Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Operational Planning In Combined Heat And Power Systems, Hariharan Gopalakrishnan

Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation presents methodologies for operational planning in Combined Heat and Power (CHP) systems. The subject of experimentation is the University of Massachusetts CHP system, which is a 22 MWe/640 MBh system for a district energy application. Systems like this have complex energy flow networks due to multiple interconnected thermodynamic components like gas and steam turbines, boilers and heat recovery steam generators and also interconnection with centralized electric grids. In district energy applications, heat and power requirements vary over 24 hour periods (planning horizon) due to changing weather conditions, time-of-day factors and consumer requirements. System thermal performance is highly dependent …

Plasmonics Resonance Enhanced Active Photothermal Effects In Aluminum Nanoenergetics For Propulsion Applications, Jacques Abboud

Doctoral Dissertations

In this dissertation, aluminum nanoparticles (Al NPs) are shown capable to on-demand enhance and control the local photothermal energy deposition, both spatially and temporally, via active photothermal effects initiated by the localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) phenomenon, and amplified by the Al exothermal oxidation reactions. Experiments in dry and wet environments along with computational modeling of the photothermal process are very desirable for gaining fundamental understanding, ignition optimization and parameter exploration.

Combined phenomena of motion and ignition of Al NPs are explored first in this study. Both resulting from exposing a pile of the nanoenergetics in hand to a single …

The Optimized Electrostatic Motor, Christopher Lee Rambin

Doctoral Dissertations

The most common means of electrically activated actuation is the electromagnetic motor. All electromagnetic motors have a low output to weight ratio and low energy efficiency. The motor's weight is due to the coils and magnets used to generate propulsion. The energy loss is mainly the result of Joule heating that is inherent with any current driven device. An electrostatic motor offers the potential of significantly less weight and higher energy efficiency. This lower weight characteristic is due to the epoxide material used to construct the major components of its propulsion unit. Greater efficiency results from the reduced Joule heating …