Engineering Commons^™

An Optimal Allocation And Sizing Strategy Of Distributed Energy Storage Systems To Improve Performance Of Distribution Networks, Choton K. Das, Octavian Bass, Thair S. Mahmoud, Ganesh Kothapalli, Mohammad A. S. Masoum, Navid Mousavi

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The allocation of grid-scale energy storage systems (ESSs) can play a significant role in solving distribution network issues and improving overall network performance. This paper presents a strategy for optimal allocation and sizing of distributed ESSs through P and Q injection by the ESSs to a distribution network. The investigation is carried out in a renewable-penetrated (wind and solar) medium voltage IEEE-33 bus distribution network for two different scenarios: (1) using a uniform ESS size and (2) using non-uniform ESS sizes. DIgSILENT PowerFactory is used for system modeling and testing, and simulation events are automated using Python scripting. A hybrid …

Analysis Of Individual Molecular Dynamics Snapshots Simulating Wetting Of Surfaces Using Spheroidal Geometric Constructions, Aleksandr Abramov, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Accurate characterization of wettability of minerals is important for efficient oil recovery and carbon geosequestration. In studies where molecular dynamics simulations are used to compute the contact angle, emphasis is often placed on results or theoretical details of the simulations themselves, overlooking potentially applicable methodologies for determination of the contact angle. In this manuscript, a concept of a method utilizing spheroidal geometric constructions to estimate the contact angle of a water droplet on a silica surface in carbon dioxide atmosphere is outlined and applied to the final snapshots of two molecular dynamics simulation runs. Two carbon dioxide pressures and two …

Failure Modes And Tensile Strength Of Screw Anchors In Non-Cracked Concrete, Alireza Mohyeddin, Emad F. Gad, Jessey Lee

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Screw anchors are widely used in applications such as fastening base plates in steel and metal construction, formwork and bracing, structural steel applications, railings and handrails. At present, researchers and design engineers rely on the Concrete Capacity Design (CCD) method to predict the strength of screw anchors under the tensile loading as the only method available in literature. In CCD method, the underlying assumption is that the concrete cone and combined concrete cone and pull-out failure modes are the main failure mode for anchors, whereas, previous studies have demonstrated that pull-out is also a very common failure mode of screw …

An Integrated Model To Use Drilling Modular Machine Tools, Ana Vafadar, Majid Tolouei-Rad, Kevin Hayward

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Modular machine tools provide a platform for drilling-related operations within automotive companies. The use of these machine tools is widespread; however, manufacturers wishing to use this technology frequently face the challenge of selecting the most appropriate manufacturing system. Accordingly, a comprehensive feasibility analysis procedure is required to assist decision-makers before any investment is made on the preparation of detailed machine design or purchase one. This paper presents a model, which collects the previous works of the authors. To do this, an integrated framework for decision-making of using machine tools is developed. The aim of this model is to enable users …

Pt Nanoparticles Decorated Heterostructured G-C3n4/Bi2moo6 Microplates With Highly Enhanced Photocatalytic Activities Under Visible Light, Z. Jia, F. Lyu, Laichang Zhang, S. Zeng, Shunxing Liang, Y. Y. Li, J. Lu

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Exploring an efficient and photostable heterostructured photocatalyst is a pivotal scientific topic for worldwide energy and environmental concerns. Herein, we reported that Pt decorated g-C₃N₄/Bi₂MoO₆ heterostructured composites with enhanced photocatalytic performance under visible light were simply synthesized by one-step hydrothermal method for methylene blue (MB) dye degradation. Results revealed that the synthetic Pt decorated g-C₃N₄/Bi₂MoO₆ composites with Bi₂MoO₆ contents of 20 wt.% (Pt@CN/20%BMO) presented the highest photocatalytic activity, exhibiting 7 and 18 times higher reactivity than the pure g-C₃N₄ and …

Low-Cost Carbon Fibre Derived From Sustainable Coal Tar Pitch And Polyacrylonitrile: Fabrication And Characterisation, Omid Zabihi, Sajjad Shafei, Seyed Mousa Fakhrhoseini, Mojtaba Ahmadi, Hossein Ajdari Nazarloo, Rohan Stanger, Quang Anh Tran, John Lucas, Terry Wall, Minoo Naebe

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Preparation of high-value pitch-based carbon fibres (CFs) from mesophase pitch precursor is of great importance towards low-cost CFs. Herein, we developed a method to reduce the cost of CFs precursor through incorporating high loading of coal tar pitch (CTP) into polyacrylonitrile (PAN) polymer solution. The CTP with a loading of 25% and 50% was blended with PAN and their spinnability was examined by electrospinning process. The effect of CTP on thermal stabilization and carbonisation of PAN fibres was investigated by thermal analyses methods. Moreover, electrospun PAN/CTP fibres were carbonised at two different temperatures i.e., 850 °C and 1200 °C and …

A Review Of The Enhancement Of Bio-Hydrogen Generation By Chemicals Addition, Yong Sun, Jun He, Gang Yang, Guangzhi Sun, Valérie Sage

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Bio-hydrogen production (BHP) produced from renewable bio-resources is an attractive route for green energy production, due to its compelling advantages of relative high efficiency, cost-effectiveness, and lower ecological impact. This study reviewed different BHP pathways, and the most important enzymes involved in these pathways, to identify technological gaps and effective approaches for process intensification in industrial applications. Among the various approaches reviewed in this study, a particular focus was set on the latest methods of chemicals/metal addition for improving hydrogen generation during dark fermentation (DF) processes; the up-to-date findings of different chemicals/metal addition methods have been quantitatively evaluated and thoroughly …

The Effect Of Fine And Coarse Recycled Aggregates On Fresh And Mechanical Properties Of Self-Compacting Concrete, Mahmoud Nili, Hossein Sasanipour, Farhad Aslani

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Today, the use of recycled aggregates as a substitute for a part of the natural aggregates in concrete production is increasing. This approach is essential because the resources for natural aggregates are decreasing in the world. In the present study, the effects of recycled concrete aggregates as a partial replacement for fine (by 50%) and coarse aggregates (by 100%) were examined in the self-compacting concrete mixtures which contain air-entraining agents and silica fumes. Two series of self-compacting concrete mixes have been prepared. In the first series, fine and coarse recycled mixtures respectively with 50% and 100% replacement with air entraining …

Application Of The Clayff And The Dreiding Force Fields For Modeling Of Alkylated Quartz Surfaces, Aleksandr Abramov, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

To extend applicability and to overcome limitations of combining rules for nonbond potential parameters, in this study, CLAYFF and DREIDING force fields are coupled at the level of atomic site charges to model quartz surfaces with chemisorpt hydrocarbons. Density functional theory and Bader charge analysis are applied to calculate charges of atoms of the OC bond connecting a quartz crystal and an alkyl group. The study demonstrates that the hydrogen atom of the quartz surface hydroxyl group can be removed and its charge can be redistributed among the oxygen and carbon atoms of the OC bond in a manner consistent …

Development Of Heavyweight Self-Compacting Concrete And Ambient-Cured Heavyweight Geopolymer Concrete Using Magnetite Aggregates, Afsaneh Valizadeh, Farhad Aslani, Zohaib Asif, Matt Roso

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Heavyweight self-compacting concrete (HWSCC) and heavyweight geopolymer concrete (HWGC) are new types of concrete that integrate the advantages of heavyweight concrete (HWC) with self-compacting concrete (SCC) and geopolymer concrete (GC), respectively. The replacement of natural coarse aggregates with magnetite aggregates in control SCC and control GC at volume ratios of 50%, 75%, and 100% was considered in this study to obtain heavyweight concrete classifications, according to British standards, which provide proper protection from sources that emit harmful radiations in medical and nuclear industries and may also be used in many offshore structures. The main aim of this study is to …

Wettability Of Fully Hydroxylated And Alkylated (001) Α-Quartz Surface In Carbon Dioxide Atmosphere, Aleksandr Abramov, Alireza Keshavarz, Stefan Iglauer

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Wettability of alkylated quartz surfaces is of primary importance in several technological applications, including the development of oil and gas reservoirs and carbon geo-sequestration. It is intuitively understood and experimentally confirmed that hydroxylated quartz surfaces are hydrophilic. By gradually saturating a hydroxylated (001) α-quartz surface with pentyl groups, we show using molecular dynamics simulations that the surface can also exhibit extreme hydrophobicity. Within a range of surface pentyl group density from 0.29 to 3.18/nm², the contact angle of a water droplet under 10 MPa pressure of carbon dioxide at 300 K changes from 10–20 to 180°. This study …

Initial Field Testing Results From Building-Integrated Solar Energy Harvesting Windows Installation In Perth, Australia, Mikhail Vasiliev, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Kamal Alameh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

We report on the field testing datasets and performance evaluation results obtained from a commercial property-based visually-clear solar window installation site in Perth-Australia. This installation was fitted into a refurbished shopping center entrance porch and showcases the potential of glass curtain wall-based solar energy harvesting in built environments. In particular, we focus on photovoltaic (PV) performance characteristics such as the electric power output, specific yield, day-to-day consistency of peak output power, and the amounts of energy generated and stored daily. The dependencies of the generated electric power and stored energy on multiple environmental and geometric parameters are also studied. An …

Investigating The Effect Of [C8py][Cl] And [C18py][Cl] Ionic Liquids On The Water/Oil Interfacial Tension By Considering Taguchi Method, Siamak Najimi, Iman Nowrouzi, Abbas Khaksar Manshad, Mehdi Hojjat Farsangi, Ali Zeinolabedini Hezave, Jagar A. Ali, Alireza Keshavarz, Amir H. Mohammadi

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Capillary and interfacial forces are of great influences of trapping hydrocarbon in porous media after primary and secondary recovery processes. The trapped crude oil in the reservoir can be mobilized and produced by reducing these forces. Thus, surfactant flooding, as a main enhanced oil recovery (EOR) method, is usually applied to reduce the interfacial tension (IFT) of crude oil–water system in porous medium and improves the oil recovery. This study focused on the effect of [C8Py][Cl] and [C18Py][Cl] ionic liquids (ILs), as a new family of surfactant, in combination with various salts including sodium chloride, potassium chloride, magnesium sulfate and …

Modelling Of The Radiant Heat Flux And Rate Of Spread Of Wildfire Within The Urban Environment, Greg Penney, Steven Richardson

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

One approach to increase community resilience to wildfire impacts is the enhancement of residential construction standards in an effort to provide protective shelters for families within their own homes. Current wildfire models reviewed in this study assume fire growth is unrestricted by vegetation fuel bed geometry; the head fire has attained a quasi-steady rate of spread; and the shielding effects of urban development are ignored. As a result, radiant heat flux may be significantly overestimated for small vegetation fires in road reserves, urban parklands, and similar scenarios. This paper proposes two new models to address this issue, and utilises two …

Enhancing Heat Pipe Solar Water Heating Systems Performance Using A Novel Variable Mass Flow Rate Technique And Different Solar Working Fluids, Abdellah Shafieian, Junaid Jaffer Osman, Mehdi Khiadani, Ataollah Nosrati

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

This paper aims to improve the overall efficiency of heat pipe solar water heating (HPSWH) systems by implementing a novel variable mass flow rate technique which regulates the solar working fluid mass flow rate of the system with the solar radiation intensity. To analyse the system under real operational conditions, the residential hot water consumption pattern of Perth residents in Western Australia was used in the experiments. In addition, a nanofluid (Al₂O₃/DI) was fabricated and its performance as the solar working fluid was investigated to find the optimum concentration and to confirm its stability and thermo-physical …

Optimization Of Well Pad Design And Drilling - Well Clustering, Aleksandr Abramov

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

A model accounting for more than 30 parameters of drilling projects, and a computer program to enumerate groupings of the wells of a pad with consequent calculations of technical-economic characteristics, are developed and tested. Seven drilling scenarios for a 24-well pad with different starting oil flow rates for the wells are studied. Optimal well groupings in terms of Net Present Value (NPV) for three discount rates and five oil production decline rates have been found. The results show that: NPV-maximizing well pad designs with unequal (varying) numbers of wells in groups (clusters) may require only slight alterations …

A Numerical Study Of Axisymmetric Wave Propagation In Buried Fluid-Filled Pipes For Optimizing The Vibro-Acoustic Technique When Locating Gas Pipelines, Ying Liu, Daryoush Habibi, Douglas Chai, Xiuming Wang, Hao Chen

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Buried pipeline systems play a vital role in energy storage and transportation, especially for fluid energies like water and gas. The ability to locate buried pipes is of great importance since it is fundamental for leakage detection, pipeline maintenance, and pipeline repair. The vibro-acoustic locating method, as one of the most effective detection technologies, has been studied by many researchers. However, previous studies have mainly focused on vibro-acoustic propagation in buried water pipes. Limited research has been conducted on buried gas pipes. In this paper, the behavior of gas-dominated wave motion will be investigated and compared against water-dominated wave motion …

Optimal Allocation Of Distributed Energy Storage Systems To Improve Performance And Power Quality Of Distribution Networks, Choton K. Das, Octavian Bass, Thair S. Mahmoud, Ganesh Kothapalli, Navid Mousavi, Daryoush Habibi, Mohammad A.S. Masoum

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The placement of grid-scale energy storage systems (ESSs) can have a significant impact on the level of performance improvements of distribution networks. This paper proposes a strategy for optimal allocation of distributed ESSs in distribution networks to simultaneously minimize voltage deviation, flickers, power losses, and line loading. The optimal ESS allocation is investigated through the PQ injection (considering a variable power factor on the dispatch of ESSs) and the results are compared in terms of performance and power quality improvements. An IEEE-33 bus distribution system (medium voltage), having a high influence of renewable (wind and solar) distributed generation, is used …

Phase Interaction Induced Texture In A Plasma Sprayed-Remelted Nicrbsi Coating During Solidification: An Electron Backscatter Diffraction Study, Liang-Yu Chen, Tianxiang Xu, Haiyang Wang, Peng Sang, Sheng Lu, Ze-Xin Wang, Shujin Chen, Lai-Chang Zhang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Although considerable endeavors have been dedicated to investigate the microstructures of the remelting-enhanced NiCrBSi coatings, the textures in the remelted coatings, which may result in property anisotropy, are rarely studied. In this work, the recrystallized fractions, grain orientations and interphase boundaries for Ni, Ni₃B and CrB in a plasma sprayed-remelted NiCrBSi coating were investigated by electron backscatter diffraction. The results demonstrate that the texture is induced by phase interaction during solidification. Cooling from the liquid, the firstly formed Ni grains possess a cube fiber texture of {001}〈001〉. The successively formed Ni₃B colonies are randomly oriented and …

Degradation And Hydrate Phase Equilibria Measurement Methods Of Monoethylene Glycol, Khalid Alef, Stefan Iglauer, Ahmed Barifcani

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Monoethylene glycol (MEG), a common chemical used for the inhibition of gas hydrate formation may undergo degradation in the regeneration/reclamation process. Limited research exists on the effect of degradation of MEG on hydrate formation, production facilities and equipment especially in the presence of other chemical additives. The proposed method allows for streamlining the process of preparing, degrading and analysis of MEG solutions for hydrate testing and degradation products.

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Procedure to prepare accurate MEG solutions avoiding oxidative degradation of MEG (i.e., controlling oxygen ingress).

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Two methods are suggested to mimic field-like degradation of MEG solutions (i.e., degradation by reclamation …

Taylor's Slope Stability Chart For Combined Effects Of Horizontal And Vertical Seismic Coefficients, Pragyan Sahoo, Sanjay Kumar Shukla

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Design standards and codes of practice on earth slope stability often recommend the pseudo-static method of analysis for determining the factor of safety of a slope subjected to seismic forces. In most pseudo-static methods of analysis, the horizontal seismic force is considered without due weightage to vertical seismic force. In the past, Taylor's stability chart for a homogeneous cohesive-frictional soil slope has been extended to consider the effect of horizontal seismic force only. In this paper, an attempt is made to develop an analytical formulation considering both horizontal and vertical seismic forces in order to estimate the factor of safety …

Deformation And Strength Characteristics Of Laves Phases In Titanium Alloys, Chirag D. Rabadia, Y. J. Liu, Liang-Yu Chen, Syed F. Jawed, L. Q. Wang, Hongqi Sun, Laichang Zhang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The superior reinforcement nature of Laves phases make them suitable for high-strength applications. Therefore, investigations on the deformation and strength characteristics of Laves phases are useful in development of an improved Laves phase-reinforced alloy. In this work, the Vickers micro-indentation method is used to evaluate and compare the deformation and strength characteristics of a hexagonal close-packed Laves phase (C14-type) in Ti-35Zr-5Fe-6Mn (wt%) and a face-centered cubic Laves phase (C15-type) in Ti-33Zr-7Fe-4Cr (wt%), considering the same volume fraction of Laves phase (~7.0%) in these alloys. Moreover, the effects of higher volume fraction of Laves phase (19.4%) on indentation-based deformation features are …

Noninvasive Diagnosis Of Irritable Bowel Syndrome Via Bowel Sound Features: Proof Of Concept, Xuhao Du, Gary Allwood, K. Mary Webberley, Andrisha-Jade Inderjeeth, Adam Osseiran, Barry James Marshall

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

INTRODUCTION: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common and debilitating disorder estimated to affect approximately 11% of the world's population. Typically, IBS is a diagnosis of exclusion after patients undergo a costly and invasive colonoscopy to exclude organic disease. Clinician's and researchers have identified a need for a new cost-effective, accurate, and noninvasive diagnostic test for IBS.

METHODS: Using a diagnostic case-control study, we explored the use of bowel sounds to characterize IBS with a view to diagnostic use. We recruited participants with an existing clinical diagnosis of IBS or healthy (asymptomatic) digestive systems. We recorded bowel sounds for 2 …

Natural Source Zone Depletion Of Lnapl: A Critical Review Supporting Modelling Approaches, Kaveh Sookhak Lari, Greg B. Davis, John L. Rayner, Trevor P. Bastow, Geoffrey J. Puzon

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

Natural source zone depletion (NSZD) of light non-aqueous phase liquids (LNAPLs) includes partitioning, transport and degradation of LNAPL components. NSZD is being considered as a site closure option during later stages of active remediation of LNAPL contaminated sites, and where LNAPL mass removal is limiting. To ensure NSZD meets compliance criteria and to design enhanced NSZD actions if required, residual risks posed by LNAPL and its long term behaviour require estimation. Prediction of long-term NSZD trends requires linking physicochemical partitioning and transport processes with bioprocesses at multiple scales within a modelling framework. Here we expand and build on the knowledge …

Recent Developments In Solar Energy-Harvesting Technologies For Building Integration And Distributed Energy Generation, Mikhail Vasiliev, Mohammad Nur-E-Alam, Kamal Alameh

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

We present a review of the current state of the field for a rapidly evolving group of technologies related to solar energy harvesting in built environments. In particular, we focus on recent achievements in enabling the widespread distributed generation of electric energy assisted by energy capture in semi-transparent or even optically clear glazing systems and building wall areas. Whilst concentrating on recent cutting-edge results achieved in the integration of traditional photovoltaic device types into novel concentrator-type windows and glazings, we compare the main performance characteristics reported with these using more conventional (opaque or semi-transparent) solar cell technologies. A critical overview …

Phase Separation And Enhanced Wear Resistance Of Cu88fe12 Immiscible Coating Prepared By Laser Cladding, Shuzhen Zhao, Shengfeng Zhou, Min Xie, Xiaoqin Dai, Dongchu Chen, Laichang Zhang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In order to eliminate the microstructure segregation of Cu–Fe immiscible alloys which characterized with a liquid miscible gap, the Cu88Fe12 (wt.%) immiscible coating was prepared by laser cladding. The phase separation characteristic and wear resistance of the Cu88Fe12 (wt.%) immiscible coating were also investigated. The results show that the size of the milled Cu88Fe12 composite powder is reduced comparing to that of the un-milled powder due to fracturing during mechanical milling. Moreover, the demixing or delamination disappears in the Cu88Fe12 immiscible coating and a large amount of face-centered-cubic (fcc) γ-Fe and body-centered-cubic (bcc) α-Fe particles are dispersed in the face-centered-cubic …

Nanoindentation Characterization On Local Plastic Response Of Ti-6al-4v Under High-Load Spherical Indentation, Yan Wen, Lechun Xie, Zhou Wang, Liqiang Wang, Weijie Lu, Laichang Zhang

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

After high-load spherical indentation treatment, the variations of hardness on the plastic zone of Ti-6Al-4V were investigated via nanoindentation method. The hardness within the center of plastic zone was measured by nanoindenter, and the magnitude decreased gradually along the depth, which were caused by the different extent of plastic deformation under the residual imprint. The microstructure of indentation were observed using scanning electron microscope (SEM) before and after surface etching, and the results showed that the microhardness revealed the average hardness of α and β phases of Ti-6Al-4V. The maximum hardness reached 6.438 GPa in the depth of 132 μm. …

Fire Performance Of Heavyweight Self-Compacting Concrete And Heavyweight High Strength Concrete, Farhad Aslani, Fatemeh Hamidi, Qilong Ma

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

In this study, the fresh and hardened state properties of heavyweight self-compacting concrete (HWSCC) and heavyweight high strength concrete (HWHSC) containing heavyweight magnetite aggregate with 50, 75, and 100% replacement ratio, and their performance at elevated temperatures were explored experimentally. For fresh-state properties, the flowability and passing ability of HWSCCs were assessed by using slump flow, T500 mm, and J-ring tests. Hardened-state properties including hardened density, compressive strength, and modulus of elasticity were evaluated after 28 days of mixing. High-temperature tests were also performed to study the mass loss, spalling of HWSCC and HWHSC, and residual mechanical properties at 100, …

Editorial: Environmental Catalysis And The Corresponding Catalytic Mechanism, Zhimin Ao, Hongqi Sun, Andres Fullana

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

The ever growing environmental pollution has stimulated the rapid development of environmental catalysis in recent years. Environmental catalysis is a multidisciplinary research field for which more and more chemists, materials scientists, as well as environmentalists have devoted their efforts working in this field because of the bright potentials in improving human health and life quality...

Effect Of Al Alloying On Cavitation Erosion Behavior Of Tasi2 Nanocrystalline Coatings, Jiang Xu, Shuai Kang Zhang, Xiao Lin Lu, Shuyun Jiang, Paul Munroe, Zong-Han Xie

Research outputs 2014 to 2021

To broaden the scope of non-aerospace applications for titanium-based alloys, both hexagonal C40 binary TaSi₂ and ternary Al alloyed TaSi₂ nanocrystalline coatings were exploited to enhance the cavitation erosion resistance of Ti-6Al-4V alloy in acidic environments. To begin with, the roles of Al addition in influencing the structural stability and mechanical properties of hexagonal C40 Ta(Si_1-xAl_x)₂ compounds were modelled using first-principles calculations. The calculated key parameters, such as Pugh's index (B/G ratio), Poisson's ratio, and Cauchy pressures, indicated that there was a threshold value for Al addition, below which the increase of Al …