Mechanical Engineering Commons^™

Measuring Plant-Wide Energy Savings, J. Kelly Kissock, Carl Eger

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper presents a general method for measuring plant-wide industrial energy savings and demonstrates the method using a case study from an actual industrial energy assessment. The method uses regression models to characterize baseline energy use. It takes into account changes in weather and production, and can use sub-metered data or whole plant utility billing data. In addition to calculating overall savings, the method is also able to disaggregate savings into components, which provides additional insight into the effectiveness of the individual savings measures.

Although the method incorporates search techniques and multi-variable least-squares regression, it is easily implemented using data …

High Temperature Heat Exchanger Project: Quarterly Progress Report October 1, 2005 Through December 31, 2005, Anthony Hechanova

Publications (NSTD)

• Liquid Salt Technical Working Group Meeting. The first meeting of the Liquid Salt Technical Working Group was held on October 28, 2005 at the Pratt Whitney Rocketdyne facility in Canoga Park, CA. 20 experts from academia, industry, and national laboratories participated to discuss current state of knowledge and research needs for high temperature liquid salt applications.
• Nuclear Hydrogen Initiative Semi-annual Review. Several participants from the UNLVRF University Consortium gave technical presentations at the NHI Semi-annual Review meeting in Rockville, MD, November 9-10, 2005.
• Quarterly Collaboration Meeting. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas hosted a UNLVRF HTHX Project quarterly meeting December …

Magnetohydrodynamic Simulation Of Electromagnetic Pump In Tc-1, Lillian J. Ratliff

Reactor Campaign (TRP)

The pilot molten lead-bismuth target circuit (TC-1) in university of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) was designed for beam power of 1 MW accelerator driven system (ADS). The TC-1 is a liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) circulation loop. Circulation of the liquid alloy is driven by an annular linear induction pump (ALIP). Experimental measurements of system parameters have yielded a surprisingly low pump efficiency of less than 1%. A numerical study of the pump efficiency is being conducted to determine which operational parameters are responsible for this low efficiency and to give insight into future EM pump design. The numerical study will …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic, Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The research objectives of this project were as follows:

• To generate calibration curves of voltage versus oxygen concentration for the YSZ oxygen sensor system under various temperatures in liquid LBE.
• To determine the sensor characteristics of the YSZ sensor system.
• To determine oxygen dissolving rates in LBE under different temperatures in vitro.
• To study the effects of unwanted electrical conductivity, contributed by the mobility of the electrons at high temperatures, for more accurate oxygen measurement.
• To study alternative and promising oxygen measuring methods.

College Of Engineering Senior Design Competition Fall 2005, University Of Nevada, Las Vegas

Fred and Harriet Cox Senior Design Competition Projects

Part of every UNLV engineering student’s academic experience, the senior design project stimulates engineering innovation and entrepreneurship. Each student in their senior year chooses, plans, designs and prototypes a product in this required element of the curriculum. A capstone to the student’s educational career, the senior design project encourages the student to use everything learned in the engineering program to create a practical, real world solution to an engineering challenge.

The senior design competition helps to focus the senior students in increasing the quality and potential for commercial application for their design projects. Judges from local industry evaluate the projects …

High Temperature Heat Exchanger Project: Quarterly Progress Report July 1, 2005 Through September 30, 2005, Anthony Hechanova

Publications (NSTD)

Quarterly Collaboration Meeting. The University of California, Berkeley, hosted a UNLVRF HTHX Project quarterly meeting on September 12. The purpose of the meeting was to promote collaboration and communication among the UNLV Research Foundation partners. Collaborators discussed their research program plan and provided an update on their progress. The next meeting will be in December in Las Vegas, NV hosted by UNLV.

High Temperature Heat Exchanger Project: Quarterly Progress Report April 1, 2005 Through June 30, 2005, Anthony Hechanova

Publications (NSTD)

Quarterly Collaboration Meeting. General Atomics hosted a UNLVRF HTHX Project quarterly meeting on June 5 in San Diego, California. The purpose of the meeting was to promote collaboration and communication among the UNLV Research Foundation partners. Collaborators had the opportunity to discuss their research program plan and update their progress. The next meeting will be in September in Berkeley hosted by UC Berkeley.

HTHX Computational Design (UNLV). Work on optimizing the ceramic offset strip in compact HTHX design through parametric studies was performed and completed. A simple single channel model was used to perform parametric studies on dimensions and flow …

Mercury Experience And Capabilities, University Of North Dakota. Energy And Environmental Research Center

EERC Brochures and Fact Sheets

Brochure about the Energy & Environmental Research Center’s (EERC’s) mercury research capabilities. Describes the EERC facilities and mercury testing technology. [This item is an outdated or superseded version and retained for historical purposes only. It may no longer reflect current information, policies, or practices.]

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic: Quarterly Progress Report (Jan. 01 – March. 31, 2005), Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

We performed data analysis on the data collected from LANL test loop. One student was been hired to perform the data analysis. A new proposal is submitted to TRP program. We have one paper accepted for publication in International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, and another paper accepted for oral presentation by IEEE International Symposium of Circuits and Systems for the track Chemical Sensors. A manuscript regarding to the RGA analysis for the calibration of oxygen sensor is on the way.

Quantifying Savings From Improved Boiler Operation, Kevin Carpenter, J. Kelly Kissock

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

On/off operation and excess combustion air reduce boiler energy efficiency. This paper presents methods to quantify energy savings from switching to modulation control mode and reducing excess air in natural gas fired boilers.

The methods include calculation of combustion temperature, calculation of the relationship between internal convection coefficient and gas flow rate, and calculation of overall heat transfer assuming a parallel-flow heat exchanger model. The method for estimating savings from changing from on/off to modulation control accounts for purge and drift losses through the boiler and the improved heat transfer within the boiler due to the reduced combustion gas flow …

Ridding Ships' Ballast Water Of Microorganisms, Fred C. Dobbs, Andrew Rogerson

OES Faculty Publications

( First paragraph) A complex assemblage of microorganisms exists in nearly every aquatic system on earth. In lakes and oceans, every milliliter of water contains about 10² protists (single-celled eukaryotes), 10⁶ bacteria, and 10⁷–10⁹ viruses. Therefore, billions of microorganisms inevitably enter ships’ ballast tanks during normal operations. It has been argued that microorganisms must certainly be frequent invaders of coastal ecosystems, given the high densities of bacteria and viruses in ballast water—10⁸ and 10⁹ organisms per liter, respectively (1)—their potentially high reproductive rates, broad tolerances to physical conditions, and ability to form resting …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic, Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

Although liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) is a good candidate for the coolant that can be employed in a subcritical transmutation blanket, it is known to be very corrosive to stainless steel, the material used in the containment structure. To mitigate this problem, trace levels of oxygen can be introduced into the system, causing the formation of a protective oxide layer at the interface between the LBE and steel. The proper formation of this oxide layer largely depends on the accurate measurement and subsequent control of the oxygen concentration in liquid LBE.

Yttria Stabilized Zirconia (YSZ) oxygen sensors, using molten bismuth …

Lean Energy Analysis: Identifying, Discovering And Tracking Energy Savings Potential, J. Kelly Kissock, John Seryak

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Energy in manufacturing facilities is used for direct production of goods, space conditioning, and general facility support such as lighting. This paper presents a methodology, called lean energy analysis, LEA, for graphically and statistically analyzing plant energy use in terms of these major end uses.

The LEA methodology uses as few as 60 easily obtainable data points. Multivariable change-point models of electricity and natural gas use as functions of outdoor air temperature and production data are developed. The statistical models are used to subdivide plant energy use into facility, space-conditioning and production-related components.

These breakdowns suggest the savings potential from …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic: Quarterly Progress Report (July 1 – Sept. 30, 2004), Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

Dr. Jiang Ma and Mr. Xiaolong Wu worked in LANL between July 1 and Sept. 15 to conduct the experiment. Test of the corrosion of different materials in LBE was performed. The influence of the process of gas introduction to the LBE was studied. Data analysis work was performed based on accumulated data. In the same time, progress has been made in the simulation for transport in oxygen mixing, and one paper was presented in a conference. Another paper was composed and submitted to IEEE International Symposium of Circuits and Systems for the track Chemical Sensors. Preparation of a paper …

Design And Simulation Of An Induction Skull Melting System, Taide Tan

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Incorporating volatile actinides, mainly americium into a metallic fuel pin (MFP) has been a serious problem due to americium’s high vapor pressure. An Induction Skull Melting (ISM) system was identified by Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) as a potential furnace design to cast MFPs. Through the development of the ISM system, the nuclear waste feedstock can be melted and injected into the mold for fabricating MFPs in the advanced nuclear fuel cycles. The main phenomena in this system include: induction melting process, casting process and mass transfer process of americium. Issues related to ISM system design for casting MFPs are discussed …

Use Of Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy For Stress-Strain Measurements, Ajit K. Roy

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The purpose of this collaborative research project involving the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV) and Idaho State University (ISU) is to evaluate the feasibility of determining residual stresses of welded, bent (three-point-bend), and cold-worked engineering materials using a new nondestructive technique based on positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS). The proposed technique is to use γ-rays from a small MeV electron linear accelerator (Linac) to generate positrons inside the test sample via 2 pair production. This method can be used for materials characterization and investigation of defects in thick samples that usually cannot be accomplished by conventional positron technique or other …

Optimisation Of Heat Transfer And Fluid Flow In The Cooling Of Building Integrated Photovoltaic Facades., Eoin Patrick Hodge

Theses

The aim of this research was to explore the effects of mature and developing technologies from aeronautical industries such as impingement and film cooling, and electronic cooling techniques, in the setting up of different laminar and turbulent flow regimes on PV cooling duct heat transfer rates, with air flow as that brought about with natural buoyancy effects in a vertical building facade. The problem of efficiency losses in PV panels, due to overheating, is one of the factors restricting the development and use of this renewable power source. PV panels can experience very high temperatures, due to the heat input …

Estimating Energy Savings In Compressed Air Systems, Chris Schmidt, J. Kelly Kissock

Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering Faculty Publications

Compressed air is typically one of the most expensive utilities in an industrial facility. As a result, potential savings opportunities are aggressively sought out and identified. Once identified, projected energy savings must be calculated in order to justify the cost of implementing the savings opportunity. It is important to calculate projected energy and cost savings as accurately as possible. Unfortunately, savings are frequently overestimated because the methods used to estimate savings neglect to consider important factors such as compressor control and type, storage, and multiple compressor operation.

In this paper, a methodology is presented for modeling air compressor performance and …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic, Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu, Woosoon Yim

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

Lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) is a candidate as a spallation target in sub-critical transmutation systems and as a coolant in nuclear programs. One of the primary concerns with LBE systems is the corrosion of stainless steel, the primary structural material used in nuclear systems. To mitigate this problem, trace levels of oxygen can be introduced into the system, causing the formation of a protective oxide layer at the interface between the LBE and steel. To protect the steel components, this oxide layer must be properly maintained. However, too much oxygen will produce unwanted oxide precipitation within the coolant and elsewhere in …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic: Quarterly Progress Report (Aug. 01 – Oct. 31, 2003), Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The experimental setup designed and manufactured in UNLV was shipped to LANL in early Aug. One student has been working in LANL to conduct the experiment since then. In the meantime, one new Ph. D. student has started to run the simulation for transport in oxygen mixing. In Oct., a professional has been hired to work in both experimental and the theoretical studies pertaining to the proposed work.

Use Of Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy For Stress-Strain Measurements: Quarterly Progress Report (June 01 – August 31, 2003), Ajit K. Roy

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The purpose of this collaborative research project involving the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), the Idaho State University (ISU), and the Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL) is to evaluate the feasibility of determining residual stresses in cold-worked, plastically-deformed (bent), and welded materials using a nondestructive method based on positron annihilation spectroscopy (PAS). This technique uses γ-rays from a small MeV electron Linac to generate positrons inside the sample via pair production. This method is known to have capabilities of characterizing defects in thick specimens that could not be accomplished by conventional positron technique or other nondestructive methods. The generated …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic: Quarterly Progress Report (May. 01 – July 31, 2003), Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu, Woosoon Yim

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The report for Y01 has been prepared and submitted. The final part of our apparatus, the N3Si4 stirrer, was received by the end of May. The assembly of the apparatus has almost been completed. The control plan for our apparatus has been revised. To run FLUENT, a high-end Unix-based Sun workstation has been acquired. Plan has been made to ship our apparatus to LANL.

Using Satellite Imagery To Evaluate The Impact Of Urban Forest On Summertime Residential Electricity Consumption In Terre Haute, Indiana, Usa, James R. Boulton

All-Inclusive List of Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Urban areas are horne to a large portion of the population of the United States and also a significant portion ofthe nation's forest resource. This urban forest contributes to the richness of the urban lifestyle in many ways, including aesthetic improvements, cleaning and protecting air, land, and water resources, and reducing the urban heat island effect. This thesis studies the degree to which energy reduction attributable to the urban forest can be determined using remotely sensed data. Results showed a slight inverse relationship between urban forest density and energy usage, meaning that as the density of trees increases there is …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic: Quarterly Progress Report (Feb. 01 – Apr. 30, 2003), Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu, Woosoon Yim

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

We received most of the components, everything except the customized and outsourced stirrer, for the new apparatus for oxygen measurement/calibration. Thus far, most of the machining work has been completed. The LaveView module used for the data collection and the control of the apparatus has been tested. 2-D simulation work has been performed using FEMLAB.

Use Of Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy For Stress-Strain Measurements, Ajit K. Roy

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The purpose of this collaborative research project involving the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) and the Idaho State University (ISU) is to evaluate the feasibility of determining residual stresses of welded, bent (three-point-bend), and cold-worked engineering materials using a new nondestructive technique based on positron annihilation spectroscopy. The proposed technique is to use x-rays from a small MeV electron Linac to generate positrons inside the sample via pair production. This method can be used for materials characterization and investigation of defects in thick samples that could not be accomplished by conventional positron technique or other nondestructive methods. The data …

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic: Quarterly Progress Report (Nov. 01 – Jan. 31, 2002), Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu, Woosoon Yim

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

The design of the new apparatus for oxygen measurement/calibration has been completed. This new apparatus shall be of great importance for the UNLV researchers to conduct the research work in the campus.

Developing A Sensing System For The Measurement Of Oxygen Concentration In Liquid Pb-Bi Eutectic, Yingtao Jiang, Bingmei Fu, Woosoon Yim

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

Lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) is a candidate as a spallation target in sub-critical transmutation systems and as a coolant in nuclear programs. One of the primary concerns with LBE systems is the corrosion of stainless steel, the primary structural material used in nuclear systems. To mitigate this problem, trace levels of oxygen can be introduced into the system, causing the formation of a protective oxide layer at the interface between the LBE and steel. To protect the steel components, this oxide layer must be properly maintained. However, too much oxygen will produce unwanted oxide precipitation within the coolant and elsewhere in …

Effects Of Environmental Variables And Stress Concentration On Target Materials, Sudheer Sama

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

This paper presents a brief summary on stress corrosion cracking (SCC) behavior of alloy HT 9. The susceptibility of this alloy to SCC was evaluated by using constant load and slow strain rate test techniques in neutral and acidic solutions at ambient temperature and 90°C. A proof ring was used to apply tensile load to the smooth specimen for 30 days in constant load testing. In slow strain rate testing, the specimen was continuously strained in tension at a rate of 3.3 × 10^-6 sec^-1 until fracture.

Effects Of Environmental Variables And Stress Concentration On Cracking Of Spallation Target Materials, Ajit K. Roy, Ramprashad Prabhakaran, Mohammad K. Hossain

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

This paper presents the results of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) studies of two martensitic target materials, namely Alloy EP-823 and Type 422 stainless steel. The susceptibility to SCC was evaluated by using constantload and slow-strain-rate (SSR) test techniques in neutral (pH: 6-7) and acidic (pH: 2-3) aqueous solutions at ambient temperature and 90^oC. A proof ring was used to apply tensile load to the smooth cylindrical specimen for 30 days in constant-load testing. For SSR testing, the specimen was strained in tension until fracture at a strain rate of 3.3 x 10^-6 sec^-1.

Stress Corrosion Cracking Of Type 422 Stainless Steel, Ramprashad Prabhakaran

Transmutation Sciences Materials (TRP)

This paper presents the results of SCC tests of quenched and tempered martensitic Type 422 SS in neutral and acidic aqueous environments at ambient temperature and 90^oC.The susceptibility of smooth and notched tensile specimens to SCC was evaluated by using constant load (CL) and slow strain rate (SSR) test methods. During CL testing, a calibrated proof ring was used to apply a constant load to the test specimen. The magnitude of the applied stress was based on ambient temperature yield strength of the material. On the contrary, the test specimen during SSR testing was continuously strained in tension …