Heat Transfer, Combustion Commons^™

Networked Microgrid Optimization And Energy Management, Robert S. Jane

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Military vehicles possess attributes consistent with a microgrid, containing electrical energy generation, storage, government furnished equipment (GFE), and the ability to share these capabilities via interconnection. Many military vehicles have significant energy storage capacity to satisfy silent watch requirements, making them particularly well-suited to share their energy storage capabilities with stationary microgrids for more efficient energy management. Further, the energy generation capacity and the fuel consumption rate of the vehicles are comparable to standard diesel generators, for certain scenarios, the use of the vehicles could result in more efficient operation. Energy management of a microgrid is an open area of …

Pyrolysis Of Fiber-Plastic Waste Blends, Shreyas Kolapkar

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The main objective of this work is to investigate fast pyrolysis of fiber and plastic feedstocks in order to understand the synergistic effect from their co-pyrolysis. In this on-going work, fiber, plastic and their blend are characterized and pyrolysis oil is produced from them in the fast batch pyrolysis reactor. Based on a heat transfer model it is shown that results of oil produced from batch reactor will be applicable to the continuous paddle reactor. From feedstock characterization, chlorine was observed particularly in the plastic feedstock. Thus, chlorine removal method using torrefaction and high shear mixing was implemented and was …

Investigation On The Potential Of A Co2 Capture System, Downstream Of The Aftertreatment System For A Heavy-Duty Engine Application, Murchana Pathak

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The transportation sector accounts for the second largest source of CO₂ emissions after power generation. New Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFE) regulations are focusing on improving energy through reduced fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. This work investigates the potential of a CO₂ capture system downstream of an aftertreatment system for a heavy-duty engine application. Amine absorption has been described as one of the most effective ways to capture CO₂ from the exhaust for point sources. Therefore, using thermal-swing absorption process with potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) as the absorbent liquid, a process was analyzed …

A New Technique To Determine Accommodation Coefficients Of Cryogenic Propellants, Kishan Bellur

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The control of propellant boil-off is essential in long-term space missions. However, a clear understanding of cryogenic propellant phase change and the values of accommodation coefficients are lacking. To that effect, a new method to determine accommodation coefficients using a combination of neutron imaging, thin film evaporation modeling and CFD modeling has been established. Phase change experiments were conducted in the BT-2 Neutron Imaging Facility at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) by introducing cryogenic vapor (H2 and CH4) at a set pressure into Al6061 and SS316L test cells placed inside a 70mm cryostat. Condensation is achieved by …

Experimental And Computational Investigation Of Dual Fuel Diesel- Natural Gas Rcci Combustion In A Heavy-Duty Diesel Engine, Mufaddel Dahodwala

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Among the various alternative fuels, natural gas is considered as a leading candidate for heavy-duty applications due to its availability and applicability in conventional internal combustion diesel engines. Compared to their diesel counterparts natural gas fueled spark-ignited engines have a lower power density, reduced low-end torque capability, limited altitude performance, and ammonia emissions downstream of the three-way catalyst. The dual fuel diesel/natural gas engine does not suffer with the performance limitations of the spark-ignited concept due to the flexibility of switching between different fueling modes. Considerable research has already been conducted to understand the combustion behavior of dual fuel diesel/natural …

Experimental Investigation Of Impinged Droplet Dynamics, Nitisha Ahuja

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The fuel spray wall interaction phenomenon plays an essential role in determining the emissions and performance of an internal combustion engine. The investigation of single droplet wall interaction is crucial to understanding of a spray wall impingement process. This report is a compilation of the experimental work done to understand the droplet impingement characteristics, through optical diagnostics and temperature measurement. Different fuels and different surface under ambient and elevated temperature conditions are used for these tests, with two objectives: Development of a common depositionsplashing criteria; and Understanding droplet post impingement dynamics variation with factors like: Weber number (ratio of inertia …

An Experimental And Computational Study Of Fuel Spray Interaction: Fundamentals And Engine Applications, Le Zhao

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

An efficient spray injection results in better vaporization and air-fuel mixing, leading to combustion stability and reduction of emissions in the internal combustion (IC) engines. The impingement of liquid fuels on chamber wall or piston surface in IC engines is a common phenomenon and fuel film formed in the spray-piston or cylinder wall impingement plays a critical role in engine performance and emissions. Therefore, the study of the spray impingement on the chamber wall or position surface is necessary.

To understand the spray-wall interaction, a single droplet impingement on a solid surface with different conditions was first examined. The droplet-wall …

Spray And Combustion Studies Of High Reactivity Gasoline In Comparison To Diesel Under Advanced Compression Ignition Engine Conditions, Meng Tang

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Gasoline compression ignition (GCI) technology has demonstrated great potentials in improving fuel economy and reducing engine-out NO_x and particulate matter emissions. Development and application of the GCI technology on multi-cylinder engines require both fundamental understandings of the gasoline spray combustion characteristics and accurate numerical tools. Due to the large differences in the thermo-physical and the chemical properties between gasoline and diesel range fuels, differences in the spray combustion characteristics between gasoline and diesel is expected. Reports on the gasoline spray combustion characteristics under conditions relevant to medium to heavy-duty engines are scarce and this dissertation aims to fill in …

Thermomagnetic Convective Cooling Of Hall Effect Thruster, Elizabeth M. Vanheusden

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This work proposes and shows that thermomagnetic convection could be used in zero gravity to cool components of a Hall-effect thruster. A ferrofluid cavity was develop in the thermal and geometric model of a Hall-effect thruster. Simulations show that with an Ionic Liquid Ferrofluid after two minutes of thruster operations thermomagnetic convection occurs and in zero gravity will produce a larger velocity then natural convection that occurs in earth gravity. However, experiments did not result in heat transfer enhancement due to the limitation of the ferrofluid. Replacement of the Ferrotec EFH1 dispersant with dodecylbenzene did not result in Ionic Liquid …

Analysis Of Injection Parameters Influencing Gasoline Direct Injection Compression Ignition (Gdici) Engine Operation In Ltc Using Naphtha, Devyani Patil

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

A multi-dimensional CFD study using MTU-KIVA-Geq-CHEMKIN code has been carried out for direct injection compression ignition engine combustion fueled with heavy naphtha, light naphtha, and PRF50 in low-temperature combustion (LTC) regime. At constant fueling, combustion characteristics are investigated as a function of injection timing and injection pressure. Further, operating limits of fuel confined by combustion efficiency, noise level (Maximum Pressure rise rate) and emissions at exhaust valve opening (EVO) are evaluated using parametric variation of initial gas temperature, exhaust gas recirculation fraction, boost pressure. Research conducted focuses on ability of fuel to get good combustion which is combustion efficiency > / …

Cold Start Analysis And Modeling Of A Direct-Injection Gasoline Engine, Yash Borghate

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

In this thesis, two different works related to cold start of a direct-injection (DI) gasoline engine are shown. First, effect of split injection is studied on engine exhaust temperature and hydrocarbon emissions for cold start conditions. Instead of single injection, two injections are done, one injection during the intake stroke and one injection during the compression stroke. Split injection is known to reduce jet wall wetting, thus reducing the hydrocarbon emissions from engine itself. Further, split injection reduces engine cycle-by-cycle variability with respect to the single injection case. Correlations between start of injection for the injection in the intake stroke …

Capillary-Assisted Enhanced Condensation Heat Transfer For Low Surface Tension Liquids, Gnana Vishnu Durgam

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Extensive research has been carried out over the course of the last few decades to induce dropwise condensation as it offers 5 - 7 times better heat transfer performance compared to filmwise condensation process. A number of methods such as low surface energy hydrophobic coatings, surface modification of hydrophobic surfaces to fabricate micro, nano and hierarchical structures, and the recent incorporation of jumping droplet phenomenon have provided effective means to further enhance the condensation heat transfer. However, existing methods to enhance condensation heat transfer rate fail in the case of low surface tension, highly wetting liquids such as hydrocarbons, cryogens, …

Utilizing Reprap Style 3d Printers For The Manufacturing Of Composite Heat Exchangers, John Laureto

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The low cost 3D printing market is currently dominated by the application of RepRap (self-replicating rapid-prototyper) variants. Presented in this document are practical utilizations of RepRap technology. Developed are innovative processes to manufacture composite materials systems for thermal management solutions.

First, a laser polymer welder system is validated by quantifying maximum peak load and weld width of linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE) lap welds as a function of linear energy density. The development of practical engineering data, in this application, is critical to producing mechanically durable welds. Developed laser and printer parameter sets allow for manufacturing of LLDPE multi-layered heat …

A Study Of High Temperature Heat Pipes And The Impact Of Magnetic Field On The Flow Of Liquid Metal, Udit Sharma

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

A study of high temperature heat pipe was conducted to understand its characteristics. A review of working fluid, temperature, wick structure, problems, operational limit and applications was done. Alkali metal were concluded as the most viable candidate for the working fluid.

The impact of three parameters namely magnetic field, heat flux and temperature was analyzed on the performance of HTHP (High Temperature Heat Pipe). The presence of magnetic field had the most considerable impact on reducing the pumping limit of the heat pipe while the temperature had almost negligible effect. Magnetic field results in the pressure drop and adversely affect …

Modeling Mass And Thermal Transport In Thin Porous Media Of Pem Fuel Cells, Vinaykumar Konduru

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Water transport in the Porous Transport Layer (PTL) plays an important role in the efficient operation of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFC). Excessive water content as well as dry operating conditions are unfavorable for efficient and reliable operation of the fuel cell. The effect of thermal conductivity and porosity on water management are investigated by simulating two-phase ow in the PTL of the fuel cell using a network model. In the model, the PTL consists of a pore-phase and a solid-phase. Different models of the PTLs are generated using independent Weibull distributions for the pore-phase and the solid-phase. The …

Development Of An Evaporation Sub-Model And Simulation Of Multiple Droplet Impingement In Volume Of Fluid Method, Sathya Prasad Potham

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Droplet collision and impingement on a substrate are widely observed phenomenon in many applications like spray injection of Internal Combustion Engines. Existing Lagrangian models do not provide a comprehensive picture of the outcome of these events and may involve model constants requiring experimental data for validation. Physics based models like Volume of Fluid (VOF) method involve no parametric tuning and are more accurate. The aim of this thesis is to extend the basic VOF method with an evaporation sub-model including an additional vapor phase and implement this model in an open source Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) software, OpenFOAM. The new …

Assessment Of Annular Flow Boiling In The Context Of Computational Fluid Dynamics (Cfd) Simulations, Experiments, And Existing Correlations, Hrishikesh Prasad Ranga Prasad

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The main objective of the current work is to achieve a better understanding – through modeling and simulation/programming activities – of annular flow-boiling and its applications based on a synthesis of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations, existing correlations, and experiments. A unique and rigorous 2-D CFD simulations technique was developed for annular flow-boiling to propose a correlation for convective component of Heat Transfer Coefficient (HTC) – defined here as flow-boiling in the absence of nucleation. To provide a context for the correlation structure of convective component of HTC, flow-physics details of annular flow-boiling and correlation structure (based on fundamental considerations) …

The Impact Of Water Injection On Spark Ignition Engine Performance Under High Load Operation, Jeremy Worm

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

An experimental effort has been completed in which water injection was investigated as a means of enabling increases in engine output and high load efficiency. Water was injected into the intake port of a direct fuel injected, 4-cylinder, boosted engine with dual independent variable valve timing. The water was shown to increase volumetric efficiency and decrease the onset of knock which in turn enable more optimal combustion phasing. Both of these affects resulted increases in load of up to 5.5% at the same manifold pressure as the baseline case. The advancement of combustion phasing, combined with elimination of fuel enrichment …

Heat Transfer Analysis In A Paddle Reactor For Biomass Fast Pyrolyis, Ankith Ullal

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Heat transfer analysis was performed on a novel auger reactor for biomass fast pyrolysis. As part of this analysis, correlations for specific heat capacity and heat transfer coefficients for biomass (sawdust) and sand (used as heat transfer medium) were developed. For sand, the heat transfer coefficient followed a power law distribution with reactor fill level and temperature. For raw biomass, the heat transfer coefficient also showed similar dependence on fill level, but was independent of temperature up to 300°C. These correlations were used in a one dimensional heat transfer model developed to calculate the heating time and heating rate of …

The Emission And Particulate Matter Oxidation Performance Of A Scr Catalyst On A Diesel Particulate Filter With A Downstream Scr, Sagar Sharma

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems along with a NH₃ slip control catalyst (ASC) offers NOₓ conversion efficiency >90 % with NH₃ slip < 20 ppm. However, future heavy duty diesel (HDD) engines are designed for higher engine-out NOₓ to improve fuel consumption. Consequently, there is a strong desire to further improve the NOₓ reduction performance of SCR systems, to meet the 2015 California Optional Low NOₓ Standard. SCR catalysts on a diesel particulate filter provide an effective solution to reduce NOₓ and PM using a single aftertreatment device. It also provides an opportunity to increase the SCR volume to achieve NOₓ conversion efficiency >95 %. A downstream SCR catalyst substrate can be used to get additional NO_x conversion by using the SCRF^® outlet NH₃ to increase the cumulative NOₓ conversion of the system.

In this study, NOₓ reduction, NH₃ slip and PM oxidation performance of a Cu-zeolite SCRF^® with a downstream Cu-zeolite SCR were investigated based on engine experimental data at steady state conditions. The experimental data were collected at varying SCRF^® inlet temperatures, space velocities, inlet …

Impact Of Natural Gas Direct Injection On Thermal Efficinecy In A Spark Ignition Engine, James Sevik

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Interest in natural gas as an internal combustion engine fuel has been renewed due to its increasing domestic availability and stable price relative to other petroleum fuel sources. Natural gas, comprised mainly of methane, allows for up to a 25% reduction in engine out CO2 emissions due to a more favorable hydrogen-to-carbon ratio, relative to traditional petroleum sources. Traditional methods of injecting natural gas can lead to poor part-load performance, as well as a power density loss at full load due to air displacement in the intake manifold. Natural gas direct injection, which allows the fuel to be injected directly …

Experimental Investigations Of Temperature Controlled Innovative Annular Flow-Boiling Of Fc-72 In Millimeter Scale Ducts – Steady And Enhanced Pulsatile Realizations, Patcharapol Gorgitrattanagul

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Steady and steady-in-the-mean shear driven annular flow-boiling is experimentally investigated in this thesis. By annular flow-regime one means separated liquid and vapor flows with the flowing liquid film staying on the boiling-surface.

The goals for the steady annular flow-boiling operations are to better understand relative importance of heat-transfer mechanisms (nucleation versus convective phase-change, with convective meaning absence of nucleation) and to develop better quantitative characterizations/correlations for heat-transfer rates. The goals for the steady-in-the-mean annular investigations was to explore improved means of significantly increasing heat transfer rates - while retaining the flow-regime's annularity.

The experimental investigations (with FC-72 as a working …

Effect Of Spark Advance And Fuel On Knocking Tendency Of Spark Ignited Engine, Abhay S. Joshi

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Knock, in spark ignition engine is the combustion caused by the autoignition of the fuel-air mixture. It is the phenomenon that limits engine performance and thermal efficiency. Knock also has an adverse effect on emissions and fuel economy. Engine designers target engines with maximum power and torque output without compromising on fuel economy. Engine downsizing is the method generally adopted. The main goal of engine downsizing is to achieve better fuel economy while increasing the power and torque output of the engine. Better fuel economy is achieved by reducing the displaced volume which in turn means a much higher brake …

Simulation Of Diesel Particulate Filter Regeneration Using Lattice Boltzmann Method, Kshitiz Kumar Jain

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Lattice Boltzmann Method is a novel approach, which has shown promise in solving a wide variety of fluid flow problems including single and multi-phase flows in complex geometries. Volume elements of the fluid domain are considered to be composed of particles and these particles fall under a velocity distribution function at each grid point. Particles collide with each other under the influence of external forces and the rules of collision are defined so as to be compatible with the Navier-Stokes Equation. In the current work, LBM has been applied to Diesel Particulate filters which is a device used for reducing …

Turbulent Transition Simulation And Particulate Capture Modeling With An Incompressible Lattice Boltzmann Method, John R. Murdock

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Derivation of an unambiguous incompressible form of the lattice Boltzmann equation is pursued in this dissertation. Further, parallelized implementation in developing application areas is researched. In order to achieve a unique incompressible form which clarifies the algorithm implementation, appropriate ansatzes are utilized. Through the Chapman-Enskog expansion, the exact incompressible Navier-Stokes equations are recovered. In initial studies, fundamental 2D and 3D canonical simulations are used to evaluate the validity and application, and test the required boundary condition modifications. Several unique advantages over the standard equation and alternative forms found in literature are found, including faster convergence, greater stability, and higher fidelity …

Incorporation Of Higher Carbon Number Alcohols In Gasoline Blends For Application In Spark-Ignition Engines, Kristina Lawyer

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

The 2007 U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard (RFS2) requires an increase in the use of advanced biofuels up to 36 billion gallons by 2022. Higher carbon number alcohols, in addition to cellulosic ethanol and synthetic biofuels, could be used to meet this demand while adhering to the RFS2 corn-based ethanol limitation. Alcohols of carbon numbers 2 through 8 are chosen based on their chemical and engine-related properties.

Blend comparison metrics are developed from automotive industry trends, consumer expectations, U.S. fuel legislation, and engine requirements. The metrics are then used to create scenarios by which to compare higher alcohol fuel blends to …

Model-Based Control Of Hybrid Electric Powertrains Integrated With Low Temperature Combustion Engines, Ali Soloukmofrad

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Powertrain electrification including hybridizing advanced combustion engines is a viable cost-effective solution to improve fuel economy of vehicles. This will provide opportunity for narrow-range high-efficiency combustion regimes to be able to operate and consequently improve vehicle’s fuel conversion efficiency, compared to conventional hybrid electric vehicles (HEV)s. Low temperature combustion (LTC) engines offer the highest peak brake thermal efficiency reported in literature, but these engines have narrow operating range. In addition, LTC engines have ultra-low soot and nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions, compared to conventional compression ignition and spark ignition (SI) engines. This dissertation concentrates on integrating the LTC engines (i) in …

Simulation Study On Effect Of Gas Charging And Egr In A Dual-Fuel Engine, Satyavenkata Naga Sai Sharath Gorthy

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Natural gas combined with diesel as micro pilot has the capabilities of achieving lower NOx and soot emissions. Optimization of the combustion process in engines with natural gas and diesel micro-pilot is essential to achieve higher efficiencies and loads. Gas charging (intake air boosting) and EGR are two technologies which when implemented in the natural gas-diesel engines, provide the opportunity to achieve higher efficiencies and loads and low emissions. Simulation study is one of the approaches to investigate the extent and effects of gas charging and EGR on the performance of the engine. With the rapid improvements over the past …

Experimental Study Of The Flow Of Ferrofluid In A Porous Media Under A Magnetic Field, Muskaan Khurana

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

This research presents results from a laboratory-scale experimental setup that was designed to visualize the behavior of ferrofluid percolation through a porous media. Ferrofluids are colloidal suspensions made of magnetic particles of a few nanometers and stabilized in carrier liquids like water or mineral oil. Ferrofluids get magnetized and align themselves in the direction of a magnetic field when a field gradient is applied.

With the help of this experiment we investigate the viability of controlling fluid flow in porous medium by a magnetic field in vicinity. The experiments show that ferrofluids can be used as a transporting media to …

Shear Driven Suppressed Nucleation Annular Flow-Boiling In Millimeter-Scale Channels: Direct Numerical Simulations, Sharayu Bhasme

Dissertations, Master's Theses and Master's Reports

Many contemporary high heat-flux cooling applications are facilitated by mm-scale flow-boilers that operate in the steady annular suppressed nucleation regime (i.e., a thin evaporating liquid film flow covers the heated boiling-surface).

For such cases, this thesis presents a direct numerical simulation (DNS) approach. The steady algorithm and its accuracy are discussed. Representative detailed solutions for annular flow-boiling of FC-72 in a horizontal channel are presented.