Boiling Heat Transfer Enhancement Using Micro-Machined Porous Channels for Electronics Cooling

Boiling heat transfer enhancement for a passive electronics cooling design is presented in this paper. A novel pool boiling enhancement technique is developed and characterized. A combination of surface modification by metallic coating and micro-machined porous channels attached to the modified surface is tested and reported. An experimental rig is set up using a standard BGA package with 12 mm × 12 mm thermal die as a test surface. The limiting heat flux for a horizontally oriented silicon chip with fluorocarbon liquid FC-72 is typically around 15 W/cm². Boiling heat transfer with the designed enhancement techniques is investigated, and the factors influencing the enhancement are analyzed. The metallic coated surface at 10°C wall superheat has a heat flux six times larger than an untreated chip surface. Micro-machined porous channels with different pore sizes and pitches are tested in combination with the metallic coated surface. The boiling heat flux is seven times larger at lower wall superheat compared to the plain chip surface. Maximum critical heat flux (CHF) of 38 W/cm² is obtained with 0.3 mm pore diameter and 1 mm pore pitch. A ratio of pore diameter and pore pitch is found to correlate well with the heat transfer enhancement obtained by experiments. Structures with smaller pore diameter to pitch ratio and larger pore opening are found to have higher heat transfer enhancement in the tested combination.     

Dietary Protein Derived from Dried Bonito Fish Improves Type‐2 Diabetes Mellitus‐Induced Bone Frailty in Goto‐Kakizaki Rats

Type‐2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) induces bone frailty. Protein and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) contained in fish can be effective in enhancing bone quality, but the bone developing effect of fish protein containing less PUFA has not been evaluated in young animals with T2DM. We prepared a bonito fish (BF) and defatted BF (DBF) and hypothesized that protein contained in BF and DBF would be effective for mitigating the effects of T2DM‐induced bone frailty. We mainly evaluated the effect of dietary BF and DBF on bone and apparent calcium absorption in young Goto‐Kakizaki (GK) rats with T2DM. GK rats were divided into 3 groups based on diets (casein, BF, and DBF) and fed with each diet for 6 wk. Wistar rats were fed with the casein diet as a non‐T2DM control. Bone mass, bone strength, apparent calcium absorption, and serum biochemical parameters were determined. The dry weight and strength of the femurs were lower in the GK rats than in the Wistar rats fed with the casein diet. Dietary intake of the BF and DBF diets enhanced the maximum load and dry weight of the femurs and suppressed the serum alkaline phosphatase activity although the apparent calcium absorption was lower in the GK rats fed with the BF and DBF diets than in those fed with the casein diet. These parameters were not different between the rats fed with the BF and DBF diets. Our data suggest that protein contained in the BF and DBF diets improved T2DM‐induced bone frailty.     

Rheological properties and stability of oil-in-water emulsions containing tapioca maltodextrin in the aqueous phase

The present research focuses on the effect of the concentration and dextrose equivalent (DE) values of tapioca maltodextrin in the aqueous phase on rheological behavior and stability of oil-in-water emulsions prepared with Tween80. The critical flocculation concentrations (CFCs) of oil-in-water emulsions containing tapioca maltodextrin with DE of 16 (DE16), 12 (DE12) and 9 (DE9) were 11%, 9% and 7% (w/w) respectively, as revealed by transmittance measurement. Coalescence was observed as maltodextrin concentration increased above the CFC. The rheological parameters of flow behavior index (n) and consistency index (k) have been well-described by the Herschel–Bulkley model. The relative consistency index (k_relative) increased markedly when the concentration of maltodextrin exceeded the CFC because of depleting flocculation. The consistency index (k_emulsion) and yield stress (τ₀) of emulsions containing tapioca maltodextrin increased with increasing maltodextrin concentration or decreasing DE. The emulsions containing maltodextrin showed Newtonian flow behavior when the maltodextrin concentration was below the CFC. At maltodextrin concentrations above the CFC, emulsions containing maltodextrin exhibited shear thinning behavior. An increase in the maltodextrin concentration resulted in a decrease in the n_emulsion until maltodextrin concentration reached 20% (w/w) for DE9, DE12 and 25% (w/w) for DE16. Further increase in the maltodextrin concentration resulted in an increased the n_emulsion because of predominant influence of the continuous phase.     

Computer Simulations of VANETs Using Realistic City Topologies

Researchers in vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) commonly use simulation to test new algorithms and techniques. This is the case because of the high cost and labor involved in deploying and testing vehicles in real outdoor scenarios. However, when determining the factors that should be taken into account in these simulations, some factors such as realistic road topologies and presence of obstacles are rarely addressed. In this paper, we first evaluate the packet error rate (PER) through actual measurements in an outdoor road scenario, and deduce a close model of the PER for VANETs. Secondly, we introduce a topology-based visibility scheme such that road dimension and geometry can be accounted for, in addition to line-of-sight. We then combine these factors to determine when warning messages (i.e., messages that warn drivers of danger and hazards) are successfully received in a VANET. Through extensive simulations using different road topologies, city maps, and visibility schemes, we show these factors can impact warning message dissemination time and packet delivery rate.     

Turbulent burning velocity of hydrogen–air premixed propagating flames at elevated pressures

Lewis number represents the thermo-diffusive effects on laminar flames. That of hydrogen–air mixture varies extensively with the equivalence ratio due to the high molecular diffusivity of hydrogen. In this study, the influences of pressure and thermo-diffusive effects on spherically propagating premixed hydrogen–air turbulent flames were studied using a constant volume fan-stirred combustion vessel. It was noted that the ratio of the turbulent to unstretched laminar burning velocity increased with decreasing equivalence ratio and increasing mixture pressure. Turbulent burning velocity was dominated by three factors: (1) purely hydrodynamic factor, turbulence Reynolds number, (2) relative turbulence intensity to reaction speed, the ratio of turbulence intensity to unstretched laminar burning velocity, and (3) sensitivity of the flame to the stretch due to the thermo-diffusive effects, Lewis and Markstein numbers. A turbulent burning velocity correlation in terms of Reynolds and Lewis numbers is presented.     

Investigations on welding residual stresses in penetration nozzles by means of 3D thermal elastic plastic FEM and experiment

Recent discoveries of stress corrosion cracking (SCC) in weldments including penetration nozzles at pressurized water reactors (PWRs) and boiling water reactors (BWRs) have raised concerns about safety and integrity of plant components. It is well known that welding residual stress is an important factor resulting in SCC in weldments. In the present work, both experimental method and numerical simulation technology are used to investigate the characteristics of welding residual stress distribution in penetration nozzles welded by multi-pass J-groove joint. An experimental mock-up is fabricated to measure welding residual stress at first. In the experiment, each weld pass is performed using a semi-circle balanced welding procedure. Then, a corresponding finite element models with considering moving heat source, deposition sequence, inter-pass temperature, temperature-dependent thermal and mechanical properties, strain hardening and annealing effect is developed to simulate welding temperature and residual stress fields. The simulation results predicted by the 3D model are generally in good agreement with the measurements. Meanwhile, to clarify the influence of deposition sequence on the welding residual stress, the welding residual stress field in the same geometrical model induced by a continuous welding procedure is also calculated. Finally, the influence of a joint oblique angle on welding residual stress is investigated numerically. The numerical results suggest that both deposition sequence and oblique angles have effect on welding residual stress distribution.     

Alignment control technology of liquid crystal molecules

Liquid crystal displays are now indispensable in everyday life. The display characteristics considerably depend on the configuration of liquid crystal (LC) molecules and interactions between the LC molecules and an alignment film surface. In this paper, we introduce various methods to control parameters that dominate the LC alignment. These parameters include order parameters, the pretilt angle, the director direction, and surface anchoring strength. We also introduce their evaluation methods. In particular, recent alignment film‐free technology is explained in detail. In addition, details of how these parameters are related to the display characteristics, particularly wide viewing angles and fast response characteristics, are described primarily with reference to recent technologies.     

Recent progress of amorphous silicon solar cell applications and systems

Fifteen years have passed since the first industrial use of amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells for consumer products. At present, a-Si solar cells are entering a new age of use in power generating systems at private residences and other outdoor applications. This paper reviews recent advances in amorphous silicon (a-Si) solar cells and their applications. Technological developments in the field of a-Si solar cells are discussed. Various applications and systems that take advantage of the a-Si solar cell are then introduced. Finally, future prospects are discussed, including a new concept of GENESIS system for worldwide energy generation and transmission.