Heat transfer in a turbulent jet impinging on a moving plate considering high plate-to-jet velocity ratios

In this paper, heat transfer characteristics of a turbulent slot jet impinging orthogonally on an isothermal moving hot plate is studied numerically. The governing equations were discretized using the finite volume method and the υ ² — f turbulence model was employed for turbulence modeling. The effect of the jet Reynolds number and the plate-to-jet velocity ratio (R) on the Nusselt were investigated. Despite of most previous studies, which have been restricted to R≤2, in the present research higher values of R, also were considered (0≤R≤6). Range of studied jet Reynolds number was between 3000 and 60000. The results indicate that at a fixed plate-to-jet velocity ratio increment of the Reynolds number leads to the enhancement of the average Nusselt number. For each Reynolds number, the average Nusselt number reduces with increasing the plate-to-jet velocity ratio until it becomes minimum at R = 1.25. For R>1.25 trend changes so that these parameters increase. In addition, it was found that only for R>2.5 the average Nusselt number is improved due to the plate motion in comparison with the stationary jet. The results are validated against available experimental data, showing good agreement.     

Stores clustering using a data mining approach for distributing automotive spare-parts to reduce transportation costs

Clustering of retail stores in a distribution network with specific geographical limits plays an important and effective role in distribution and transportation costs reduction. In this paper, the relevant data and information for an established automotive spare-parts distribution and after-sales services company (ISACO) for a 3-year period have been analyzed. With respect to the diversity and lot size of the available information such as stores location, order, goods, transportation vehicles and road and traffic information, three effecting factors with specific weights have been defined for the similarity function: 1. Euclidean distance, 2. Lot size 3. Order concurrency. Based on these three factors, the similarity function has been examined through 5 steps using the Association Rules principles, where the clustering of the stores is performed using k-means algorithm and similar stores are allocated to the clusters. These steps include: 1. Similarity function based on the Euclidean distances, 2. Similarity function based on the order concurrency, 3. Similarity function based on the combination of the order concurrency and lot size, 4. Similarity function based on the combination of these three factors and 5. Improved similarity function. The above mentioned clustering operation for each 5 cases addressed in data mining have been carried out using R software and the improved combinational function has been chosen as the optimal clustering function. Then, trend of each retail store have been analyzed using the improved combinational function and along with determining the priority of the depot center establishment for every cluster, the appropriate distribution policies have been formulated for every cluster. The obtained results of this study indicate a significant cost reduction (32%) in automotive spare-parts distribution and transportation costs.     

Compensation of control valve stiction through controller tuning

Despite numerous studies on modeling and detection of static friction (stiction) in control valves, compensation methods for this problem are limited. In this work, a stiction compensation framework is proposed which is based on the oscillation condition introduced in [17]. This condition was used as a tool to predict occurrence and severity of stiction-induced oscillations in control systems. The aim of this paper is to suggest re-tuning guidelines for controllers with regard to the presence of stiction in the control valve, to eliminate or reduce oscillations. A variety of processes and controllers are studied and recommendations are made in order to eliminate the stiction-induced oscillations. For oscillations that cannot be removed, the proposed method will reduce the frequency and magnitude of oscillations. This compensation framework has also been validated using two different pilot-scale experiments with different types of processes and an industrial control system.     

Rapid Small-Scale Column Tests for Arsenate Removal in Iron Oxide Packed Bed Columns

Arsenate breakthrough in column studies with a porous granular ferric hydroxide (GFH) was investigated in model waters and groundwaters. In this study, the use of rapid small-scale column tests (RSSCTs) initially designed for simulating the removal of organic compounds by granular activated carbon was extended for arsenate adsorption onto GFH. Adsorption kinetic studies and a comparison of laboratory RSSCT performance versus pilot-scale performance suggests that proportional diffusivity (PD) RSSCT scaling approaches are more valid than constant diffusivity (CD) approaches for arsenate onto GFH. Adsorption densities from column tests (qcolumn) were calculated at the point in the breakthrough curve when arsenate equaled 10 μg/L in the column effluent. For a simulated 2.5 min empty-bed contact time (EBCT), a model water (pH=8.6) had qcolumn values of 0.99 to 1.5 mgAs/gGFH versus 0.02 to 0.28 mgAs/gGFH with a comparable pH and EBCT in a natural groundwater. The differences were attributed to the silica, phosphate, vanadium, and other adsorbable inorganics in the groundwater. At pH 7.6 to 7.8, qcolumn values from PD-RSSCTs in the three natural waters were comparable (1.5±0.3 mgAs/gGFH) and higher than CD-RSSCT qcolumn values (0.57±0.26 mgAs/gGFH) in the three natural waters. All the RSSCTs captured changes in water quality (source water and pH) and operational regimes (e.g., EBCTs) and could be used to aid in the selection and design of arsenic removal media for full-scale treatment facilities.     

Impact of Phase Shifters on Locational Prices

With the introduction of restructuring in the electric power industry, the price of electricity has become the focus of power market activities. Phase shifters in a power system can mitigate or reduce transmission congestion by redirecting line flows, reduce the cost of power dispatch by adjusting locational marginal prices (LMPs), and enhance market competition by reducing the chance of market power occurrences due to limited transmission flows. This paper analyzes the role of phase shifters in restructured power systems by simulating electricity market prices. The paper further provides a comparison among various alternatives such as transmission expansion for mitigating congestion. The simulation results are analyzed for a three-bus and presented for the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE) 118-bus power system.     

Low velocity impact of combination Kevlar/carbon fiber sandwich composites

Impact, compression after impact, and tensile stiffness properties of carbon fiber and Kevlar combination sandwich composites were investigated in this study. The different samples consisted of impact-side facesheets having different combinations of carbon fiber/Kevlar and carbon fiber/hybrid. The bottom facesheets remained entirely carbon fiber to maintain the high overall flexural stiffness of the sandwich composite. The focus of this research was to determine if any improvement in impact properties existed as a result of replacing the impact-side facesheet layers of carbon fiber with Kevlar or hybrid. Impact tests were conducted on different sample types to obtain information about absorbed energy and maximum impact force. Also, compression after impact tests were conducted to determine the reduction in compressive strength when comparing impacted to non-impacted samples. The elastic moduli of carbon fiber, Kevlar, and hybrid were determined from tensile testing. This data was used to characterize the reduction in stiffness from replacing carbon fiber layers with the Kevlar or hybrid layers. The experimental data in its entirety helps define the benefits and disadvantages of replacing carbon fiber layers with Kevlar or hybrid.     

Design optimization of 3D reinforced concrete structures having shear walls

This paper presents a computer-based method for the optimal design of three-dimensional Reinforced Concrete (RC) structures having beams subjected to shear force and bending moment, columns subjected to biaxial moments, biaxial shears and axial loads, and shear walls subjected to pure shear. Regarding the beams and columns, the design variables are the width, depth and area of longitudinal reinforcement of member sections. The design variables for the shear walls are the thickness of the wall, the area of vertical reinforcement, horizontal distance between the vertical stirrups, the area of horizontal reinforcement, vertical space between the horizontal stirrups, and the area of vertical flexural reinforcement. The Optimality Criteria (OC) method is applied to minimize the cost of the concrete, steel and formwork for the structure. ACI code [1] provisions concerning the strength and ductility of beams, columns and shear walls are taken as constraints. The constraints also impose upper and lower bounds on the dimensions of beams and columns, and on shear wall thickness, reinforcement area and the maximum and minimum vertical and horizontal spaces between the stirrups of the shear walls. Sensitivity analysis is conducted for both internal forces and the capacities of the sections of the beams, columns and shear walls. The features of the design method are illustrated by a solved example.     

Nano levels detection of beryllium by a novel beryllium PVC-based membrane sensor based on 2,3,5,6,8,9-hexahydro-1,4,7,10-benzotetra oxacyclododecine-12-carbaldehyde-12-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hy

A novel poly(vinyl chloride)-based 2,3,5,6,8,9-hexahydro-1,4,7,10-benzotetra oxacyclododecine-12-carbaldehyde-12-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)hy (PBC) with sodium tetraphenyl borate (NaTPB) as an anion excluder, benzyl acetate (BA), acetophenon (AP) and o-nitrophenyloctyl ether (NPOE) as plasticizing solvent mediators was prepared and investigated as a beryllium selective sensor. The best performance was observed with the membrane having the PVC–NaTPB–NPOE–PBC composition 30%:3%:62%:5%, which worked well over a very wide concentration range (1.0×10⁻⁷ M to 1.0×10⁻¹ M). The sensor exhibits a Nernstian slope of 29.9 mV per decade of Be²⁺ activity. The detection limit of the sensor is 7.0×10⁻⁸ M (630 ppt). The proposed electrode shows excellent discriminating ability toward Be²⁺ ion with regard to alkali, alkaline earth, transition and heavy metal ions. It was successfully applied to the determination of beryllium in a mineral sample.     

Mass recovery adsorption refrigeration cycle—improving cooling capacity

The study investigates the performance of two-bed, silica gel-water adsorption refrigeration cycle with mass recovery process. The cycle with mass recovery can be driven by the relatively low temperature heat source. In an adsorption refrigeration cycle, the pressures in adsorber and desorber are different. The chiller with mass recovery process utilizes the pressure difference to enhance the refrigerant mass circulation. Cooling capacity and coefficient of performance (COP) were calculated by cycle simulation computer program to analyze the influences of operating conditions. The mass recovery cycle was compared with conventional cycle such as the single stage adsorption cycle in terms of cooling capacity and COP. The results show that the cooling capacity of mass recovery cycle is superior to that of conventional cycle and the mass recovery process is more effective for low regenerating temperature.