Engineering Commons^™

Using Bim To Increase The Efficiency Of Energy-Driven Retrofitting Projects, Anne Grego, Shannon Chance, Barry Mcauley

Conference Papers

The building sector is responsible for nearly 40% of global energy consumption. Many existing buildings have poor thermal insulation and low energy performance, hindering sustainability goals. Energy-driven building retrofitting could address this issue and implementing Building Information Modelling (BIM) in retrofitting can reduce process time, costs, and waste associated with such undertakings. Yet, there is a lack of research and insufficient guidance for implementing BIM in energy-driven retrofitting. A BIM framework is presented to enhance decision-making processes during retrofitting. The aims of this study were to (1) identify BIM technologies and methodologies that could address existing barriers and improve efficiency …

Morton-Ordered Gpu Lattice Boltzmann Cfd Simulations With Application To Blood Flow, Gerald Gallagher, Fergal J. Boyle

Conference Papers

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) is routinely used for numerically predicting cardiovascular-system medical device fluid flows. Most CFD simulations ignore the suspended cellular phases of blood due to computational constraints, which negatively affects simulation accuracy. A graphics processing unit (GPU) lattice Boltzmann-immersed boundary (LB-IB) CFD software package capable of accurately modelling blood flow is in development by the authors, focusing on the behaviour of plasma and stomatocyte, discocyte and echinocyte red blood cells during flow. Optimised memory ordering and layout schemes yield significant efficiency improvements for LB GPU simulations. In this work, comparisons of row-major-ordered Structure of Arrays (SoA) and Collected …

Development & Validation Of A Piv System For Obtaining Data From A Uasb Reactor, Camila D' Bastiani, Gerald Gallagher, David Kennedy, Anthony Reynolds

Conference Papers

Anaerobic digestion processes can generate energy in the form of biogas while treating organic wastewater. The efficiency of the treatment, and thus the generation of biogas, is closely linked to the type and design of the reactor, and the technology used. Granular anaerobic digestion technology offers advantages such as a higher loading rate and reduction of the space needed. However, the hydrodynamics inside this type of reactor can be complex due to the presence of solids (granules) and gas (biogas) phases along with the liquid phase (wastewater). This is one of the reasons why the study and optimization of reactors …

Multiphase Cfd Modelling And Piv Validation Of A Uasb Reactor, Camila D' Bastiani, Jéferson Luis Alba, Gabriel Tomazzoni Mazzarotto, Severino Rodrigues De Farias Neto, Lademir Luiz Beal, Anthony Reynolds, David Kennedy

Conference Papers

Upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactors stand out as a feasible option for treating wastewaters while generating a valuable amount of biogas. It is known that the efficiency of UASB reactors is closely linked to its hydrodynamics. Therefore, understanding the role of each phase (solids, liquid and gas) in the mixing conditions inside the reactor and having validated numerical models for predicting the flow behavior has become fundamental for the design and optimization of UASB reactors. In this context this work aims to develop and validate a three phase Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model of an UASB reactor. Eulerian-Eulerian laminar …

Economic Appraisal Of Hybrid Solar-Biomass Thermophotovoltaic Power Generation, C. M. Iftekhar Hussain Cmih, Aidan Duffy, Brian Norton

Conference Papers

The techno-economic parameters that influence the commercial deployment of hybrid thermophotovoltaic (TPV) solar power generation are determined using annual system simulations. It has been found that a TPV cell price of E5/cm2 or less together with a TPV operating temperature under 800°C is required for a hybrid solar–biomass TPV power plant to be economically competitive with the state-of-the-art hybrid solar–biomass Rankine cycle power plants.

Hybrid-Cooled Data Center Server Layout Optimization For Air-Side Heat Recovery, Assel Sakanova, Sajad Alimohammadi, Jaakko Mcevody, Tim Persoons

Conference Papers

The rapid increase in energy demand for data center requires improved cooling techniques. This study investigates, numerically and experimentally, the energy efficiency optimization based on server level air flows and also identifies the potential for waste heat recovery from the air stream for a hybrid air/liquid cooled server. Multi-objective genetic algorithm and entropy generation minimization are chosen as tools to address the multiple objectives involved in the problem and examine the cooling performance and waste heat recovery potential. Selected experimental measurements have successfully validated the CFD simulation model.

Benchmarking The Application Of Detached Eddy Simulation Techniques In Data Center Server Flow Modelling Using Stereoscopic Particle Image Velocimetry, Sajad Alimohammadi, Jaakko Mcevody, Yan Delauré, Tim Persoons

Conference Papers

The evolution and new trends in low-cost cloud computing services and growing data analysis loads on data centers keep increasing the power density of the servers as well as the global electricity consumption of data centers. The server component arrangement is mainly bounded by compactness of the device and can be somewhat overlooked. Both optical visualization and computational simulation techniques can be utilized to quantify complex turbulent flow fields inside the servers, and thus optimize thermal flows. The primary stage of a comprehensive research to enhance data center server cooling performance and energy efficiency is reported on here. A full-scale …

Task Complexity, And Operators’ Capabilities As Predictor Of Human Error: Modeling Framework And An Example Of Application, Maria Chiara Leva, Alberto Caimo, R. Duane, Micaela Demichela, Lorenzo Comberti

Conference Papers

This paper presents the initial framework adopted to assess human error in assembly tasks at a large manufacturing company in Ireland. The model to characterize and predict human error presented in this paper is linked conceptually to the model introduced by Rasch (1980), where the probability of a specified outcome is modelled as a logistic function of the difference between the person capacity and item difficulty. The model needs to be modified to take into account an outcome that is not dichotomous and feed into the interaction between two macro factors: (a) Task complexity: that sum-marises all factors contributing to …

Polar Exploration (University Focus) Research Into Smart Materials Continues At The University Of Dublin With The Development Of Methods To Record And Present Data To Demonstrate The Magnetorheological Effect When A Magnetic Field Is Applied To A Mr Elastomer Sample, Dave Gorman, Niall Murphy, Ray Ekins

Conference Papers

Research into methods to record and present data to demonstrate the Magnetorheological effect when a magnetic field is applied to a Magnetorheological Elastomer sample. By Dave Gorman, Niall Murphy and Ray Ekins, Technological University Dublin, Republic of Ireland A Magnetorheological Elastomer (MRE) is an example of a smart material as it undergoes a change in its physical properties when in the presece of an external magnetic field. This change in properties is known as the Magnetorheological (MR) effect and the manner in which it is achieved and reported, is of critical importance to the future development of MRE-based components. To …

Compact Humidity Sensor Based On A Multi-Layer Agarose Hydrogel Coated Silica Microsphere Resonator, Arun Mallik, Yuliya Semenova, Vishnu Kavungal, Dejun Liu

Conference Papers

In this paper we report on a novel approach to implementing a compact humidity sensor that utilizes whispering gallery mode (WGM) phenomena in a silica microsphere coated with Agarose hydrogel. The spectral positions of the WGM resonances for such a sensor depend strongly on the refractive index and thickness of the coating. The WGM’s spectral shift occurs due to adsorption/desorption of the water vapor in response to changes in ambient humidity and also due to the corresponding changes of the coating thickness. We experimentally investigated the WGMs spectral shift for a 100 μm diameter silica microsphere coated with Agarose hydrogel …

Precise Flow-Control Using Photo-Actuated Hydrogel Valves And Pid-Controlled Led Actuation, Colm Delaney, Peter Mccluskey, Simon Coleman, Jeff Whyte, Nigel Kent, Dermot Diamond

Conference Papers

Herein we demonstrate remarkable control of flow within fluidic channels using photo-actuated hydrogel valves. By polymerizing the valves in situ it has been possible to create highlyreproducible valves. Through the use of an LED platform and a PID algorithm we have generated extremely accurate flow control and created prototype devices to document their potential application within the microfluidics field.

High Sensitivity Refractometer Based On Reflective Smf-Small Diameter No Core Fiber Structure, Guorui Zhou, Qiang Qu, Rahul Kumar, Wai Pang Ng, Hao Liu, Longfei Niu, Nageswara Lalam, Xiaodong Yuan, Yuliya Semenova

Conference Papers

A high sensitivity refractive index sensor based on a single mode-small diameter no core fiber structure is proposed. In this structure, a small diameter no core fiber (SDNCF) used as a sensor probe, was fusion spliced to the end face of a traditional single mode fiber (SMF) and the end face of the SDNCF was coated with a thin film of gold to provide reflective light. The influence of SDNCF diameter and length on the refractive index sensitivity of the sensor has been investigated by both simulations and experiments, where results show that the diameter of SDNCF has significant influence. …

The Feasibility Of Utilising Compressed Natural Gas As Part Of A Systematic Approach To Establishing The Necessary Groundwork For The Hydrogen Based Transport Economy, James Brunton, John Howlett, David Kennedy

Conference Papers

One key objective for vehicle manufacturers is to develop technology and infrastructure to facilitate the progression from combustion to conversion by the year 2050. In the short to medium term however, the combustion of fossil fuels such as petrol and diesel, coupled with advanced transmission innovations and emission control technology that are governed by strict Euro VI regulations appears to be the main path forward for the transport sector and the environment. This paper presents the feasibility of utilising the developing compressed natural gas network capabilities as part of a systematic approach to establishing the necessary groundwork for a hydrogen …

Investigation Of Humidity And Temperature Response Of A Silica Gel Coated Microfiber Coupler, Yuliya Semenova, Gerald Farrell, Dejun Liu

Conference Papers

The humidity and temperature responses of a microfiber coupler (MFC) coated with silica gel are investigated. Two MFC structures with different waist diameters of 2.5 and 3.5 μm were fabricated by fusing and tapering two single-mode fibers using a microheater brushing technique. The influences of the coating thickness and tapered waist diameter on the sensing performance are analyzed. For the proposed sensor with a waist diameter of 2.5 μm and 8-layers thick coating, the change in the relative humidity (RH) results in an exponential blueshift with a maximum sensitivity of 1.6 nm/% RH in the range from 70 to 86% …

Non-Intrusive Second Law Performance Evaluation Of A Domestic Freezer, Jim Mcgovern, S. Oladunjoye

Conference Papers

This paper describes non-intrusive performance testing and second law, exergy-based, performance evaluation of a small, contemporary domestic freezer that used R600a refrigerant. The methodology presented is associated with logging of temperatures and the instantaneous power consumption. It gives a ‘second law of thermodynamics’ perspective on operating performance by providing rational efficiency values and by localizing and quantifying the instantaneous exergy destruction rates. This approach is compared to a more conventional ‘first law’ energy analysis. Suggestions are made for the standardization of such an approach in order to enhance the sustainability of domestic freezers. Keywords: Domestic freezer, Performance testing, Performance evaluation, …

Learning To Learn: Embedding Peer Support As A Core Learning Skill At Third Level, Gerard Ryder, Philip Russell

Conference Papers

This paper presents an overview of the Peer Learning Support Programme which has been developed by Mechanical Engineering staff and librarians at the Institute of Technology Tallaght in support of the Institute's Learning to Learn at Third Level module.

Available Work Rate Of A Reversible System Bounded By Constant Thermal Resistances Linked To Isothermal Reservoirs, Jim Mcgovern

Conference Papers

Exergy analysis is based on the concept of an idealized, all-enclosing reference environment that has infinite heat capacity and thermal conductivity, and is in equilibrium. The actual surroundings of a real plant such as a heat engine, a heat pump or a refrigerator may differ significantly from the ideal. First law performance parameters and second law rational efficiency are examined. The concepts of finite time thermodynamics are applied in an attempt to refine the concept of T0, the environmental reference temperature, thereby making exergy analysis more reflective of reality.

Refractive Index Sensor Based On A Silica Microsphere Whispering Gallery Mode Resonator, Arun Mallik, Qiang Wu, Gerald Farrell, Yuliya Semenova

Conference Papers

No abstract provided.

Photonic Crystal Fibre Wgm Resonators For Magnetic Field Sensing, Aseel Mahmood, Vishnu Kavungal, Yuliya Semenova, S. S. Ahmed

Conference Papers

Whispering gallery mode (WGM) micro-resonators are remarkable optical devices whose small modevolumes and high Q-factors make them attractive for a wide range of applications such as filters, lasers, modulators and sensors [1]. WGMs can be excited in dielectric structures with circular symmetry, such as microspheres, micro-disks, and optical fibres, and can be imagined as closed-trajectory rays confined within the cavity by almost total reflections from the curved surface of the resonator. The spectral positions of the WGM resonances are highly sensitive to the geometrical dimensions of the resonator and refractive indices of both the resonator itself and its surrounding medium …

A Collagen‐Glycosaminoglycan‐Fibrin Scaffold For Heart Valve Tissue Engineering Applications, Claire Brougham, Stefan Jockenhoevel, Thomas Flanagan, Fergal O'Brien

Conference Papers

The field of heart valve biology and tissue engineering a heart valve continue to expand. The presentatio ns at this meeting reflect the advances made in both areas due to the multi-disciplinary approach taken by many laboratories.

Sustainable Business Development: An Irish Perspective, Tony Kealy

Conference Papers

This research investigates the current status of sustainable business development practises in Ireland using qualitative analysis on data obtained from semi-structured interviews. The thirteen interviewees were chosen to represent a wide spectrum of influential organisations in Irish society and included private businesses, charity organisations, faith-based organisations, farmer associations, and government representatives. Analysis of the findings confirmed that the three well established key elements that must be considered if businesses are to be developed in a sustainable way, namely Profit, People, and Planet are still valid. However, this research also found that there were other elements important for developing sustainable business. …

Stock Aggregation Model And Virtual Archetype For Large Scale Retrofit Modelling Of Local Authority Housing In Ireland, James Pittam, Paul D. O’Sullivan, Garrett O’Sullivan

Conference Papers

Developing representative archetypes using a bottom up approach for stock modelling is an excellent tool for evaluating the overall performance of the building stock; however it requires detailed analysis of the various building types. Currently there is no detailed housing data base for Local Authority housing in Cork City, Ireland that catalogues the housing stocks geometric properties and thermal characteristics for each typology. This study details a methodology to catalogue the LAH stock and build a detailed housing data base. The GIS web based mapping application Google Street View is used to identify 20 house typologies across 36 LAH developments; …

Merging Creative Design And Cad Learning Activities In A Product Design Programme, Pearl O'Rourke, Colm O'Kane, Leslie Smith, Michael Ring

Conference Papers

Traditional learning and teaching methods for creativity differ from those used in a scientific context. Although the creative process can benefit from a certain level of prescription and structural constraint - with time allocated to research, problem definition, conceptualisation and idea development - flexibility and fluidity are necessary for creative innovation. In contrast, the more linear and rigid pedagogies associated with science and engineering education facilitate efficient learning of subjects such as those based on software packages, manufacturing and materials theory or mechanics. This paper describes the development of a project which aims to establish constructive links between the learning …

Do Middle Managers Contribute To Their Organisation's Strategy?, Tony Kealy

Conference Papers

This paper presents an empirical study on the contribution made by middle managers to the development of strategy in an organisation. The data was collected using semi-structured interviews with four managers in randomly-chosen companies. Two of the participant managers held senior management positions while the other two held middle manager positions. The data was analysed using a qualitative approach. Previous studies in this field were found to be wide and varied. An early study by Mintzberg (1978) found that strategy mainly forms from emergent influences at middle and lower levels of the organisation, as well as from deliberate influences emanating …

Small-Scale Wind Turbines: An Appraisal, Tony Kealy

Conference Papers

This research seeks to evaluate the economic benefits to be gained by installing a small-scale wind turbine for a customer with a three-phase electrical supply requirement. The evidence for the claims made in this paper is obtained by using actual data obtained from the installed equipment over a three year period. The objective is to accurately appraise the financial investment using real data. There appears to be limited studies conducted into this type of research, possibly because the renewable energy sector is in the infancy stage in the host country, Ireland. There are some wind energy installations with financial appraisal …

Modification Of Luas Heating And Ventilation Systems To Reduce Energy Consumption, Eogan Sweeney, James Brunton

Conference Papers

Luas is a state of the art light rail system operating in Dublin Ireland. Being electrically powered, energy is a major operating cost for Luas. One component of rolling stock identified by this research that consumes a disproportional amount of energy is that of the heating and ventilation systems. The heating and ventilation systems fitted to Luas vehicles consume as much as 60% of total vehicle power, and under certain conditions can consume more than that of the traction motors. This paper explores solutions to reducing the energy consumption of Luas heating and ventilation systems. The identified software modifications and …

A Simulation Analysis Of Photovoltaic Ac Module Integrated Converters In Parallel, Under Controlled Edge Shading Conditions, Lynette O'Callaghan, Mick Mckeever, Brian Norton

Conference Papers

A DC and AC power simulation comparison of: a Photovoltaic (PV) array with a modular, parallel, AC converter configuration; and a series, string configuration with a central AC converter, is presented. The systems are simulated using a comprehensive range of edge shading scenarios and irradiance conditions. Power control and transformation circuitry must be designed for shade and module mismatch tolerance to prevent over-proportional power to shade losses, as average losses from Building Integrated PV (BIPV) systems are approximately 20 to 25%, due to shade, mismatch, differences in orientation and inclination, and temperature effects. 59.4% of the simulations showed gains in …

Development Of A Robotic Platform For Upper Limb Rehabilitation, Stephen Curran, Nigel Kent, David Kennedy, James Conlon

Conference Papers

The aim of this project is to develop a rehabilitation robot intended for use in a non-specialised or domestic setting. Robots have been shown to have a positive effect on limb rehabilitation and developing rehabilitation robots for use outside of specialist rehabilitation centres could be beneficial in terms of access to, intensity and cost of treatment. The device is intended for the rehabilitation of the shoulder/elbow region of the upper limbs. The design requirements for such a device mean that it must be low cost, portable, robust and have a detailed focus on safety. Other areas of interest pertaining to …

Investigating Polymer-Tool Steel Interfaces To Predict The Work Of Adhesion For Demoulding Force Optimisation, Kevin Delaney, David Kennedy, Giuliano Bissacco

Conference Papers

Demoulding parts from replication tools is a critical stage of replication processes such as injection moulding and hot embossing. This challenge increases as part size decreases since components and associated replication cores become more fragile and liable to damage. Understanding interfacial characteristics between a polymer and the tool surface is critical to optimise the demoulding of such parts from replication tools. The strength of the polymer-tool interaction is characterised by the adhesion energy and is specific for a particular polymer-tool pair. It’s magnitude depends upon the tool material, the chemical structure of the polymer, the processing conditions and the surface …

Inverted Pendulum Swing Up Controller, David Kennedy, James Conlon

Conference Papers

The inverted pendulum is a classic control problem. The system is open – loop unstable and continuously wants to reach equilibrium by falling over. The system must be stabilised by means of feedback. The developed inverted pendulum system is shown in Figure 1.

In order to balance the pendulum in the inverted position the pivot must be moved continuously to correct the falling pendulum. This is similar to trying to vertically balance a broom on your hand. This interesting control problem is fundamentally the same as those involved in rocket or missile propulsion. The rocket has to balance on its …