Transcritical CO2 refrigeration cycle with ejector-expansion device

An ejector expansion transcritical CO₂ refrigeration cycle is proposed to improve the COP of the basic transcritical CO₂ cycle by reducing the expansion process losses. A constant pressure mixing model for the ejector was established to perform the thermodynamic analysis of the ejector expansion transcritical CO₂ cycle. The effect of the entrainment ratio and the pressure drop in the receiving section of the ejector on the relative performance of the ejector expansion transcritical CO₂ cycle was investigated for typical air conditioning operation conditions. The effect of different operating conditions on the relative performance of the ejector expansion transcritical CO₂ cycle was also investigated using assumed values for the entrainment ratio and pressure drop in the receiving section of the ejector. It was found that the COP of the ejector expansion transcritical CO₂ cycle can be improved by more than 16% over the basic transcritical CO₂ cycle for typical air conditioning operation conditions.     

Extension of soil thermal conductivity models to frozen meats with low and high fat content

Thermal conductivity models of frozen soils were analyzed and compared with similar models developed for frozen foods. In total, eight thermal conductivity models and 54 model versions were tested against experimental data of 13 meat products in the temperature range from 0 to −40 °C. The model by deVries, with water+ice (wi) as the continuous phase, showed overall the best predictions. The use of wi leads generally to improved predictions in comparison to ice; water as the continuous phase is beneficial only to deVries model, mostly from −1 to −20 °C; fat is advantageous only to meats with high fat content. The results of this work suggest that the more sophisticated way of estimating the thermal conductivity for a disperse phase in the deVries model might be more appropriate than the use of basic multi-phase models (geometric mean, parallel, and series). Overall, relatively small differences in predictions were observed between the best model versions by deVries, Levy, Mascheroni, Maxwell or Gori as applied to frozen meats with low content of fat. These differences could also be generated by uncertainty in meat composition, temperature dependence of thermal conductivity of ice, measurement errors, and limitation of predictive models.     

连续流动体系仿真程序的形式化确定

以一个基本的连续流动体系为对象，讨论了传统的仿真建模过程在程序模型选择方面存在的不足，并以程序正确性断言理论方法处理了该体系的程序模型选择问题，导出了必要的程序前置断言，不变式和循环界函数，从而给出了一个具体的规范描述和一个正确的程序实现。最后，所使用的过程抽象为一个仿真程序模型的形式化确定方法。该方法可以作为仿真程序模型形式化确定方法学的一部份。进而在程序模型一级为保证仿真建模的正确性提供了途径。     

基于神经网络的软测量技术及应用

软测量是一门新兴的工业技术，它借助现代估计理论构造模型推断出工程上难以检测的变量。本文提出了基于径向基函数神经网络（RBFNN）的软测量技术，并且结合工艺机理分析和过程数据关联，对其在轻柴油凝固点软测量的应用进行了研究。结果表明，RBFNN的良好的非线性动态建模能力使其在软测量中具有很大的应用潜力。     

Modelling and solving English Peg Solitaire

Peg Solitaire is a well known puzzle, which can prove difficult despite its simple rules. Pegs are arranged on a board such that at least one ‘hole’ remains. By making draughts/checkers-like moves, pegs are gradually removed until no further moves are possible or some goal configuration is achieved. This paper considers the English variant, consisting of a board in a cross shape with 33 holes. Modelling Peg Solitaire via constraint or integer programming techniques presents a considerable challenge and is examined in detail. The merits of the resulting models are discussed and they are compared empirically. The sequential nature of the puzzle naturally conforms to a planning problem, hence we also present an experimental comparison with several leading AI planning systems. Other variants of the puzzle, such as ‘Fool's Solitaire’ and ‘Long-hop’ Solitaire are also considered.     

Mass recovery adsorption refrigeration cycle—improving cooling capacity

The study investigates the performance of two-bed, silica gel-water adsorption refrigeration cycle with mass recovery process. The cycle with mass recovery can be driven by the relatively low temperature heat source. In an adsorption refrigeration cycle, the pressures in adsorber and desorber are different. The chiller with mass recovery process utilizes the pressure difference to enhance the refrigerant mass circulation. Cooling capacity and coefficient of performance (COP) were calculated by cycle simulation computer program to analyze the influences of operating conditions. The mass recovery cycle was compared with conventional cycle such as the single stage adsorption cycle in terms of cooling capacity and COP. The results show that the cooling capacity of mass recovery cycle is superior to that of conventional cycle and the mass recovery process is more effective for low regenerating temperature.     

Applying grey forecasting to predicting the operating energy performance of air cooled water chillers

Grey forecasting has found applications in finance, social science, economics, etc. However, its applications in air conditioning and refrigeration have not been reported. This paper reports on a study where grey forecasting method is applied to predicting the operating energy performance for an air cooled water chiller (ACWC) units, so as to demonstrate this forecasting approach can be applied to building Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) installations. In this paper, a brief introduction of the background and fundamentals of grey forecasting is firstly presented. This is followed by reporting the application of grey forecasting to an ACWC unit installed in Northern China for predicting its operating energy performance using the variation ratio of coefficient of performance (ΔCOP). The predicted values of ΔCOP agreed well with the measured ΔCOP, demonstrating that grey forecasting may be used for predicting the operating energy performance of an ACWC unit with a high accuracy. Finally, the potential use of grey forecasting in fault detection and diagnostics (FDD) or energy management systems (EMSs) for air conditioning and refrigeration systems is assessed, and the comparison with the prediction method based on artificial neural network (ANN) discussed.     

Numerical simulation of double-pipe condensers and evaporators

A detailed one-dimensional steady and transient numerical simulation of the thermal and fluid-dynamic behaviour of double-pipe heat exchangers (evaporators and condensers) has been carried out. The governing equations (continuity, momentum and energy) inside the internal tube and the annulus, together with the energy equation in the internal tube wall, external tube wall and insulation, are solved iteratively in a segregated manner. The discretized governing equations in the zones with fluid flow are efficiently coupled using an implicit step by step method. This formulation requires the use of empirical correlations for the evaluation of convective heat transfer, shear stress and void fraction. An implicit central difference numerical scheme and a line-by-line solver was used in the internal and external tube walls and insulation. A special treatment has been implemented in order to consider transitions (single-phase/two-phase, dry-out,…). All the flow variables (enthalpies, temperatures, pressures, mass fractions, velocities, heat fluxes,…) together with the thermophysical properties are evaluated at each point of the grid in which the domain is discretized. Different numerical aspects and comparisons with analytical and experimental results are presented in order to verify and validate the model.