Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Energy Planning Model Design For Forecasting The Final Energy Consumption Using Artificial Neural Networks, Haidy Eissa

Theses and Dissertations

“Energy Trilemma” has recently received an increasing concern among policy makers. The trilemma conceptual framework is based on three main dimensions: environmental sustainability, energy equity, and energy security. Energy security reflects a nation’s capability to meet current and future energy demand. Rational energy planning is thus a fundamental aspect to articulate energy policies. The energy system is huge and complex, accordingly in order to guarantee the availability of energy supply, it is necessary to implement strategies on the consumption side. Energy modeling is a tool that helps policy makers and researchers understand the fluctuations in the energy system. Over the …

Torque Vectoring To Maximize Straight-Line Efficiency In An All-Electric Vehicle With Independent Rear Motor Control, William Blake Brown

Theses and Dissertations

BEVs are a critical pathway towards achieving energy independence and meeting greenhouse and pollutant gas reduction goals in the current and future transportation sector [1]. Automotive manufacturers are increasingly investing in the refinement of electric vehicles as they are becoming an increasingly popular response to the global need for reduced transportation emissions. Therefore, there is a desire to extract the most fuel economy from a vehicle as possible. Some areas that manufacturers spend much effort on include minimizing the vehicle’s mass, body drag coefficient, and drag within the powertrain. When these values are defined or unchangeable, interest is driven to …

Performance Loss Rate And Temperature Modeling In Predictive Energy Yield Programs For Utility-Scale Solar Power Plants, Katelynn M. Dinius

Master's Theses

The Gold Tree Solar Farm, designed by REC Solar, has a rated output power of 4.5 MW and began operation in 2018 to provide electricity to Cal Poly’s campus. Gold Tree Solar Farm site terrain consists of rolling hills and uneven slopes. The uneven typography results in interrow shading, requiring a modified tracking control algorithm to maximize power production. Predicting a utility solar field’s lifetime energy yield is a critical step in assessing project feasibility and calculating project revenue. The MATLAB-based predictive power model developed for this field overpredicted power in the middle of the day. The purpose of this …

Development Of An Eco Approach And Departure Application To Improve Energy Consumption Of A Plug-In Hybrid Vehicle In Charge Depleting Mode, Brandon Narodzonek

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

A recent study at Michigan Technological University as part of the NEXTCAR DOE APRA-E Project was conducted to determine the potential energy savings of a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV) equipped with various Connected and Automated Vehicle (CAV) Technologies. One aspect of this study focused on the development of an Eco Approach and Departure (Eco AnD) Application that would further reduce the energy consumed around a signalized intersection.

Many modern intersections are equipped with traffic signals that can broadcast Basic Safety (BSM), MAP, and Signal Phase and Timing (SPaT) message sets that contain intersection ID, location, current phase, and cyclic …

A Reduced Model For Microbial Electrolysis Cells, Dina Aboelela, Moustafa A. Soliman, Ibrahim Ashour

Chemical Engineering

Microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) are breakthrough technology of cheap hydrogen production with high efficiency. In this paper differential-algebraic equation (DAE) model of a MEC with an algebraic constraint on current was studied, simulated and validated by implementing the model on continuous-flow MECs. Then sensitivity analysis for the system was effectuated. Parameters which have the predominating influence on the current density and hydrogen production rate were defined. This sensitivity analysis was utilized in modeling and validation of the batch-cycle of MEC. After that parameters which have less influence on MEC were eliminated and simplified reduced model was obtained and validated. Finally, …

Toward A Fast And Accurate Modeling Strategy For Thermal Management In Air-Cooled Data Centers, Long Tran Bao Phan

FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) has become a popular tool compared to experimental measurement for thermal management in data centers. However, it is very time-consuming and resource-intensive when used to model large-scale data centers, and may not be ready for real-time thermal monitoring. In this thesis, the two main goals are first to develop rapid flow simulation to reduce the computing time while maintaining good accuracy, and second, to develop a whole building energy simulation (BES) strategy for data center modeling. To achieve this end, hybrid modeling and model training methodologies are investigated for rapid flow simulation, and a multi-zone model …

Analysis Of Horizontal Axis Wind Turbine Array Optimization, Peter-Claver Nwanze, Keith Bazemore, Jessica Lyons, J. Ann Mitchem

ENERGY Research and Lesson Plans

Wind energy is the fastest growing form of renewable energy, with a multitude of possibilities for expansion. This, as well as other forms of renewable energy, will facilitate understanding of the growing concerns regarding global warming by decreasing our dependence on fossil fuels. Wind energy requires wind speeds of at least six miles per hour; therefore, only certain geographical areas are suitable for the use of this technology. The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether the orientation of an array of wind turbines increases or decreases energy production and efficiency. In this study, various arrays consisting of five …

Optimization And Control Of Arrays Of Wave Energy Converters, Jianyang Lyu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Wave Energy Converter Array is a practical approach to harvest ocean wave energy. To leverage the potential of the WEC array in terms of energy extraction, it is essential to have a properly designed array configuration and control system. This thesis explores the optimal configuration of Wave Energy Converters (WECs) arrays and their optimal control. The optimization of the WEC array allows both dimensions of individual WECs as well as the array layout to varying. In the first optimization problem, cylindrical buoys are assumed in the array where their radii and drafts are optimization parameters. Genetic Algorithms are used for …

Design Of Wind Turbine Tower Height And Blade Length: An Optimization Approach, Ryan Wass

Mechanical Engineering Undergraduate Honors Theses

The wind industry is a fast growing market and is quickly becoming competitive with traditional non-renewable energy resources. As with any developing industry, research must continually be redefined as more complex understandings of design variables are learned. Optimization studies are common ways to quickly refine design variable selections. Historical wind turbine data shows that the tower hub height to rotor diameter ratio scales almost linearly. However there is no specific rule that dictates the optimum hub height for a given diameter. This study addresses this question by using an Excel based optimization program to determine the height to diameter ratio …

Electrical Response Of Thermoelectric Generator To Geometry Variation Under Transient Thermal Boundary Condition, Elias Yazdanshenas, Alireza Rezania, Meysam Karami Rad, Lasse Rosendahl

Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

A three-dimensional numerical model is applied in this study to illustrate the electrical response of a thermoelectric generator (TEG) during transient heat flux at the hot side. In this work, various types of thermal boundary conditions are considered to evaluate the performance of the TEG. Thus, a TEG under pulsed heat flux is studied numerically, and the numerical model is verified by experimental results. With the consideration of a defined reference geometry, different heat flux frequencies are applied in order to evaluate the corresponding electrical output by the TEG. In addition, variation of the module performance for various TEG leg …

Optimization And Control Of An Array Of Wave Energy Converters, Jianyang Lyu

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This study explored optimal configuration of both the array layout and the dimension of each WEC in the array. The array contains heaving buoys with full interaction and exact hydrodynamics. Optimization of dimension was done on each WEC in the array with a given optimal layout, and a higher q-factor was achieved. Both impedance matching optimal control and derivative control were employed, which provides both theoretical maximum energy and a more realistic case. Then the work was expanded to optimization of both the array layout and the dimension of each WEC in the array. An average of 39.21% higher q-factor …

Geometric Optimization Of A Heaving Point Absorber Wave Energy Converter, Ian Riley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Wave energy shows significant potential for development into a competitive renewable energy source. Non-renewable resources are finite and contribute to adverse effects on the environment. Development of wave energy conversion devices that use heave motion as the primary driver for converting wave energy into electrical potential is explored through optimizing the geometry of an axisymmetric partially submerged buoy in deep water. The governing equations of motion and hydrodynamic forces are solved for in one degree of freedom using ANSYS Aqwa. An external PTO device is simulated to induce power capture in the system. Four different geometric shapes are tested and …

A Parametric Investigation And Optimization Of A Cylindrical Explosive Charge, Logan Ellsworth Beaver

Master's Theses (2009 -)

Explosive device design has a wide impact in the space, manufacturing, military, and mining industries. As a step toward computer assisted design of explosives, an optimization framework was developed using the Design Analysis Kit for Optimization and Terrascale Applications (Dakota). This software was coupled with the hydrocode CTH. This framework was applied to three exploding cylinder models, two in 1D and one in 2D. Gradient descent, dividing rectangles, and a genetic algorithm were each applied to the one-dimensional models. Parametric studies were performed as a basis for comparison with the optimization algorithms, as well as qualifying the 1D model's accuracy. …

Development Of Novel Solar Tracking And Heat Extracting Technologies, Hassan Latif Hassan

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The global energy and water crises are looming due to the exponential population growth and the shrinking reserves of conventional fossil fuels and fresh water. The present research is aimed at the development of novel components/technologies that would lead to efficient and affordable concentrated solar thermal systems. A novel dual-axis solar tracking system has been developed, built and extensively tested on a field parabolic dish solar collector model. The tracker has two main novel components; active dual axis tracker; and load compensator. The tracker is characterized with simplicity and reliability. Two geometries of novel conical thermal receivers were designed, constructed …

Development Of A Cost Minimizing Strategy To Mitigate Bird Mortalities In A Wind Farm, Karamvir Singh

Masters Theses 1911 - February 2014

Wind is the second largest renewable energy source after solar. It is one of the fastest growing sources of electricity in the world and currently of wind energy is installed in the United States and an additional is under construction (Office of Energy and Environment Affairs, 2011). For the growth of wind electricity, one of the most prominent environmental concerns relates to the death of birds, bats and other avian species resulting from collision with turbine blades.

This thesis develops a model that provides the optimal strategy of turning the turbines off in a wind farm for certain periods to …

Analyse Du Comportement Réel Et De L'Optimisation Structurelle Des Cycles De Turbines À Gaz, Alexandru Dobrovicescu, Michel Feidt, Lavinia Grosu, Jim Mcgovern, Georgiana Tirca-Dragomirescu

Conference Papers

L’article présente une étude comparative, basée sur l’analyse exégétique, de l’effet de non prise en considération du comportement réel de l’agent thermique et de l’utilisation des modèles simplifiés pour calculer les performances des cycles de turbines à gaz avec et sans récupération de chaleur. Un intérêt spécial a été réservé au processus de combustion et au transfert de chaleur dans le préchauffeur d’air. La variation des destructions et des pertes d’exergie par rapport à la variation des paramètres fonctionnels est présentée.