Engineering Commons^™

Small Scale Hydropower-Appropriate Technology For Rural Development In Lesser Developed Countries, Stephen R. Harper

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Less Developed Countries (LDC's) now have a total of about 2.8 billion people, or approximately 70 percent of the total world population. World populations and current energy consumption are such that is all the world's countries came up to the U.S. per capita energy use, the world's consumption would multiply by a factor of seven. For the LDC's, energy development will be an increasingly important issue. Hydropower technology is on the shelf, and available now, of proven feasibility both technically and economically, and presents a sound and rational energy solution from the environmental viewpoint. It is a technology which could …

Risk Analysis - An Economic Comparison Of Oil And Coal Power Plants, Mohammad M. Iranmanesh

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The demand for electric energy increases every year. However, due to recent changes in the U.S. energy supplies, a growing gas shortage forced suppliers to curtail deliveries of natural gas for power generation. Many utilities anticipating supply problems switched to burning more costly light distillate oil. Unfortunately the Arab boycott of 1973 and the following price increases for oil forced again utilities to seek a cheaper source of fuel, namely coal, as a substitute for oil. Even though the U.S. has abundant supply in coal, the use of coal in power generation was limited in the past because of a …

Impact Of Highway Bridge Runoff On Adjacent Receiving Water Bodies, James E. Christopher

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Two locations, Lake Ivanhoe and the Maitland interchange of Interstate 4, were selected to study the impact of bridge runoff on receiving water bodies. The Lake Ivanhoe location includes two similar bridges, one without scuppers and one with scuppers. The Maitland interchange site has several borr ponds which drain to Lake Lucien. Samples were collected from Lake Ivanhoe below the bridges and in the open lake away from the bridges. Also samples were collected from the east pond, west pond, and lake Lucien, at the Maitland interchange. Samples included water, sediments, plants and benthos to detect differences, if any, in …

Bilin: A Bilinear Transformation Computer Program And Its Applications, John Dana Greer

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Given a transfer function for a differential equation model, an approach for obtaining a solution is by way of bilinear transformation. The bilinear transform approach is a numerical integration scheme which gives a discrete approximation to the differential equation solution. BILIN applies a series of polynomial transformations to the transfer function H(s). As a result, H(s) is mapped into the complex z plane obtaining the discrete transfer function H(z). From H(z), the difference equation is obtained whose solution y(nT) approximates the actual differential solution y(t). Hence, BILIN provides a means for obtaining discrete transfer functions for the design of digital …

A Parametric Study Of Economical Energy Usage In Freeze Tunnels, Marc A. Harrison

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

An investigation into economical energy usage in freeze tunnels was conducted. Freeze tunnels are commonly used in the food processing industry to freeze products, and in some cases may use large amounts of electricity. An actual freeze tunnel was observed and modeled on a computer. A parameter study was conducted. The results of the parameter study indicated the efficiency and energy costs in freeze tunnels may vary widely. Important parameters included the Nusselt number, air temperature, and the ratio of fan work divided by the useful refrigeration effect. Although no single set of optimum conditions were found, methods for improving …

Evaluation Of Various Mass Transportation Alternatives For The University Of Central Florida Commuters, Jamal Niroumand-Rahimi

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This research evaluated various mass transportation alternatives for the commuting students, faculty and staff of the University of Central Florida (U.C.F.), located at Orlando. The alternatives considered in this research are bus service, van service / minibus service, vanpool, carpool, and bicycle and pedestrian modes. During the life-time of the University the private automobile has been the only prevalent mode of transportation used by the U.C.F. commuters. Opinion surveys conducted in the summer of 1979 indicated that the U.C.F. commuters are confronted with a number of transportation problems including lack of parking spaces on campus, traffic congestion on the access …

Filtration Of Detained Stormwater Through Sand And Alum Sludge For Water Quality Control, Claude L. Cassagnol

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Stormwater detention systems as they are frequently designed do not provide good water quality control of stormwater runoff. A filtration media to be used in conjunction with detention ponds to improve their pollutant removal efficiencies was tested at the University of Central Florida and found to be effective. The filtration media, which consisted of a mixture of sand and alum sludge, substantially improved effluent water quality. Average reductions of over 80 % were observed in concentrations of dissolved orthophosphorus, total orthophosphorus and total phosphorus. Reductions were also experienced in iron, aluminum, copper and zinc concentrations. A prototype filtration model is …

Sewer System Evaluation Surveys Conducted In Industrial Plants, Robert B. Cadle

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

"Sewer System Evaluation Surveys Conducted in Industrial Sewers," describes the methods employed and the results of Sewer System Evaluation Survey studies conducted at two industrial complexes. The procedural techniques for locating and quantifying infiltration and inflow into sewer systems represented to provide a basic understanding of the steps required to complete such studies. Case studies of actual surveys conducted at two privately operated industrial plants in Tennessee are presented to illustrate the utilization of the investigative techniques. The results of the studies are compared with each other and with similar studies conducted in municipal sewer systems.

Concepts In Passive Design #1 Roof Overhangs, Florida Solar Energy Center, Philip W. Fairey

FSEC Energy Research Center®

A major source of heat in buildings is direct solar radiation through windows--welcome in cold weather, but a problem in hot weather. Since Florida has such a lengthy cooling season, it is most important to protect windows from the sun; however, there are times between November and March when some heat is needed. Fortunately, the change in the sun's path from summer to winter is such that a properly designed roof overhang can protect south-facing windows from the high summer sun, yet allow the lower winter sun to come in.

Analysis Of Traffic Accidents At Daytona Beach In Volusia County, State Of Florida, Mohammad Reza Hajian

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Anyone who has been tempted to cross a beach or walk along a beach is aware of the potential conflicts that can arise between pedestrians and vehicles. The competing use of the beach space results in conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians; many times the pedestrian's disregard for signed pedestrian safety provisions in the close vicinity and on the space allocated for car lanes results in avoidable conflicts. This report addresses the pedestrian and vehicle interaction at Daytona Beach in Volusia County of the State of Florida. This report has consolidated accident data for the period January 1, 1977 through July …

Statistical Fading Of A Spherical Optical Wave In Atmospheric Turbulence, Lorraine M. Locke

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A formula for the average fade time of the intensity of a spherical optical wave travelling through atmospheric turbulence is developed. The model employed involves isotropic, homogeneous statistics using a lognormal distribution for the channel. The analysis is based on the fact that the logarithm of the irradiance is normally distributed and uses the work of S. O. Rice who developed such an expression for a zero mean, Gaussian process. The analysis employs the covariance function and the Taylor frozen turbulence hypothesis which results in an expression for the autocorrelation function.

Electromagnetic Wave Scattering From A Rough Surface, Elie G. Nacouzi

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This was a study to measure surface roughness using scattering of electromagnetic waves in the Ka and X microwave frequency bands. The detected fluctuations of the reflected field intensity is a measure of surface roughness. The reflected field intensity depends on the wavelength, the angle of incidence and the electrical properties of the media. Since the surface presents irregularities with randomly distributed facets, the characteristics of the rough-surface reflected wave can only be described by the statistical properties of the field intensity. The dependence of the normalized moments of the returned scatter on distance from the rough surface to the …

Noise Description And Noise Control At The Federal, State, And Local Level, Bobby L. Henning

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Noise, that undesirable portion of the ever-present sounds of our environment, has until the last decade, been considered as an unavoidable by-product of our rapid population growth and its accompanying mechanization. As awareness of adverse health effects from noise exposure grew, the Federal government, as protector of the public health and welfare, took the initial steps to control noise pollution. Federal legislation, beginning with the Clean Air Amendments of 1970, has been promulgated to control major offenders and to assist State and local governments in their endeavors to provide the public with an environment free from harmful noise levels. This …

Speed Control Of Dc Shunt Motor For Electric Car Use, Mahmood Shahi

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This report describes the speed characteristic and various methods of speed control of DC shunt (separately excited) motors, especially for application in electrical vehicles. The basic behavior of the DC motor is discussed, along with traditional and modern techniques of speed control. As an example, a speed controller for a shunt motor (built and tested by the author) is discussed. Two types of speed controllers for electric cars are discussed, and the performance results for an experimental electric car are presented. Finally, a design for a 24 HP car motor controller using both armature and field control was simulated on …

The Effects Of Introducing Skewness Into Capital Rationing Decision Models, Edet Jonathan Ekere

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

When investment projects are described by subjective probability distributions, the measure of investment worth becomes a difficult task. One of the basic assumptions underlying investment analysis under risk is that decision makers would base their decisions on only the first two statistical moments of the probability distribution of returns. However, the mean and variance can adequately describe only certain symmetric distributions such as the normal and the uniform distributions. As a result, if probability distributions of investment returns are actually asymmetric, the classic first two moments analysis ignores information (skewness) that is needed to make a better investment decision. Even …

Optimum Monotonic Step Response Filters, Peter H. Halpern

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The problem of designing sharp cutoff filters with monotonic step responses is addressed. The impulse responses of the filters are expanded in terms of finite duration trigonometric polynomials. The coefficients of the trigonometric polynomials are obtained, for arbitrary frequency penalty functions, by solving a generalized eigenvalue problem. Once the trigonometric polynomial is specified the network can be synthesized with known techniques. Two theorems which assist in the numerical solution are proven.

A Cavity Absorber For A Focusing Solar Collector, Andrew W. Crapo

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The concept of a cavity absorber for use with a focusing parabolic trough is developed in this paper. A mathematical model is formulated and used to compare different absorber geometries. Limitations of the model are discussed and within the range of materials and fabrication methods available, the choice of a cylindrical cavity is substantiated. Relative sizes of the gap and cylinder are chosen for a given mirror arc length, focal length, and alignment error. The model is used to optimize these parameters and predict absorber and collector efficiency. The processes of building and testing the absorber are detailed, and test …

Thermosiphon System, Florida Solar Energy Center

FSEC Energy Research Center®

In a THERMOSIPHON SYSTEM, cold water from the bottom of the elevated storage tank flows to the lowest point in the system (which is the bottom of the solar collector).

As it is warmed it becomes less dense and flows up to a side port near, but not at, the top of the storage tank. If the tank is about two feet above the top of the collector, the system will not back-siphon at night. If back-siphoning were to occur, the warm water would be cooled during its passage through the dormant collector. Thermosiphoning systems have no moving parts and …

A Ten Kilometer Transmission System Fiber Optics Versus Ku-Band, John A. Hallmark

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This research paper discusses the design evaluation and selection of a transmission system to be used in checking out the Spacelab high rate data system. The transmission systems evaluated are discussed, as well as the criteria utilized in selecting the final system. The installation of a fiber optics cable and the testing of this cable are discussed. The determination of the optimum location of the high rate data bit synchronizer and Viterbi decoder is presented. Utilization of this data to justify the installation of a shorter fiber optics system inside the O&C Building is presented.

Fade Time Statistics Of Laser Light Propagating Through Turbulent Atmosphere, Madjid A. Belkerdid

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The average fade time of the fluctuations in the intensity of laser light propagation in the atmosphere is analyzed. Experimental results show that the average fade time for a propagation distance of 208 meters, in the weak turbulence regime, is well described by formulas developed from a Log-Normal distribution. A circuit that calculates real time statistics of fade time is designed, then validated using a sine wave input whose fade time statistics are predetermined. The experimental signal is then tested for stationarity, and the average fade time is measured. A curve fitting is then performed for the experimental data and …

Nominal Molecular Weight Distributions Of Color, Toc, Tthm, Precursors And Acid Strength In A Highly Organic Potable Water Source, Jalil Fouroozi

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

This research investigated the relationships between molecular size and the TOC, TTHM, acid strength and color concentrations present in raw and coagulated water from Lake Washington. Three separate coagulants were utilized for investigation. There were: Al, Fe and Mg. Results indicated that the majority of the TOC, color and TTHM precursors were in the colloidal size range and removed by coagulation. The remaining TTHM precursors are mostly molecular and require a process other than coagulation for removal from the potable water before environmental standards are met.

Design And Analysis Of An Explosive Driven Hydrodynamic Conical Shock Tube, Leonard W. Connell

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

An explosive driven, water filled, conical shock tube was designed and evaluated regarding its ability to amplify a charge weight and to produce hydrodynamic spherical shock waves. The results show that the shock waves in the tube are essentially spherical in nature--with an initial exponential shape, peak pressure attenuation as (1/R)1.13 and the time constant spreading roughly as (R).22. The charge weight was amplified by a factor of 3600 compared to a theoretical amplification of 7770. An estimate of the energy absorbed by the breach plug (which houses the charge) during an explosion was performed. The peak pressure data taken …

A Monte Carlo Approach To Ridge Discriminant Analysis, Lee Wooldridge

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A combined analytical and empirical method to define human performance measures is required for effective automated training. In theory, performance measures can be weighted and combined in a single first order equation upon which an automated training system can track a student's comparative skill level. A form of multivariate discriminant analysis was the statistical technique incorporated into the measurement selection and weighting scheme. (Vreuls and Wooldridge 1977). As with regression analysis, this discriminant technique was subject to debilitating problems such as overfit and undesirable inaccuracies in the coefficients. The author developed and implemented an adjustment to the discriminant function analogous …

The General Purpose Interface Bus, Ernest D. Baker

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The General Purpose Interface Bus, as defined by the IEEE Standard, deals with systems that require digital data to be transferred between a group of instruments. An overview of this standard is presented which summarizes the interface's capabilities, functions and versatility by explaining the basic interface concepts. In addition, a GPIB testing application and a GPIB related design example are presented and investigated.

An Investigation Into The Solution Of Three Dimensional Elastostatic Problems Using The Boundary Integral Technique, David Campbell Aldrich

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The boundary integral technique was implemented in a computer code for the general static analysis of three dimensional elastic solids. The was based on a formulation of the problem in which the governing boundary equation is developed from the known solution to Kelvin's problem, by the application of Betti's reciprocal relationship. Modeling the boundary of the region being analyzed with plane elements and assuming the tractions and displacements constant across these elements leads to a set of simultaneous algebraic equations approximating the boundary integral equation. Numerical techniques are used in the computer code to assemble and solve this set of …

Statistical Fading Of A Plane Optical Wave In Atmospheric Turbulence, John F. O'Hara

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

A formula for the average fade time of the intensity of a plane optical wave traveling through atmospheric turbulence is developed. The model employed involves isotropic, homogeneous statistics using a lognormal distribution for the channel. The analysis is based on the fact that the logarithm of the irradiance is normally distributed and uses the work of S. O. Rice who developed such an expression for a zero mean, Gaussian process. The analysis employs the covariance function and the Taylor frozen turbulence hypothesis which results in an expression for the autocorrelation function.

The Development Of New Filter Functions Based Upon Solutions To Special Cases Of The Sturm-Liouville Equation, Stephen Joseph Chapman

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Two common classes of filter functions in use today, Butterworth functions and Chebyshev functions, are based upon solutions to special cases of the Sturm-Liouville equation. Here, solutions to several other special cases of the Sturm-Liouville equation were used to develop filter functions, and the properties of the resulting filters were examined. The following functions were explored: Chebyshev functions of the second kind, untraspherical functions of the second and third kinds, Hermite functions, and Legendre functions. Filter functions were developed for each of the first five polynomials in each series of functions, and magnitude and phase responses were tabulated and plotted. …

Ecological Responses Of Lake Eola To Urban Runoff, Harvey H. Harper Iii

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Lake Eola is a land-locked lake located in downtown Orlando, Florida. Its surface area is approximately 27.0 acres (11.0 Ha) and water depth is 2 to 3 feet (0.6 to 0.9 meters) near the shore and 22 feet (6.7 meters) toward the center. Periodical water samples were collected from the lake and storm drains for various stormwater events and physiochemical parameters were analyzed to calculated loading rates from nutrients and heavy metals released to Lake Eola. Algal bioassay studies were performed to investigate stormwater impacts on productivity. Periodical water samples were collected from the lake mixed and filtered for limiting …

Bipolar Bit Slice Microprocessors, Mack Duggan Cooley

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this paper is to undertake a survey of state of the art high speed bipolar bit slice microprocessor elements. Three systems are discussed: The 2900 microprocessor family; the 10800 microprocessor family and the 8X02 microcontroller. A description of the microprocessor and microprogram controller elements for each family is presented and an example of the 2900 family is discussed.

Reliability Analysis Of Emergency Telephone System Models, Thomas J. Hobbs

Retrospective Theses and Dissertations

Several alternate systems for use in implementing the 911 emergency system in Orange County, Florida were investigated. The proposed systems were compared with the already existing systems on the basis of reliability, response time, and cost. System reliability was the prime consideration of the study. Flow charts of each system were formulated in order to determine the functions required of equipment and humans. The reliability was then determined by examining the difficulty of the tasks that each was required to perform. Reliability models of the present and proposed systems were constructed. By examining these models and comparing the reliabilities, response …