Preparation and studies of new phosphorus‐containing diols as potential flame retardants

Several new phosphorus‐containing potential flame retardants (FRs) were prepared and evaluated for heat release reduction potential, by incorporation of the molecules into polyurethane samples, generated from methylene diphenyl diisocyanate and 1,3‐propane diol. The potential FRs were all prepared from commercial diisocyanates, with the phosphorus‐containing substructure introduced as a semicarbazone. All of the target structures were diols, to facilitate their incorporation into a polyurethane main chain. The polyurethane samples were prepared via copolymerization, and analysis clearly demonstrated that the potential FRs were chemically incorporated, prior to heat release testing. The heat‐release reduction potential of these substances was evaluated using the microcombustion calorimeter. Results demonstrated that both heat release reduction potential and char formation were structure dependent. Some of the compounds containing an aromatic core had more effect on char formation (higher char yields) and peak heat‐release rate (lowered heat release) than just phosphorus content alone.     

Calibration and validation of a solar thermal system model in Modelica

Recent advancements in the domain of modeling physical processes offer opportunities to use equation based modeling environments, such as Modelica, for the simulation of building heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems. The current work demonstrates Modelica capabilities in a case study of real building solar thermal system simulation. The simulated system is part of an innovative ENERGYbase building, designed according to the so called Passivhaus standard. Model calibration and validation procedure is developed to include optimization based parametric adjustments of component models using the monitoring data during a single week. The calibrated system adequately reproduces half a year of real system operation. Future work will concentrate on application of the developed calibration and validation methodology in the whole year overall building energy simulation.     

Formulation of consistent restoring stiffness in ship hydroelastic analysis

In this article, the role of the restoring stiffness, as one of the basic parameters in ship hydroelastic analysis, is brought out. It is formulated using the variational principle and the method of virtual displacements. It is shown that asymmetry of the restoring stiffness is a physical reality. Moreover, it is confirmed that modal variation, still disputed in the relevant literature, has to be taken into account to satisfy the ship’s stability. Consistent stiffness is formulated here by regarding stiffness definition as relation between forces and displacements. Hybrid stiffness known from the literature is wrong since some terms are specified as relation between forces and displacement gradient. Influence of the consistent and symmetrized stiffness matrix, and the hybrid one, on dynamic response is illustrated for a prismatic pontoon and a large container ship. It is found that the latter two matrices do not assure convergence of transfer functions of sectional forces to zero value as the wave frequency approaches zero. The rigid body and elastic responses are compared, and pertinent conclusions are drawn. It is also shown that it is not necessary to use the unified geometric and restoring stiffness for ordinary hydroelastic analysis of ship structures. The consistent formulation of the restoring stiffness matrix will be useful for extending linear potential theory hydrodynamic codes for rigid body analysis to deformable bodies.     

Harvesting of river flow energy for wireless sensor network technology

River courses play a vital role in preserving unpolluted ecosystems. On the other hand, networks of sensor nodes can be used to measure characteristic parameters in the environment such as temperature, pressure, humidity or the concentration of pollutants. In the framework of the EU FP7 project “GOLDFISH”, technical competences of a consortium of 11 institutions are hence employed in designing, manufacturing, validating and operating wireless sensors nodes for tracking pollution in remote rivers. The sensor network is composed of sensor clusters located underwater and gateways on the riverbank with long-distance communication links to the central management and monitoring station. Each sensor node is composed of active electronic devices that have to be constantly powered. Batteries can generally be used for this purpose, but problems may occur when they are to be recharged or replaced, especially in the case of large networks placed in scarcely accessible locations. State-of-the-art energy harvesting technologies can hence constitute a viable powering solution. The possibility to use different small-scale river flow energy harvesting principles is thoroughly studied in this work by the University of Rijeka GOLDFISH team: a miniaturized hydro-generator, a ‘piezoelectric eel’ and a hybrid solution of a rotating shaft plucking a piezoelectric beam. The first two concepts are validated experimentally in a flow channel and in real river conditions. The miniaturized hydro-generator with suitable power management electronics is finally embedded into the wireless sensor node deployed into the river, allowing the GSM transmission of collected data to be successfully performed.     

Causes of chatter in a hot strip mill: Observations, qualitative analyses and mathematical modelling

Severe vibrations, known as chatter, occur often in both hot and cold rolling of steel. A recent chatter outbreak at the second stand of hot strip mill in Hastings, Australia, prompted an investigation into the causes of chatter by a literature review, the development and deployment of mathematical models, and a rigorous analysis of plant observations. The investigation suggests that the frictional conditions in the roll gap are the principal cause of chatter in this mill, though residual chatter marks on work rolls can occasionally cause it. The frictional conditions appear to be associated with the thickness and properties of oxide formed on rolls.