, diamine thermal degradation was quantitatively monitored in lab-scale experiments on four aqueous diamine solvents; ethylenediamine (EDA) 1,2-propanediamine (1,2-DAP), 1,3-diaminopropane (1,3-DAP) and N-methyl-1,2-ethanediamine (NMEDA), to gain a more comprehensive understanding of their degradation pathway(s). The major degradation products were identified by high resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS). Degradation pathways were proposed showing that the primary thermal degradation route for this class of amine are through carbamate formation followed by intermolecular cyclization to form an imidazolidinone or nucleophilic attack …

Solubility And Thermodynamic Modeling Of Carcinogenic Nitrosamines In Aqueous Amine Solvents For Co2 Capture, Jesse Thompson, Naser Matin, Kunlei Liu

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

A better understanding of key fundamental properties of nitrosamines, including their solubility in aqueous amine solvents, is needed to understand and accurately model the vapor-phase emission levels from operating CO₂ capture systems. In this work, the first experimental Henry's volatility coefficient of a nitrosamine was obtained with a novel method using static headspace solid phase micro extraction (SPME) and gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The experimentally determined Henry's volatility coefficient of nitrosopyrrolidine (NPY) was found to be around 0.02 (dimensionless) at 25 °C, and falls in the range of a semi-volatile compound. A linear temperature dependency of the Henry's …

Comparing Building Modeling Software To The Energy Record Of A Preexisting Structure, Nathan Lasley

Mahurin Honors College Capstone Experience/Thesis Projects

Buildings are complex systems - even "simple" residential structures. Many factors go into building energy consumption and the design to reduce it. Computer energy modeling allows the simultaneous consideration and balance of many of those variables. Computer models are only as good as the information provided however. Tools like blower door and duct blaster can be used to aid in verifying the model or to provide more information to build a better model. In order to verify of building computer energy simulation methods, the Western Kentucky University (WKU) Office of Sustainability located at 503 Regents Ave. in Bowling Green KY …

Techno-Economic Analyses Of Large-Scale Electric Vehicle Systems, Florida Solar Energy Center, Zhihua Qu

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This project developed the process, methodology and algorithms for computer models to evaluate the techno-economic implications of a large-scale electrified transportation sector. The model factors include developing and interacting with a network of electric vehicles and the electric grid, the infrastructure for electric vehicle charging, integrating the transportation and power systems into the urban setting, studying the impact of distributed energy storage and determining the economic impact of increased renewable energy and EVs on the electricity grid and its stability. The modeling related project results are presented in five journal articles and two conference papers. In this final report, the …

Optimal Charging Scheduler For Electric Vehicles On The Florida Turnpike, Florida Solar Energy Center, Zhihua Qu

FSEC Energy Research Center®

This project developed a methodology to simulate and analyze roadway traffic patterns and expected penetration and timing of electric vehicles (EVs) with application directed toward the requirements for electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) siting and purchasing/leasing at turnpike plazas. The project also developed a wireless-communication-based driver-assistance application that would optimize the location and timing of charging for individual drivers as well as efficiency of the overall charging network. The first steps of the project were to develop the systematic methodology for analyzing expected penetration of electric vehicles (EVs) and their impacts on the overall transportation infrastructure. An analytical model consisting …

Improved Hot Water Code Calculation, Florida Solar Energy Center, Jeffrey Sonne

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The purpose of this report is to identify hot water waste sources, characterize the implications of climatic differences on hot water use and characterize the energy impacts of hot water recirculation systems and controls with respect to energy consumption in Florida homes, and recommend Florida-specific methods that can be employed in the Florida Energy Code for residential hot water use and energy consumption calculations.

Transportation Planning For Electric Vehicles And Associated Infrastructure, Florida Solar Energy Center, David Block

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Planning is the key to successful adoption and deployment of any new technology, and it is particularly important when that advancement involves a paradigm shift such as electrified transportation. At its core, electric transportation is largely a technology deployment. The vehicles and supporting infrastructure are unique to this mode of transportation; requiring new and specific planning and policies to support their deployment. This EVTC project brings together these planning elements and their role in the future U.S. transportation network. The project results are presented in five planning related subject areas: (1) Identification of 14 of the 22 EVTC program topics …

Prediction Of Electric Vehicle Penetration, Florida Solar Energy Center, David Block

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The object of this report is to present the current market status of plug-in-electric vehicles (PEVs) and to predict their future penetration within the world and U.S. markets. The sales values for 2016 show a strong year of PEV sales both in the world and the U.S. China leads in yearly sales at 316,800 (a 53% increase for 2016 from 2015) followed by Western Europe at 209,300 vehicles sold. The U.S. is third at 159,600. These three regions comprise 91% of the global sales market. The world total of PEV sales for 2016 is estimated to be 756,000 up from …

Residential Performance Code Methodology For Crediting Dehumidification And Smart Vent Applications Final Report, Florida Solar Energy Center, Robin Vieira

FSEC Energy Research Center®

As energy efficiency reduces the hours where air conditioning is called for, and as codes require outdoor air to be brought into homes, humidity levels in homes may rise to the point where dehumidification is required. However, there are currently no standards in Florida's Energy Conservation Code for dehumidification. Thus, a mechanical contractor that invests in an expense such as variable speed heat pumps or heat pipe technology in order to dehumidify and save energy receives little benefit relative to another home that installs an inefficient dehumidifier. A reference home dehumidification strategy needs to be established.Another strategy to reduce interior …

Electric Vehicle Battery Durability And Reliability Under Electric Utility Grid Operations, Florida Solar Energy Center, Matthieu Dubarry

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Battery degradation is extremely important to EV technologies and is a function of several factors, such as electrode chemistries, operating temperatures, and usage profiles (i.e. vehicle-only vs. vehicle-to-grid (V2G) applications). The goal of this research was to assess such impact. Laboratory testing of commercial "18650" Li-ion cells was conducted in Hawaii Natural Energy Institute's Battery Testing Laboratory. The battery test plan used two separate experiments: a cycling experiment to assess the impact of both V2G and grid-to-vehicle (G2V) charging strategies and a calendar aging experiment to assess the impact of temperature and State of Charge (SOC). The results have shown …

Automated And Connected Vehicle Implications And Analysis, Florida Solar Energy Center, David Block

FSEC Energy Research Center®

Automated and connected vehicles (ACV) and, in particular, autonomous vehicles have captured the interest of the public, industry and transportation authorities. ACVs can significantly reduce accidents, fuel consumption, pollution and the costs of congestion which in turn will offer a fundamental change to the future U.S. transportation network. The objective of this project was to evaluate ACV technologies, activities, laws and policies that are now in place or proposed and to assess future ACV usage. The assessment also evaluates the highest level of automated vehicles called autonomous or self-driving vehicles and includes how electric vehicles (EVs) will participate in the …

Design Of An Very High Efficiency Evaporatively Cooled Mini-Split Air Conditioner, Florida Solar Energy Center, Danny Parker

FSEC Energy Research Center®

An in-house research project at the Florida Solar Energy Center in 2013 was conducted to evaluate the potential of an evaporatively cooled mini-split heat pump. The mini-split heat pump modified was a 1.5-ton Fujitsu model with 19.2 SEER and 10.0 HSPF energy efficiency ratings. Cooling capacity of the system is variable and ranges from 7,000 to 23,000 Btu/h.

We demonstrated that it is possible to improve the energy efficiency of the evaluated mini-split air conditioner by 21% seasonally in Florida's humid climate using an evaporative pre-cooler. Further, we showed the same apparatus was able to improve air conditioner efficiency by …

Electric Vehicle Energy Impacts, Florida Solar Energy Center, Katherine Mckenzie

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The objective of this research project was to evaluate the impacts of electric vehicles (EVs) and renewable wind and solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation on reducing petroleum imports and greenhouse gas emissions to Hawaii. In 2015, the state of Hawaii mandated fossil fuel electric power displacement by imposing Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) that will reach 100% renewable electricity generation by 2045. With small, remote and isolated island electricity grids, utilities in Hawaii face unprecedented technical and economic challenges to meet these goals with exceedingly high levels of intermittent wind and PV power generation. To meet these RPS goals, EVs become …

Deposition Velocity Dependence On Urban Morphology, Rawand Muzafar Rasheed

Undergraduate Research & Mentoring Program

Understanding the interactions between the atmospheric boundary layer and urban structures provides insights into emerging problems such as green building design as well as dispersion and deposition of pollutants on urban structures. Characterization of deposition velocity dependence through the naphthalene sublimation method on model urban structures is conducted herein where the analogous fundamental transport mechanisms of momentum and mass transport is obtained via mass of naphthalene transferred. Via wind tunnel experiments, results show that deposition velocity of naphthalene from urban structures increases with increased number of urban structures ahead of the point of investigation. This is attributed to the wakes …

Semi-Annual Program Progress Performance Report For University Transportation Systems Pppr#7, Florida Solar Energy Center, David Block

FSEC Energy Research Center®

The Electric Vehicle Transportation Center (EVTC) supports the U.S. Department of Transportation's strategic goal of planning for near-term integration of alternative fuel vehicles as a means to build a sustainable transportation system. The project objectives are to evaluate technologies, standards, planning and policies to ensure seamless integration of electric vehicles (EVs) into a complex transportation network and electricity grid. The EVTC bridges the gap between deployment of electric vehicles and the traditional transportation system. This document is a summary of the activities until April 28, 2017.

Fabrication And Study Of The Structure And Magnetism Of Rare-Earth Free Nanoclusters, Bhaskar Das

Department of Physics and Astronomy: Dissertations, Theses, and Student Research

No abstract provided.