1,568 research outputs found
Helio tracker: P.V. integrated shading device
No full textThe EU is committed to reducing the energy used and Co2 produced by 2050. Every component plays an important part in building an energy efficient building. This thesis looks at P.V. integrated shading devices.Shading devices are designed to block the excess solar radiation coming into the building to reduce the energy load of a building. This surface can be utilized to generate electricity by adding P.V. panels. P.V. panels are more efficient if they track the sun’s movement to increase the amount of solar radiation falling on the surface. The existing solar tracking devices fail due to multiple gears and the load of the panel on the rotational device.To tackle this problem heliotropic plants were studied. Heliotropic plants follow the sun’s movement to receive more solar radiation for photosynthesis. The internal mechanisms and forces of a sunflower (heliotropic plant) that cause this movement was analysed through an experiment and digital image correlation. The analysis showed that the sunflower’s stem utilizes water to expand and contract the sides of the stem in a diurnal pattern so that the stem can track the sun. This expansion and contraction curves the stem to move it 14 degrees which is sufficient to increase the solar radiation on the plant. This property of expansion and contraction was taken forward to design a sun tracking P.V. integrated shading to produce more energy. The expansion and contraction of the device were enabled by utilizing segments that were moved by piezo electric actuators. The Piezo electric actuator uses the energy generated from the P.V. panel and converts it to mechanical energy which enables the rotation of the device.To find the angle for rotation a simulation was made to find the angle at which the P.V. panel produces the most energy and the angle at which the shading device reduces the load on the heating or cooling device. The device is designed to track the change in the sun's altitude as this rotation produces the most energy for a P.V. panel and a shading device. The device responds to the change in altitude four times a year as this corresponds to the seasons to which the shading device rotates. There were two simulations made for the energy saved by the P.V. integrated shading device. The first simulation was for the Netherlands, factoring the energy saved by the shading device and the energy losses by the mechanical parts the device produces 196kW/ year and reduces the heating and cooling load by 16%. In Abu Dhabi, the same device produces 777kW/ year which reduces the cooling load by 15%.<br/
The Lightwave Programme and Roadshow: An Overview and Update
No full textWhile optics and photonics are exciting disciplines with much research, industrial, and economic potential in the 21st century, this appreciation is only shared by a limited number of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) experts, and there is a recognized STEM skills shortage. To widen the pool of talent, it is essential to expose students to optics and photonics throughout their education and particularly starting at a young age. The Lightwave programme, consisting of an interactive collection of photonics demonstrations and experiments targeted for primary school students, was thus created to facilitate this endeavor. The programme is run by doctoral students forming a team of “Lightwave ambassadors”. All the demonstrations that comprise Lightwave can be easily integrated into a physics curriculum, enabling educators to generate more student interest and enhance the image of science through an interactive pedagogy. We provide a description of the programme at its initial inception, and report on the recent additions and updates that have brought about its success, moving from a purely outreach driven focus to engaging pupils with our own research. We also discuss our approach to ensuring that our team of ambassadors are from diverse backgrounds and use both male and female students as role models. Finally, we reflect on how evaluation methods to obtain feedback from our activities are key to Lightwave's sustainability and in improving the perception of optics and photonics
Evaluation of the ICT malaria P.f/P.v and the OptiMal rapid diagnostic tests for malaria in febrile returned travellers
No full textRapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) are less reliant on expert microscopy and have the potential to reduce errors in malaria diagnosis but have not been extensively evaluated in nonimmune persons or in countries where infection is not endemic. We evaluated the ICT P.f/P.v (ICT-Amrad, Sydney, Australia) and OptiMal (Flow Inc., Portland, Oreg.) assays prospectively for the diagnosis of malaria in 158 specimens from 144 febrile returned travellers in Australia by using expert microscopy and PCR as reference standards. Malaria was diagnosed in 93 specimens from 87 patients by expert microscopy, with 3 additional specimens from recently treated patients testing positive for Plasmodium falciparum by PCR. For the diagnosis of asexual-stage P, falciparum malaria, the sensitivity and specificity of the ICT P.f/P.v assay were 97 and 90%, respectively, and those of the OptiMal assay were 85 and 96%, respectively. The ICT P.f/P.v assay missed one infection with a density of 45 parasites/mul, whereas the OptiMal assay missed infections up to 2,500/mul; below 1,000/mul, its sensitivity was only 43%. For the diagnosis of P. vivax malaria, the sensitivity and specificity of the ICT P.f/P.v assay were 44 and 100%, respectively, and those of the OptiMal assay were 80 and 97%, respectively. Both assays missed infections with parasite densities over 5,000/mul: up to 10,000/mul with the former and 5,300/mul with the latter. Despite the high sensitivity of the ICT P.f/P.v assay for P. falciparum malaria, caution is warranted before RDTs are widely adopted for the diagnosis of malaria in nonimmune patients or in countries where malaria is not endemic
Letter from P.V. Rudden to Hagan
No full textHolograph letter from P.[V.] Rudden, President of St. Patrick's College, Cavan, for Bishop Finegan, to Hagan. Listing amounts lodged to the College from the collection for the Eucharistic Congress; what exceeds the expenses for this year could be held over for another Congress in Rome. The bishops have pronounced strongly following the insult of Cardinal (Logue) by the Ulster Specials. Every day there are Catholic refugees from Ulster who came away only with their faith, their lives, and their clothes. 'Rome had its Nero, and Belfast has its Craig and his Specials � aided and abetted by England.
Book Review on Puspayurvedah - A unique contribution of Prof. P.V. Sharma
No full text"Puspayurvedah" authored by Prof. P.V. Sharma, is a scholarly collection of the use of flowers in the Ayurvedic system of medicine. Despite being a specialized subject, traditional Indian medicine heavily relies on the therapeutic qualities, historical importance, and medicinal qualities of diverse flowers. The author painstakingly catalogs a vast variety of flowers using the botanical features and medicinal properties found in traditional Ayurvedic texts. The book offers academicians and clinicians, a thorough knowledge of traditional uses of flowers. "Puspayurvedah" is not only a useful academic resource but also a useful guide for anyone who wants to use floral remedies in Ayurvedic therapy because of its practical formulations and applications. The book is notable for its comprehensiveness and depth of knowledge
From “Made in China” to “Created in China”: Development of ICT-enabled medical device and system for rural China
No full textHealth problems are a major concern for rural Chinese people. One of the causes is shortages of medical resources, such as medical equipment and skilled medical staff. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is usually seen as a useful tool, by which medical resources in urban areas can be accessed for rural areas. Design and development of ICT-enabled Medical device and system for Rural China (DIMRC) is therefore considered to be a key approach of the Chinese central government in the development of rural healthcare. In practice, however, the gap between ideal ICT-enabled medical devices and systems and what is currently available in rural markets is still huge. Both the quantity and quality of existing ICT-enabled medical applications fall short of meeting the requirements of patients and doctors. To bridge this gap, the Chinese government has been encouraging local Chinese Research and Development (R&D) teams (from local companies and universities) to design and develop ICT-enabled medical devices and systems with appropriate innovations, suitable specifically for China. This is a part of China’s recent product development strategy, dubbed “Created in China”. This strategy encourages the local development of products in China by national brands, and increasingly replaces the “Made in China” strategy. There are several steps to be taken to reduce the gap between the ideal ICT-enabled medical devices and systems and those currently available in the rural markets. This PhD study focuses on one aspect: exploring what design competences of Chinese R&D teams should be improved and how to improve them. Three methods are used in this study: literature analysis, practice-based research, and interviews. The results of this thesis have revealed three issues that demand attention if the design competences of Chinese R&D teams are to be augmented: (1) R&D teams should have a deep understanding of China’s culture with reference to DIMRC; (2) the teams should have more knowledge about identification of design factors for DIMRC; and (3) the teams should have more knowledge to apply existing design methodologies to DIMRC. The results of this thesis were utilised to develop a new framework for DIMRC. In addition, an education module for integration into Chinese biomedical engineering education has been created. Finally both results were evaluated by one Chinese biomedical engineering professor and one senior biomedical engineer from a Chinese medical device company.Design EngineeringIndustrial Design Engineerin
Meanings of Materials
No full textThis book is about meanings we attribute to materials of the objects around us. Materials convey meanings: they look traditional, they express luxury, they are associated with factories, or they conjure up one’s childhood. How do materials obtain these meanings? How do they interact with other elements of product design in expressing certain meanings? How can designers systematically incorporate meaning considerations into their materials selection processes? This book presents the concept of meanings of materials and has made a start in making this concept more actionable in design thinking.Design EngineeringIndustrial Design Engineerin
High-efficiency biomass gasifier SOFC systems with direct internal tar reforming
No full textRemoving biosyngas contaminants is crucial for the efficient and safe operation of biomass gasifier solid oxide fuel cells systems. Among the contaminants, tar might be considered an additional fuel if converted into H2 and CO in a reformer or directly in the SOFC. However, no sufficient information is available on direct internal tar reforming. The knowledge gained during the 4-years project FlexiFuel-SOFC is presented. The aim of these studies was to determine the possibility to directly reform tar in the SOFC, and to assess the influence that other biosyngas contaminants (i.e., H2S and HCl) can have on the process. Benzene can be regarded as fuel, while naphthalene as a contaminant. Also toluene can be reformed inside the SOFC, but HCl seems to affect the process. Acetic acid is completely converted inside SOFCs and its conversion appears not affected by H2S. However, it causes carbon deposition, mainly in the inlet pipelines.Accepted Author ManuscriptEnergy Technolog
A sizzling hand prosthesis: On the design and development of a pneumatically powered hand prosthesis for children
No full textMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin
The fourth typology; dominant type and the idea of the city
No full textArchitectureArchitecture and The Built Environmen
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