Geometrical aspects of double enveloping worm gear drive

Double enveloping worm gearing is expected to have contact over larger number of teeth and higher load carrying capacity compared to single enveloping worm gearing. In this paper, contact in this gearing is analysed by geometrical simulation of worm gear tooth generation using intersection profiles of different axial sections of worm representing the hob tooth profile with transverse plane of worm gear. The analysis reveals that in the engaging zone a straight line contact always exists in the median plane and intermittent contact exists at the extreme end sections of worm. This has lead to the idea of using two fly cutters positioned at the location identical to the extreme end sections of worm to generate full worm gear tooth thereby eliminating the need for hobs of complex geometry. For a given worm, a mating worm gear is machined in a gear hobbing machine using fly tool in two settings and nature of contact with the worm is checked by a blue test.     

A four parameter cubic equation of state with temperature dependent covolume parameter

A four-parameter, Ghoderao–Dalvi–Narayan 2 cubic equation of state(GDN2 CEOS), is presented which incorporates the following: 1. The experimental value of the critical compressibility factor has been used as a fixed input parameter for calculations; 2. All the parameters(a, b, c, d) of CEOS are temperature dependent functions in the subcritical region and are temperature independent functions in the supercritical region and; 3. A new α function is introduced with two compound specific parameters which are estimated by matching saturated vapor pressure at two fixed temperature points T_r= 0.5, 0.7. Our formalism enables us to cast three of the four parameters of the CEOS as a function of the remaining parameter. The proposed CEOS is used to predict properties of 334 pure compounds, including saturated vapor pressure and liquid density, compressed liquid density, heat capacities at the constant pressure and volume, enthalpy of vaporization, sound velocity. To calculate thermodynamic properties of a pure compound, the present CEOS require the critical temperature, the critical pressure, the Pitzer's acentric factor, the critical compressibility factor, and two parameters of the alpha function. The saturated liquid density predictions for pure fluids are very accurate when compared with GDN1(Ghoderao–Dalvi–Narayan 1),MPR(Modified Peng–Robinson), and PT(Patel–Teja) equations of state. Unlike MPR EOS, the proposed temperature dependent covolume parameter b in the present work satisfies all the constraints mentioned in the literature to avoid thermodynamic inconsistencies at the extreme temperature and pressure. Using van der Waals one-fluid mixing rule, the present CEOS is further used to predict bubble pressure and the vapor mole fraction of binary mixtures.     

Study of age and height wise variability on calorific value and other fuel properties of Eucalyptus hybrid, Acacia auriculaeformis and Casuarina equisetifolia

The age and height wise variations in the fuel properties (basic density, calorific value, proximate and elemental parameters) of three short rotation forestry species i.e., Eucalyptus hybrid, Acacia auriculaeformis and Casuarina equisetifolia have been investigated. The fuel properties parameters were evaluated from the test samples of different age from 2 to 6 year and the samples obtained from three different height of trees i.e., stump height, diameter at breast height and top. A marginal increase in the calorific value with the age of tree (2-6 years) was found in all the species, the variation being significant in E. hybrid and C. equisetifolia. The basic density values were also found significantly different in E. hybrid and C. equisetifolia at lower ages (2-6 years). However, when the results were analyzed along the tree height, the calorific values were found to decrease along the stem length towards the tree-top in A. auriculaeformis and C. equisetifolia. The ash content in general was found to be higher in the top portions of the trees, and the same was found significantly higher in case of A. auriculaeformis. There was no particular trend observed for volatile matter content and the fixed carbon content with age. The fuel properties of lower age trees were compared with that of a mature tree (20 years of age) of same species. In general, the fuel properties of mature trees were found to be better than trees of lower age.     

Thermal seizures in automotive drum brakes

In automotive industry, drum brake system is used on two types of wheels: cast and spoke. Brake drum, brake panel and brake drum liner are important components of the brake system. Failures of these components observed during high-g braking on spoke wheels of a motorcycle are reported and systematically analyzed in this paper. The brake drum and the panel were found to have seized during high speed brake applications. Excessive wear on the drum liner made of cast iron was also observed. Metallurgical analysis (chemical analysis, hardness test and microstructure analysis) of the liner revealed that excessive wear on the liner was not due to any change in material properties. Hence, further steps were taken to investigate the problem. An experimental testing methodology was developed to simulate these failures. For the same material, testing conditions, and design specifications of cast and spoke wheels, no failure was observed in the cast wheels. This unusual failure was further investigated using three-dimensional steady state finite element analysis (FEA) of both cast and spoke wheels. The methodology adopted for determining the thermal and structural boundary conditions have been described in detail. Energy balance methodology was employed to determine the heat flux values on the drum liner. The structural boundary conditions are determined experimentally and validated with FEA. The predicted temperature from FEA for cast and spoke wheels compares reasonably well with the experiments. It was found that the failure of the brake system in the spoke wheels was due to excessive thermal expansion of the brake panel and the drum beyond the specified limit. An optimum range of labyrinth clearance between the brake drum and the brake panel was recommended for the brake system of cast and spoke wheels.     

利用计算机控制太阳能采暖系统

太阳能采暖系统采用微机监控系统后,既提高了系统运行水平,又提高了供热质量。系统投入自动运行后,供回水温度始终在规定的范围内运行。当水箱中的水温达不到规定范围时,电加热器会自动启动对供水进行加热直至达到规定值;同时,水箱中的水位过低或过高时,报警装置会自动启动报警并采取措施。通过实时曲线和报表还可以随时了解到系统运行时的详细情况,通过历史趋势曲线和历史报表查询任意时间段的历史数据,对整个系统有更全面的了解,以保证系统安全,经济地运行。     

Preparation and characterization of cordierite filled PTFE laminates for microwave substrate applications

Phase pure cordierite (2MgO · 2Al₂O₃ · 5SiO₂) powder was prepared through solid state ceramic route. Silane coated cordierite powder was filled in the PTFE matrix through SMECH process comprising of sigma mixing, extrusion, calendering, followed by hot pressing, to fabricate flexible microwave substrates. Filling fraction of cordierite in the PTFE matrix was varied from 10 to 70 wt% and its effects on density, dielectric properties, coefficient of thermal expansion and water absorption were investigated. The morphology and filler distribution of the filled composite were studied by SEM. Waveguide cavity perturbation technique was employed to measure the dielectric properties of the composites at X-band (8.2–12.4 GHz). Dielectric constant and loss tangent were found increasing with filler loading from 10 wt% (ε _r′ = 2.17, tan δ = 0.0007) to 60 wt% (ε _r′ = 3.17, tan δ = 0.0034).     

Study of Various Modes of Operation of an IEC Device

Inertial electrostatic confinement fusion devices are compact sources of neutrons, protons, electrons and X-rays. Such sources have many applications. Improving the efficiency of the device also increases the number of applications of this device. Hence a thorough understanding of the operation of this device is needed. In this paper we study the various modes in which an IEC device can be operated. The device seems to perform better when RF power is used. Furthermore, the amount of current that the power source can drive at a given pressure and grid voltage is dependent on the frequency applied to the grid—the higher the frequency the higher the cathode current. The device has been tested up to 320 kHz and the power supply current kept increasing up to this frequency. The higher limit was not reached by the present RF power supply. Another effect observed with the use of RF power is that the ionization source is more homogeneous relative to electron source ionization. This could mean that the heat load on the cathode is more evenly distributed. Such an even heat distribution would allow higher power operation.     

Development of Low‐Cost Advanced Composite Bipolar Plate for Proton Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell�

The bipolar plate is one of the most imperative components of proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFC) which consumes up to 80% of weight and near about 50% of the total cost of the cell. Development of cost‐effective composite bipolar plate with high electrical conductivity and high mechanical strength is both technically and economically demanding. In this paper, a low‐cost advanced composite bipolar plate is developed by bulk moulding compression (BMC) technique. It is clear from the experiments that by increasing the matrix volume fraction, bulk density and electrical conductivity of a composite bipolar plate decrease but shore hardness increases. Test results clearly show that best overall properties are achieved when a constant volume fraction of polymer matrix and natural graphite is reinforced with synthetic graphite, carbon black and carbon fibre. This bipolar plate was found to have high conductivity, less porosity and high mechanical strength. The I–V characteristics in single cell test exhibited more uniform power density at both higher and lower current densities     

The effect of a bio additive on the viscosity and the energy requirement on heavy crude oil flow

The influence of potato starch as natural additive on the flow of heavy crude oil-water in pipeline was investigated. Measured parameters were viscosity, drag, energy analysis and power requirement in a horizontal pipeline at various temperatures, flow rates and concentrations of potato starch. It was found that addition of 2000 ppm potato starch to the 85% Heavy crude oil+15% water mixture at 40°C decreased viscosity by 80.24% and head loss by 7.55 × 10^{? 4}?m at 60 LPM. Drag reduced up to 91% and power saving increased up to 38.24% after adding 2000 ppm of potato starch to same mixture at 60 LPM.     

A perception on health benefits of coffee

Coffee, consumed for its refreshing and stimulating effect, belongs to the tribe Coffea of the subfamily Cinchonoidea of Rubiaceae family. Coffee is a complex chemical mixture composed of several chemicals. It is responsible for a number of bioactivities and a number of compounds accounting for these effects. Few of the significant bioactivities documented are antioxidant activity, anticarcinogenic activity, antimutagenic activity etc. Various compounds responsible for the chemoprotective effects of coffee are mainly polyphenols including chlorogenic acids and their degradation products. Others include caffeine, kahweol, cafestol, and other phenolics. Coffee also shows protective or adverse effects on various systems like the skeletal (bone) system, the reproductive system, the nervous system, the cardiovascular system, the homocysteine levels, the cholesterol levels etc. Harmful effects of coffee are associated with people who are sensitive to stimulants. Overall, with the available information, it can be concluded that the moderate consumption, corresponding to 3 to 4 cups/day with average strength is safer to human health.