Flow characterization in an axial micro-hydroturbine model

The flow characteristics behind the runner of an air model of a propeller-type micro-hydroturbine were studied in detail by varying the operation conditions from part-load to high overload. The Reynolds number was varied from 3×104 to 9×104, and the swirl number from 0.7 to -0.4. An automated laser-Doppler anemometer (LDA) system for non-contact optical diagnostics was used to perform detailed measurements of the flow field distribution, including the profiles of two components of averaged velocities and pulsations and LDA signal spectra. Based on the results, a correlation was found between the identified features of the development of the flow structure under changing operating conditions of the hydroturbine and the nature of the evolution of the integral swirl number, which determines the state of the swirling flow. This can be used to develop recommendations for expanding the range of regulation of hydroturbine operation while maintaining high efficiency.

Development of a Rheology Die and Flow Characterization of Gas-Containing Polymer Melts

We present a novel measurement die for characterizing the flow behavior of gas-containing polymer melts. The die is mounted directly on the injection-molding cylinder in place of the mold cavity and thus enables near-process measurement of viscosity (i.e., under the conditions that would be present were a mold attached). This integration also resolves the issue of keeping gas-containing polymer melts under pressure during measurement to prevent desorption. After thermal characterization of the die, various correction approaches were compared against each other to identify the most suitable one for our case. We conducted measurements using polypropylene in combination with two different chemical blowing agents. Increasing the blowing-agent content to up to 6% revealed an interestingly low influence of gases on melt viscosity, which was confirmed by elongational viscosity measurements. For verification, we compared our results to corresponding measurements taken on a high-pressure capillary rheometer and found that they were in excellent agreement. Our die cannot only be used for rheological characterization. Combined with ultrasound sensors, it provides an innovative way of measuring the volumetric flow rate. This development represents an important step in improving the sustainability of gas-containing polymer processing.

Tailoring Mission Effectiveness and Efficiency of a Ground Vehicle Using Exergy-Based Model Predictive Control (MPC)

To ensure dominance over a multi-domain battlespace, energy and power utilization must be accurately characterized for the dissimilar operational conditions. Using MATLAB/Simulink in combination with multiple neural networks, we created a methodology which was simulated the energy dynamics of a ground vehicle in parallel to running predictive neural network (NN) based predictive algorithms to address two separate research questions: (1) can energy and exergy flow characterization be developed at a future point in time, and (2) can we use the predictive algorithms to extend the energy and exergy flow characterization and derive operational intelligence, used to inform our control based algorithms or provide optimized recommendations to a battlefield commander in real-time. Using our predictive algorithms we confirmed that the future energy and exergy flow characterizations could be generated using the NNs, which was validated through simulation using two separately created datasets, one for training and one for testing. We then used the NNs to implement a model predictive control (MPC) framework to flexibly operate the vehicles thermal coolant loop (TCL), subject to exergy destruction. In this way we could tailor the performance of the vehicle to accommodate a more mission effective solution or a less energy intensive solution. The MPC resulted in a more effective solution when compared to six other simulated conditions, which consumed less exergy than two of the six cases. Our results indicate that we can derive operational intelligence from the predictive algorithms and use it to inform a model predictive control (MPC) framework to reduce wasted energy and exergy destruction subject to the variable operating conditions.

A Review on Flow Characteristics of the Straight and Coiled Capillary Tubes

A detailed literature review on the flow characterization of the capillary tubes is presented in this paper. The flow behavior is reviewed for straight, helically, and spirally coiled capillary tubes at different operating and geometric conditions by considering various aspects in the tube. This paper summarizes experimental and numerical study on the adiabatic and nonadiabatic straight and coiled capillary tubes at different geometries conditions. The vital information of the range of the tube geometry and operating conditions are discussed, which can be utilized for further studies on the capillary tube. Various methodologies with generalized correlations are indicated. It has been observed that there are even more studies need to do with environmentally friendly refrigerants with various practical aspects in the capillary tube. It would be interesting to find the coiling effect on the design and simulation of the capillary tube. In addition to that more experimental and numerical studies need to explore the nonadiabatic coiled capillary tube. It would be fascinating to study the metastable condition in the capillary tube and set suitable relations to present its effect on the mass flow rate.