真空热处理炉布料矩阵优化仿真分析

为了获得更高的加热效率和更好的温度均匀性,采用有限元软件建立了真空热处理炉加热过程仿真模型,并耦合PID算法用于温度控制。通过与实测温度对比,验证了仿真模型的准确性。借助该模型,模拟研究了布料矩阵对两种典型形状零件在真空热处理炉内加热特性的影响。模拟装炉时基于零件几何形状特征,对圆棒形工件采用顺排、叉排和环形排列3种形式,对圆盘形工件采用横排式和竖排式。研究结果表明:尽管零件形状和数量相同,但是随着布料矩阵的变化,加热效率和温度均匀性都会改变。对于圆棒形工件,采用环形排列不仅可以提高内部工件的加热速率,而且相较于叉排式可以将最大温差减小36 ℃;对于圆盘形工件,由水平式改为竖直式布料可以将最大温差由248 ℃减小至171 ℃。     

Parallel‐series connected rectenna array using frequency selective surface (FSS) for power harvesting applications at 5.8 GHz

This article presents a frequency selective surface (FSS) and rectenna array in parallel‐series connection to harvest power of wireless power systems. To improve the basic antenna parameters, a frequency selective surface was mounted on the reverse side of the substrate. According to the results, the proposed method showed significant improvement in comparison to other methods in both single and rectenna array. Moreover, the conversion efficiency of the presented technique was increased to 76%. The output voltage of 4.5 and 9 V and the current of 60 and 120 mA were resulted for 5 and 10 rectenna units, respectively. The proposed arrays can be expanded to large scale integrated array without any significant degradation in conversion efficiency.     

Fault detection and diagnosis with parametric uncertainty using generalized polynomial chaos

This paper presents a new methodology to identify and diagnose intermittent stochastic faults occurring in a process. A generalized polynomial chaos (gPC) expansion representing the stochastic inputs is employed in combination with the nonlinear mechanistic model of the process to calculate the resulting statistical distribution of measured variables that are used for fault detection and classification. A Galerkin projection based stochastic finite difference analysis is utilized to transform the stochastic mechanistic equation into a coupled deterministic system of equations which is solved numerically to obtain the gPC expansion coefficients. To detect and recognize faults, the probability density functions (PDFs) and joint confidence regions (JCRs) of the measured variables to be used for fault detection are obtained by substituting samples from a random space into the gPC expansions. The method is applied to a two dimensional heat transfer problem with faults consisting of stochastic changes combined with step change variations in the thermal diffusivity and in a boundary condition. The proposed methodology is compared with a Monte Carlo (MC) simulations based approach to illustrate its advantages in terms of computational efficiency as well as accuracy.     

Yield,water use efficiency and economic analysis of energy sorghum in South Texas

Yields, water use efficiency and economic returns (net farm revenues) of biomass sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench] were investigated over two years (2012 and 2014) under limited water resource conditions. Energy sorghum was grown under four water supply regimes: rain-fed (or dry-land, level 1), 50% (level 2), 75% (level 3) and 100% (level 4) of crop evapotranspiration rates (% ET_c). Biomass yields ranged from 5.8 to 16.6 Mg ha⁻¹ (dry weight) after 126 days of growth. Average water use efficiencies ranged from 3.95 kg m⁻³ to 23.4 kg m⁻³. Net return was approximately 410 $ ha⁻¹ with water depths above 400 ha-mm. These results suggest that it is possible to obtain more than 60 Mg ha⁻¹ of sorghum biomass (wet basis) with at least 425 mm of water. While biomass yield under irrigation was greater than rain-fed conditions, there were no significant differences among irrigation treatments. Biomass chemical composition did not differ significantly among water treatments suggesting that biofuel quality would not be affected by water deficits.     

Development of insertion-type peristalsis pump using pneumatic artificial muscles

This study aims to develop a new type of peristaltic pump that transports high-viscosity and solid–liquid mixture fluids. Pumps capable of transporting such fluids are essential in various situations such as factory transportation, outdoors, and emergencies. These fluids are conventionally transported by positive-displacement and rotodynamic pumps. However, solid–liquid fluids could collide with the impeller of the rotodynamic pump and thereby damage the pump, whereas the positive-displacement pump must be sufficiently large to apply high pressure to the transported fluid. A small pump that can transport these fluids would save factory space and enable outdoor applications such as dredging operations. Thus, we adopted earthworm peristalsis as a model mechanism of fluid transport within a standard plumbing infrastructure. The insertion-type peristaltic pump developed in this study uses an artificial rubber muscle to achieve an earthworm-like mechanism. The capability and energy efficiency of the mechanism is evaluated in water transportation experiments.     

Heat transfer enhancement of concentrated solar absorber using hollow cylindrical fins filled with phase change material

A concentrated solar absorber with finned phase change materials was experimentally studied using a Scheffler type parabolic dish concentrator. The absorber's inner surface was fixed with hollow cylindrical containers filled with phase change material (PCM) for heat transfer augmentation. The absorber's selected PCM was acetanilide (Melting point of 116 °C)—the cylindrical capsules protruding into the fluid side to create turbulence and mixing and acting as fins. The absorber surface temperature was observed to be about 130–150 °C during the outdoor tests while passing fluid through the absorber. The fluid flow rate varied from 60 to 100 kg/h during the outdoor experiments. The peak energy and exergy efficiency of parabolic dish collector (PDC) at the fluid flow rate of 80 kg/h with PCM integrated solar absorber was found to be about 67.88% and 6.96%, respectively. The integration of cylindrical PCM containers resulted in more heat transfer augmentation in the solar absorbers. The optimized solar absorber could be suitable for various applications like steam generation, biomass gasification, space heating, and hydrogen generation.     

Structural and operational management of Turkish airports: a bootstrap data envelopment analysis of efficiency

This paper explores the structural and operational dimensions of the efficiencies of airports. The two-stage procedure is suggested to assess the efficiencies of airports in this study. In the first-stage, Classification and Regression Tree, which is one of the machine-learning approaches used to divide the airports into homogeneous and thus comparable sub-groups. In the second stage, the bootstrap data envelopment analysis approach obtains more precise structural and operational efficiency scores. To illustrate the proposed framework use, we applied it to a real case associated with Turkish airports. The results demonstrate that this framework presents a more comprehensive assessment of airport performance rather than conventional data envelopment analysis models. Moreover, it provides to show the deficiencies of the structural and operational management of airports. The findings can help anywhere airport authorities as well as Turkish airport authorities.     

Design and analysis of a solar tower power plant integrated with thermal energy storage system for cogeneration

In the current study, a solar tower–based energy system integrated with a thermal energy storage option is offered to supply both the electricity and freshwater through distillation and reverse osmosis technologies. A high‐temperature thermal energy storage subsystem using molten salt is considered for the effective and efficient operation of the integrated system. The molten salt is heated up to 565°C through passing the solar tower. The thermal energy storage tanks are designed to store heat up to 12 hours. The temperature variations in the storage tanks are studied and compared accordingly for evaluation. The effect of operating temperatures on the freshwater production and overall system efficiency is determined. About 24.46 MW electricity is generated in the steam turbine under sunny conditions. Furthermore, the storage subsystem stores heat during sunny hours to utilize later in cloudy hours and night time. The produced power decreases to 20.17 MW in discharging hours due to temperature decrease in the tank. The electricity generated by the system is then used to produce freshwater through the reverse osmosis units and also to supply electricity for the residential use. A total flowrate of 240.02 kg/s freshwater is obtained by distillation and reverse osmosis subsystems.     

A novel hot aerosol extinguishing agent with high efficiency for Class B fires

A novel hot aerosol extinguishing agent (HAEA), which is the combination of pyrotechnics and flame retardant technology, was found to have great efficiency in extinguishing Class B fires. A mixture of P and P₃N₅, referred to as P90x, was chosen as the reductant, and phase stabilized ammonium nitrate was chosen as the oxidant. This paper describes a study of the effectiveness of this agent in extinguishing n‐heptane fires (ie, Class B fires). We determined that the best efficiency was 15 g/m³ for extinguishing n‐heptane fires, four times more efficient than a traditional agent. The efficiency increases as the mass fraction of P90x rises. We also identified the key difference between the novel extinguishing agent and the traditional agent. The former consists of an inorganic phosphorus compound, while the latter is mainly comprised of KOH. Consequently, their extinguishing mechanisms are different. The phosphorus oxide of the novel HAEAs is the leading component to extinguish fire, which is more effective than alkali salts.     

Boosting the performance of visible light‐driven WO3/g‐C3N4 anchored with BiVO4 nanoparticles for photocatalytic hydrogen evolution

In this article, a ternary WO₃/g‐C₃N₄@ BiVO₄ composites were prepared using eco‐friendly hydrothermal method to produce efficient hydrogen energy through water in the presence of sacrificial agents. The prepared samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), scanning transmission electron microscopy (STEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X‐ray diffraction (XRD), ultraviolet‐visible (UV‐vis), Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller (BET) surface area, and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL) emission spectroscopy. The experimental study envisages the formation of 2‐D nanostructures and observed that such kinds of nanostructures could provide more active sites for photocatalytic reduction of water and their inherent reactive‐species mechanism. The results showed the excellent photocatalytic performance (432 μmol h^?1 g^?1) for 1.5% BiVO₄ nanoparticles in WO₃/g‐C₃N₄ composite when compared with pure WO₃ and BiVO₄. The optical properties and photocatalytic activity measurement confirmed that BiVO₄ nanoparticles in WO₃/g‐C₃N₄ photocatalyst inhibited the recombination of photogenerated electron and holes and enhanced the reduction reactions for H₂ production. The enhanced photocatalytic efficiency of the composite nanostructures may be attributed to wide absorption region of visible light, large surface area, and efficient separation of electrons/holes pairs owing to synergistic effects between BiVO₄ and WO₃/g‐C₃N₄. The prepared samples would be a precise optimal photocatalyst to increase their suppliers for worldwide applications especially in energy harvesting.