A Generalized Hybrid RANSE/BEM Approach for the Analysis of Hull–Propeller Interaction in Off-Design Conditions

During maneuvers, propellers’ operation differs from their design due to strong modification of the wake field with respect to the straight-ahead motion. The consequent modification of the loads overstresses the mechanical components of the shaftline, exacerbates propeller side effects and worsens overall efficiency. Therefore, the analysis of these situations in the early design phase is pivotal to increase the operation capabilities and safety at sea. This task relies on novel tools capable to accurately predict the complex flow field that develops past the hull and the propeller loads. Since the solution of the fully coupled problem with the rotating propeller by viscous flow solver is impractical for routine applications, hybrid approaches are a viable alternative. In this paper, an interactive RANSE/BEM methodology is presented, where the propeller is replaced by rotating body forces that map the actual loading state of the blades, allowing a fully unsteady analysis of hull–propeller interaction. The methodology is applied to the straight ahead and 8.4° pure drift motions of a twin screw propulsive configuration. Last, but not least, the study presents a validation study with accurate experimental data of the nominal wake field and single blade loads.

Calibration of multiple cameras for large-scale experiments using a freely moving calibration target

Obtaining accurate experimental data from Lagrangian tracking and tomographic velocimetry requires an accurate camera calibration consistent over multiple views. Established calibration procedures are often challenging to implement when the length scale of the measurement volume exceeds that of a typical laboratory experiment. Here, we combine tools developed in computer vision and non-linear camera mappings used in experimental fluid mechanics, to successfully calibrate a four-camera setup that is imaging inside a large tank of dimensions $$\sim 10 \times 25 \times 6 \; \mathrm {m}^3$$∼10×25×6m3. The calibration procedure uses a planar checkerboard that is arbitrarily positioned at unknown locations and orientations. The method can be applied to any number of cameras. The parameters of the calibration yields direct estimates of the positions and orientations of the four cameras as well as the focal lengths of the lenses. These parameters are used to assess the quality of the calibration. The calibration allows us to perform accurate and consistent linear ray-tracing, which we use to triangulate and track fish inside the large tank. An open-source implementation of the calibration in Matlab is available. Graphic abstract

Device for plastic compression of long-dimensional cylindrical samples in linear stress conditions

A design of the device for studying plastic compression of long cylindrical specimens under conditions of a linear stress state is presented. The device is developed to study the properties of metals under plastic deformation in conditions of nonmonotonic loading. The goal of getting the accurate experimental data entails the necessary of carrying out tests using one long-length cylindrical sample, with the calculated length being more than five diameters. To prevent flexure of the long-length sample upon compression, the support conical sectors made by cutting truncated cone shaped blank into 6 or 8 equal parts with a central longitudinal hole having a diameter equal to the diameter of the test sample are used. The sectors are coupled by two pairs of semirings. A transcendental equation is obtained for determination of the taper angle of those sectors on the basis of kinematic analysis of the mobile links. This angle depends on the total weight of the sectors and sliding friction coefficients in the corresponding kinematic pairs of the device. For the considered device, the taper angle of the sectors is 36°. This device is designed and manufactured for compression testing of the samples with a diameter of 16.5 mm and a gaged length of 135 mm. Samples from steel 45 are tested with a goal of the flow curve construction and experimental verification of the strain diagrams under conditions of cyclic tensile-compression. Comparison of the calculated and experimental data proved the satisfactory accuracy of the stress determination, which makes it possible to recommend this device as a testing tool to be used in mechanical laboratories of the universities and research institutes.

TD-DFT calculations of one- and two-photon absorption in Coumarin C153 and Prodan: attuning theory to experiment

TD-DFT calculations of two-photon absorption (2PA) and the permanent electric dipole moment change (Δμ) of C153 and Prodan in toluene and DMSO are benchmarked relative to accurate experimental data to reveal the best performing methods.

New RELAP5-3D Lead and LBE Thermophysical Properties Implementation for Safety Analysis of Gen IV Reactors

The latest versions of RELAP5-3D©code allow the simulation of thermodynamic system, using different type of working fluids, that is, liquid metals, molten salt, diathermic oil, and so forth, thanks to the ATHENA code integration. The RELAP5-3D©water thermophysical properties are largely verified and validated; however there are not so many experiments to generate the liquid metals ones in particular for the Lead and the Lead Bismuth Eutectic. Recently, new and more accurate experimental data are available for liquid metals. The comparison between these state-of-the-art data and the RELAP5-3D©default thermophysical properties shows some discrepancy; therefore a tool for the generation of new properties binary files has been developed. All the available data came from experiments performed at atmospheric pressure. Therefore, to extend the pressure domain below and above this pressure, the tool fits a semiempirical model (soft sphere model with inverse-power-law potential), specific for the liquid metals. New binary files of thermophysical properties, with a detailed mesh grid of point to reduce the code mass error (especially for the Lead), were generated with this tool. Finally, calculations using a simple natural circulation loop were performed to understand the differences between the default and the new properties.

A Design of the Automatic Spray System of Belt Conveyor’s Loading Point

In this paper, against the belt conveyor point dust requirements, I design automatic dust removal system set apply loading point. working principle this system. At the same time carried out a detailed description automatic control section on the principle of superiority its work automatically. Finally, simulation software AMEsim its automatic control part the computer simulation obtained a more accurate experimental data. The simulation data show that the system be able to timely adjust the operating parameters system with change dust concentration has the effect of dust, special profiles to normal work. Improve working environment workers, improve the safety of operations, reducing moisture content coal, electricity and water savings, in line with the call the national energy saving, with good promotional value.

Dynamic Simulation of a Test Rig for Organic Vapours

A blow-down facility for experimental analysis of real gases is under construction at Politecnico di Milano (Italy), in collaboration with Turboden s.r.l. and in the frame of the research project named Solar. Experiments are meant to characterize flow fields representative of expansions taking place in Organic Rankine Cycle (ORC) turbine passages. Indeed, ORC power plants represent a viable technology to exploit clean energy sources, but ORC turbines design tools still require accurate experimental data for validation. A significant improvement of turbine efficiency is expected from detailed investigations on vapour streams; in fact, ORC turbines design tools still require accurate experimental data for validation. The facility is equipped with a straight axis supersonic nozzle as a test section and a batch-closed loop plant has been designed in order to reduce investment and operational costs. Due to the batch operation, the evaluation of the time evolution of main processes involved in the cycle is of great importance. To this purpose a dynamic simulation of the test rig has been carried out using a dynamic simulator based on an object-oriented modeling language, Modelica, allowing an easy development of component models structured with a hierarchical approach. Models include control loop devices, strongly influencing processes duration. This paper presents how the test rig has been modelled, with particular emphasis on the models framework and on simulation procedure; the calculation results are finally discussed. With a lumped parameter approach, a first scheme of the facility has been built by modelling each of the three main plant section (heating, test, condensation) using components included in a self-made library. Several models, not embedded in the Modelica standard libraries, have been created using Modelica code; among them the most important has been the supersonic nozzle. In order to better describe the facility behaviour and the thermal losses, a plant calculation refinement has been carried out by the development of finite volume based one-dimensional models of ducts and reservoirs, either in radial or axial direction; in particular, a novel distributed-parameters model has been built for the heating section. All simulations have been performed using Siloxane MDM and Hydrofluorocarbon R245fa as reference fluids and FluidProp® to calculate thermodynamic properties. A quasi 1-D steady nozzle flow calculation has also been carried out by implementing FluidProp® routines in a dedicated Fortran software. Since the unsteady nozzle expansion is well approximated by a sequence of steady states, the computation provides all thermodynamic properties and velocity along the nozzle axis as a function of time. Simulation results have given a fundamental support to both plant and experiments design.

Experimental techniques for the determination of thermophysical properties to enhance chemical processes

It is of utmost importance to have accurate experimental data available in order to develop accurate modeling for scientific and engineering purposes as it is emphasized through several herein-reported discussions with reknown scientists and engineers. Many methods are used to determine phase equilibria. Classification of the methods is not straightforward as several basic principles can be mixed in several different ways. In this paper, we have selected some techniques, developed in our laboratory, to illustrate one type of classification. Several apparatuses are described. The techniques where all phases are analyzed are very often preferred to those relying on partial determinations requiring data treatment through models. The internal analyses by means of spectroscopic or other in situ analysis techniques are not applicable every time. Then, sampling devices are necessary. Sampling devices must be reliable and lead to extract sample amounts small enough not to disturb the equilibrium under study. The ROLSI™ sampler developed at MINES ParisTech is a very powerful device allowing one to work up to 100 MPa, 850 K, with corrosive components and with samples from 1 μg to some mg. Applications of this sampler are described for fundamental research (phase equilibrium measurements) and industrial purposes (process control and monitoring).

Mutually consistent thermodynamic potentials for fluid water, ice and seawater: a new standard for oceanography

A new seawater standard for oceanographic and engineering applications has been developed that consists of three independent thermodynamic potential functions, derived from extensive distinct sets of very accurate experimental data. The results have been formulated as Releases of the International Association for the Properties of Water and Steam, IAPWS (1996, 2006, 2008) and are expected to be adopted internationally by other organizations in subsequent years. In order to successfully perform computations such as phase equilibria from combinations of these potential functions, mutual compatibility and consistency of these independent mathematical functions must be ensured. In this article, a brief review of their separate development and ranges of validity is given. We analyse background details on the conditions specified at their reference states, the triple point and the standard ocean state, to ensure the mutual consistency of the different formulations, and the necessity and possibility of numerically evaluating metastable states of liquid water. Computed from this formulation in quadruple precision (128-bit floating point numbers), tables of numerical reference values are provided as anchor points for the consistent incorporation of additional potential functions in the future, and as unambiguous benchmarks to be used in the determination of numerical uncertainty estimates of double-precision implementations on different platforms that may be customized for special purposes.