Immersion Cooling Of Photovoltaic Cells In Highly Concentrated Solar Beams,
2011
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Immersion Cooling Of Photovoltaic Cells In Highly Concentrated Solar Beams, Ahmed Darwish
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Concentrated solar radiation can be utilized to generate electrical power from photovoltaic cells, but concentrated solar radiation increases the photovoltaic cell’s temperature. This increase in temperature can lead to degradation of the cell efficiency, and too high of a temperature can damage the cell’s integrity. This is particularly important in dish and tower systems where a maximum uniform flux may be difficult to achieve. While a variety of approaches have been used to the keep the cells cool, most are based upon removal of heat from the back (opposite surface of the incident flux exposed surface) of the cell. This …
Time-Dependent Crack Growth Behavior Of Alloy 617 And Alloy 230 At Elevated Temperatures,
2011
University of Nevada, Las Vegas
Time-Dependent Crack Growth Behavior Of Alloy 617 And Alloy 230 At Elevated Temperatures, Shawoon Kumar Roy
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
Two Ni-base solid-solution-strengthened superalloys: INCONEL 617 and HAYNES 230 were studied to check sustained loading crack growth (SLCG) behavior at elevated temperatures appropriate for Next Generation Nuclear Plant (NGNP) applictaions with constant stress intensity factor (K max = 27.75 MPa[checkmark]m) in air. The results indicate a time-dependent rate controlling process which can be characterized by a linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) parameter - stress intensity factor (K). At elevated temperatures, the crack growth mechanism was best described using a damage zone concept. Based on results and study, SAGBOE (stress accelerated grain boundary oxidation embrittlement) is considered the primary reason for …
The Transfer Of Laser-Machined Micro-Structured Patterns From Silicon To Polymethyl Methacrylate,
2011
Old Dominion University
The Transfer Of Laser-Machined Micro-Structured Patterns From Silicon To Polymethyl Methacrylate, Warren E. Withrow
Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering Theses & Dissertations
This research project's purpose was transferring a micro-scaled pattern from a silicon wafer to a polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), or acrylic, substrate through light absorption generated heat. The secondary objective was to determine if the pattern on the silicon wafer could then be transferred to silica (i.e. a microscope glass slide) through light absorption generated heat. Once this pattern-transfer technique is developed for the micro scale, it could be instituted on the nano scale. The experiment was designed to find an alternate method to that currently being used to mass-produce compact discs (CDs). The most popular method employs a stamping process …
Thrust-Vector Control,
2011
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Thrust-Vector Control, Dane Larkin, Harsimran Singh
Mechanical Engineering
Mission Statement
The purpose of this project is to design, build, and test a thrust-vectoring rocket nozzle which will aid in controlling the trajectory of a solid-booster rocket. The system prototype must meet the requirements set forth by the sponsoring enterprise.
The Enterprise
Stellar Exploration is a small space systems technology company located in San Luis Obispo, CA. Stellar Exploration is currently seeking a thrust-vectoring system for its Silver Sword rocket.
Project Scope
The design and analysis portion of this project accounted for a system that would be mounted on to a rocket for operational flight. Therefore, this team has …
Rayleigh Test Apparatus Design Report,
2011
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Rayleigh Test Apparatus Design Report, Josef Duller, Owen Raybould, James Nicovich
Mechanical Engineering
The Rayleigh Test Apparatus is a device that will be used to test the thermodynamic properties of Nitrous Oxide to assess the feasibility of using this fluid as a coolant for a hybrid rocket aero spike. The aero spike is intended to redirect the propulsion flow as it leaves the engine to create a more efficient flow pattern at low and high altitudes. However, there are issues of overheating which leads to melting of the aero spike. For this reason, the use of nitrous oxide (N2O) as a coolant is being explored. N20 is being considered because it is already …
Analyse Du Comportement Réel Et De L'Optimisation Structurelle Des Cycles De Turbines À Gaz,
2011
Université Politehnica de Bucarest
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.
Heat Transfer Through A Rotating Ball Bearing At Low Angular Velocities,
2011
Utah State University
Heat Transfer Through A Rotating Ball Bearing At Low Angular Velocities, Sarah Isert
All Graduate Plan B and other Reports, Spring 1920 to Spring 2023
Bearings are commonly used in mechanical systems when there are rotating parts in the system. For bearings that run at speeds above about 1000 revolutions per minute, such as those used in aircraft turbines, machining tools, and automotive engines, it is important to take into account the heat transfer through the bearing system due to friction. Heat transfer is generally not considered for applications where the bearing is rotating at low speeds, such as clocks and bicycles. However, for certain aerospace applications, such as precision instruments or wind turbines, the heat transfer through the bearing becomes relevant. The case where …
Modeling And Numerical Investigation Of Hot Gas Defrost On A Finned Tube Evaporator Using Computational Fluid Dynamics,
2010
California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo
Modeling And Numerical Investigation Of Hot Gas Defrost On A Finned Tube Evaporator Using Computational Fluid Dynamics, Oai The Ha
Master's Theses
Defrosting in the refrigeration industry is used to remove the frost layer accumulated on the evaporators after a period of running time. It is one way to improve the energy efficiency of refrigeration systems. There are many studies about the defrosting process but none of them use computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulation. The purpose of this thesis is (1) to develop a defrost model using the commercial CFD solver FLUENT to simulate numerically the melting of frost coupled with the heat and mass transfer taking place during defrosting, and (2) to investigate the thermal response of the evaporator and the …
Irrigation Leak Detection: Using Flow Rate Sensors To Detect Breaks In An Irrigation System,
2010
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Irrigation Leak Detection: Using Flow Rate Sensors To Detect Breaks In An Irrigation System, Adam Openshaw, Kalvin Vu
Computer Engineering
This report details the exploration and invention of a mechanism that can detect breaks in an irrigation system. With the ultimate goal of conserving water, we have designed an inexpensive, self sustaining flow rate monitor that can be used to identify anomalies in an irrigation system and wirelessly communicate the status of the system to a base station. Our implementation can also determine the direction of the anomaly based on the nature of the anomaly itself. This means that multiple monitors can be used to pinpoint the location of a break within the system in addition to merely detecting its …
Pg&E Flow Loop Simulator,
2010
California Polytechnic State University - San Luis Obispo
Pg&E Flow Loop Simulator, Cole Brooks, Seth Berger, Ben Thacker
Mechanical Engineering
PG&E’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant requested a full-sized Flow Loop Simulator to train technicians by giving them hands-on experience. The basic design requirements were established to determine the scope of the project and develop the specific characteristics of the system. The detailed system design is composed of a piping schematic, a three-dimensional layout of the system components and piping, and a skid structure for the support and transportation of the system. Heat transfer and fluid mechanics were used to analyze the system to size components.
Design And Analysis Of A Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic Micro Combustor,
2010
Boise State University
Design And Analysis Of A Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic Micro Combustor, Matthew H. Mccrink
Boise State University Theses and Dissertations
This thesis details the design and construction of a Low Temperature Co-Fired Ceramic (LTCC) micro combustion system. The design of the combustor requires a detailed analysis of the flame’s operational properties and stability. To this end, an analytic model was created to address these concerns. These results were used in conjunction with a detailed numerical analysis to determine the stable operating range of the combustors. The combustion of gaseous fuels requires a device with a lower bound on the channel feature size. This lower limit for combustion corresponds to the minimum quenching distance of the specific fuel being used and …
Development Of Hydrogen Direct Injection For Conversion Of Internal Combustion Engines,
2010
University of Nevada Las Vegas
Development Of Hydrogen Direct Injection For Conversion Of Internal Combustion Engines, Maxwell A. Wilson
UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones
The trend toward usage of vehicles that operate on alternative, renewable forms of energy storage has generated areas for development of new products that will facilitate implementation of new automotive fuel systems. As the reality of a hydrogen-fueled economy emerges, intermediate technologies may be necessary for the transition between hydrocarbon fueled internal combustion engines and hydrogen powered fuel cells. The University of Nevada Las Vegas Center for Energy Research has developed a method for converting the common hydrocarbon fueled internal combustion engine to hydrogen direct injected fueling. This thesis describes the second phase of development and involves the design, fabrication …
Investigation Of Thermal Management And Metamaterials,
2010
Air Force Institute of Technology
Investigation Of Thermal Management And Metamaterials, Calvin T. Roman
Theses and Dissertations
Thermal metamaterials are materials composed of engineered, microscopic structures that exhibit unique thermal performance characteristics based primarily on their physical structures and patterning, rather than just their chemical composition or bulk material properties. The heat transfer performance attributes of a thermal metamaterial are such that similar performance cannot be obtained using conventional materials or compounds. Thermal metamaterials are an emerging technology, and are just now beginning to be acknowledged and developed by the microelectronics and material sciences community. This thesis effort analyzed the current state of thermal metamaterial research, examined the physics and theory of heat transfer and electrical conductivity …
Numerical Investigation Of Pre-Detonator Geometries For Pde Applications,
2010
Air Force Institute of Technology
Numerical Investigation Of Pre-Detonator Geometries For Pde Applications, Robert T. Fievisohn
Theses and Dissertations
A parametric study was performed to determine optimal geometries to allow the successful transition of a detonation from a pre-detonator into the thrust tube of a pulse detonation engine. The study was performed using a two-dimensional Euler solver with progress variables to model the chemistry. The geometrical configurations for the simulations look at the effect of shock reflections, flow obstructions, and detonation diffraction to determine successful geometries. It was observed that there are success and failure rates associated with pre-detonators. These success rates appear to be determined by the transverse wave structure of a stably propagating detonation wave and must …
Adhesion At Diamond /Metal Interfaces: A Density Functional Theory Study,
2010
University of South Carolina - Columbia
Adhesion At Diamond /Metal Interfaces: A Density Functional Theory Study, Haibo Guo, Yue Qi, Xiaodong Li
Faculty Publications
To understand the basic material properties required in selecting a metallic interlayer for enhanced adhesion of diamondcoatings on the substrates, the interfaces between diamond and metals with different carbide formation enthalpies (Cu, Ti, and Al) are studied using density functional theory. It is found that the work of separation decreases, while the interface energy increases, with the carbide formation enthalpy ΔHf (Tiys (Ti>Cu>Al), is needed to achieve a higher overall interface strength. In addition, when the surface energy is larger than the interface energy, a wetted diamond/metal interface is formed during diamondnucleation, providing the strongest adhesion …
Integrated Vehicle Thermal Management For Advanced Vehicle Propulsion Technologies: Preprint.,
2010
National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Integrated Vehicle Thermal Management For Advanced Vehicle Propulsion Technologies: Preprint., K. Bennion, M. Thornton
Publications (T)
A critical element to the success of new propulsion technologies that enable reductions in fuel use is the integration of component thermal management technologies within a viable vehicle package. Vehicle operation requires vehicle thermal management systems capable of balancing the needs of multiple vehicle systems that may require heat for operation, require cooling to reject heat, or require operation within specified temperature ranges. As vehicle propulsion transitions away from a single form of vehicle propulsion based solely on conventional internal combustion engines (ICEs) toward a wider array of choices including more electrically dominant systems such as plug-in hybrid electric vehicles …
Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics Modeling Of Coupled Biochemical Cycles In Living Cells,
2010
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Nonequilibrium Thermodynamics Modeling Of Coupled Biochemical Cycles In Living Cells, Yaşar Demirel
Yaşar Demirel Publications
Living cells represent open, nonequilibrium, self organizing, and dissipative systems maintained with the continuous supply of outside and inside material, energy, and information flows. The energy in the form of adenosine triphosphate is utilized in biochemical cycles, transport processes, protein synthesis, reproduction, and performing other biological work. The processes in molecular and cellular biological systems are stochastic in nature with varying spatial and time scales, and bounded with conservation laws, kinetic laws, and thermodynamic constraints, which should be taken into account by any approach for modeling biological systems. In component biology, this review focuses on the modeling of enzyme kinetics …
Simulation Algorithm And Validation Of A Photovoltaic Water Pumping System,
2010
Ammann, Jordan
Simulation Algorithm And Validation Of A Photovoltaic Water Pumping System, I. Odeh, Y. Yohannis, Brian Norton
Articles
A photovoltaic (PV) water pumping system has been modelled using TRNSYS considering a power supply, a direct current (DC)/alternating current (AC) inverter, an AC induction motor, a centrifugal pump, a well, a water storage tank, and an overflow protection device. The model emulates actual pumping head curves, uses numerical methods to determine pump system working points, and includes a storage tank as a component in the system. It simulates PV-powered water pumping systems, constant voltage tracking, voltage frequency modulation, and maximum power point tracking algorithms; variable inverter frequency with variable motor efficiency, variable inverter frequency with constant motor efficiency, and …
