Indirect evaporative cooling: Past,present and future potentials

This paper reported a review based study into the Indirect Evaporative Cooling (IEC) technology, which was undertaken from a variety of aspects including background, history, current status, concept, standardisation, system configuration, operational mode, research and industrialisation, market prospect and barriers, as well as the future focuses on R&D and commercialisation. This review work indicated that the IEC technology has potential to be an alternative to conventional mechanical vapour compression refrigeration systems to take up the air conditioning duty for buildings. Owing to the continuous progress in technology innovation, particularly the M-cycle development and associated heat and mass transfer and material optimisation, the IEC systems have obtained significantly enhanced cooling performance over those the decade ago, with the wet-bulb effectiveness of greater than 90% and energy efficiency ratio (EER) up to 80. Structure of the IEC heat and mass exchanger varied from flat-plate-stack, tube, heat pipe and potentially wave-form. Materials used for making the exchanger elements (plate/tube) included fibre sheet with the single side water proofing, aluminium plate/tube with single side wicked setting (grooved, meshed, toughed etc), and ceramic plate/tube with single side water proofing. Counter-current water flow relevant to the primary air is considered the favourite choice; good distribution of the water stream across the wet surface of the exchanger plate (tube) and adequate (matching up the evaporation) control of the water flow rate are critical to achieving the expected system performance. It was noticed that the IEC devices were always in combined operation with other cooling measures and the commonly available IEC related operational modes are (1) IEC/DEC system; (2) IEC/DEC/mechanical vapour compression system; (3) IEC/desiccant system; (4) IEC/chilled water system; and (5) IEC/heat pipe system. The future potential operational modes may also cover the IEC-inclusive fan coil units, air handle units, cooling towers, solar driven desiccant cycle, and Rankine cycle based power generation system etc. Future works on the IEC technology may focus on (1) heat exchanger structure and material; (2) water flowing, distribution and treatment; (3) incorporation of the IEC components into conventional air conditioning products to enable combined operation between the IEC and other cooling devices; (4) economic, environment and social impacts; (5) standardisation and legislation; (6) public awareness and other dissemination measures; and (7) manufacturing and commercialisation. All above addressed efforts may help increase the market ratio of the IEC to around 20% in the next 20 years, which will lead to significant saving of fossil fuel consumption and cut of carbon emission related to buildings.     

Brinkman–Forchheimer modeling for porous media thermoacoustic system

In this paper, analytical studies have been conducted on the flow and thermal fields of unsteady compressible viscous oscillating flow through channels filled with porous media representing stacks in thermoacoustic systems. The flow in the porous material is described by the Brinkman–Forchheimer–extended Darcy model. Analytical expressions for oscillating velocity, temperature, and energy flux density are obtained after linearizing and solving the governing differential equations with long wave, short stack, and small amplitude oscillation approximations. Experimental work is also conducted to verify the temperature difference obtained across the porous stack ends. To produce the experimental results, a thermoacoustic heat pump is designed and constructed where reticulated vitreous carbon (RVC) is used as the stack material. A very good agreement is obtained between the modeling and the experimental results. The expression of temperature difference across the stack ends obtained in the present study is also compared with the existing thermoacoustic literature. The proposed expression surpasses the existing expression available in the literature. The system of equations developed in the present study is a helpful tool for thermal engineers and physicist to design porous stacks for thermoacoustic devices.     

The effect of loading rates and particle geometry on compressive properties of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites: Experimental and numerical prediction

Compressive properties, of particulate filled polymer matrix composites, are affected (to a certain extent) by the geometry of the particles, as well as the loadingrates. Therefore, this article presents the results on the compressive properties of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites across strain rates from 10⁻² to 10⁻³ s⁻¹. The specimens were tested using a Universal Testing Machine for static loading and a conventional Split Hopkinson Pressure Bar apparatus for dynamic loading. Results show that the yield stress and 2.5% flow stress, of both PP/ZnO nanocomposites, showed a positive increment with increasing strain rates. However, the yield strain shows a contradictory pattern, where it decreased with increasing strain rates. PP/ZnO‐white seal recorded higher strain rate sensitivity, dissipation energy, stiffness, and strength properties, than that of PP/ZnO‐pharmaceutical, over a wide range of strain rates investigated. Interestingly, the Eyring theory almost agreed with the experimental results. Overall, based on the experimental and numerical results, we do believe that particle geometry, as well as strain rates, has a significant influence on the compressive properties of polypropylene/zinc oxide nanocomposites specimens. POLYM. COMPOS., 2012. © 2011 Society of Plastics Engineers     

Analysis of forces in an automobile ECV using in external variable displacement swash plate type compressor for air conditioning control system

To meet the demand of improved comfort for passengers, drive ability and standard in fuel economy; external variable displacement swash (wobble) plate type compressors are used in automobile air conditioning control system because of their low energy consumption and highly efficient characteristics. It controls the compressor displacement by increasing or reducing the swash plate angle. Solenoid operated electromagnetic control valve (ECV) in the compressor controls the air conditioning system by means of a pulse width modulation (PWM) input signal supplied from an external source (controller). The mechanism changes the swash plate angle by increasing or reducing the pressure of swash plate chamber using the ECV functions. The force (solenoid) for ECV operation is important as the force directly related to the movement of the internal feature i.e. mainly plunger of the ECV which is responsible for the amount of air/refrigerant flow that results the air conditioning control procedures with various pressure ports. The research paper highlights the improved theory and equation for calculating the working force (solenoid force) in ECV and experimental analysis of 3 (three) ECV samples followed by the comparison of theoretical and experimental force results.     

Effects of milling on aromatics,lipophilic phytonutrients,and fatty acids in unprocessed white rice of scented rice ‘Cheonjihyang-1-se<Emphasis Type="Bold">’</Emphasis>

To understand effects of milling, scented rice ‘Cheonjihyang-1-se’ was milled from 10 to 140 s and changes in volatiles, phytonutrients, and fatty acids were evaluated. Among 43 identified odor-active compounds, four volatiles, including hexan-3-one, exhibited decreases of up to 78%, while four others including (E)-non-2-enal, increased following milling. Levels of 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline, the most distinctive popcorn-flavoring compound in scented rice, were not affected by the degree of milling (DM). Partial least squares discriminant analyses of volatiles were able to differentiate white rice according to the DM. Benzene and 2-pentylfuran showed the highest variable importance in projection scores, which could be applied in estimating the DM of rice. Milling significantly decreased tocopherols, tocotrienols, squalene, phytosterols contents and oleic acid composition, while palmitic acid composition was increased. These results suggest milling-dependent variations in phytonutrient levels and lipid composition, as well as changes in aroma and subsequent market quality, in ‘Cheonjihyang-1-se’ rice.     

采前苯丙噻重氮喷洒抑制采后双孢菇的软化

目的：研究采前苯丙噻重氮（benzothiadiazole,BTH）喷洒对采后低温贮藏期间双孢菇软化的影响并探讨相关机理。方法：用200 mg/L BTH在原基期（双孢菇菌盖为针头大小时）对‘A15’双孢菇进行喷洒（以自来水喷洒作对照）,测定低温（4 ℃）贮藏期间双孢菇的质地、质量损失率,并分析几丁质、纤维素、总蛋白含量及相关酶活力。结果：与对照相比,采前BTH喷洒能显著降低冷藏期间双孢菇的质量损失率（第8天时比对照组低34.22%）（P＜0.05）;显著提高采收时以及冷藏期间双孢菇的硬度、弹性、咀嚼性和胶着性（P＜0.05）;显著降低采收时和冷藏期间双孢菇的几丁质酶和纤维素酶活力（P＜0.05）,显著提高几丁质和纤维素含量（P＜0.05）;显著降低采收时和冷藏期间双孢菇的中性、碱性和酸性蛋白酶活力（P＜0.05）,延缓蛋白质的降解。相关性分析表明,双孢菇硬度、弹性、咀嚼性、胶着性与几丁质、纤维素、总蛋白含量呈极显著正相关（P＜0.01）,与质量损失率呈极显著负相关（P＜0.01）。结论：采前BTH喷洒可显著延缓双孢菇冷藏期间的软化,其作用机制与抑制双孢菇细胞壁降解酶的活性、减少采后质量损失率密切相关。     

Effect of size and shape of metal particles to improve hardness and electrical properties of carbon nanotube reinforced copper and copper alloy composites

Utilizing the extra-ordinary properties of carbon nanotube (CNT) in metal matrix composite (MMC) for macroscopic applications is still a big challenge for science and technology. Very few successful attempts have been made for commercial applications due to the difficulties incorporating CNTs in metals with up-scalable processes. CNT reinforced copper and copper alloy (bronze) composites have been fabricated by well-established hot-press sintering method of powder metallurgy. The parameters of CNT–metal powder mixing and hot-press sintering have been optimized and the matrix materials of the mixed powders and composites have been evaluated. However, the effect of shape and size of metal particles as well as selection of carbon nanotubes has significant influence on the mechanical and electrical properties of the composites. The hardness of copper matrix composite has improved up to 47% compared to that of pure copper, while the electrical conductivity of bronze composite has improved up to 20% compared to that of the pure alloy. Thus carbon nanotube can improve the mechanical properties of highly-conductive low-strength copper metals, whereas in low-conductivity high-strength copper alloys the electrical conductivity can be improved.