979 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/
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
Simulation and Analysis of an Anode-Supported Solid Oxide Fuel Cell and Stack
No full textProcess and EnergyMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin
Direct Internal Methane Steam Reforming in Operating Solid Oxide Fuel Cells: A kinetic modelling approach
No full textDirect Internal Reforming (DIR) on Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) anodes is often considered for fuel cells systems utilising carbon based fuels. Methane Steam Reforming (MSR) is one of the most extensively studied types of DIR. The hydrogen formed by the MSR reaction can be electrochemically oxidised in the fuel cell to produce electricity, while the exothermic electrochemical reaction supplies heat to the endothermic MSR reaction. The balance is delicate and unsuitable design choices will result in operational problems and poor fuel cell performance. These issues are known for over two decades now and remain unsolved despite several attempts to capture the rate limiting kinetics of the reforming process on fuel cell anodes and modelling studies of methane fuelled SOFCs. It is not yet clear whether MSR kinetics derived from substrate measurements can be used to model SOFC performance and the influence of electrochemistry on the MSR reaction kinetics is rarely reported. In this work a rate equation is selected based on experimental observations and kinetics proposed in literature, on both industrial catalysts and SOFC anode materials. Ideal reactor models are derived for two specific test setup geometries, considering the electrochemical reactions in the anode. The ideal reactor models are then used to fit the parameters of the selected rate equation to experimental data from earlier work. The selected rate equation is of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood-Hougen-Watson type. The rate determining kinetics are characterised by the slow reaction of surface adsorbed carbon hydroxide forming carbon monoxide and atomic hydrogen. In addition surface coverage of atomic oxygen on the catalyst is limiting the available number of reaction sites. Two constants and their respective energies, associated with the activation of the rate limiting kinetics and the surface adsorption of oxygen, are fitted to experimental data. To evaluate the selected rate equation Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) type models are developed for the two experimental setups, one with a Ni?GDC anode and the other utilising a Ni?YSZ anode. These model are used to solve fluid dynamics, heat transfer, species transport, and electrochemistry. To model methane steam reforming in the fuel cell anode the selected rate equation is implemented in the CFD models. The obtained models are used to simulate MSR on the fuel cell anode for the experimental conditions. The modelled methane conversions and I-V characteristics are compared to the experimental values. The spatial distributions in the anode predicted with the selected rate equation and a power law model, fitted to the same experimental data, are compared to evaluate the use of global reaction models. For the Ni?GDC anode setup the model predicts the experimental methane conversions with good accuracy: the R2 value is with 0.987 close to unity. The experimental and modelled I-V characteristics are in good agreement. The model adopting a power law reaction mechanism underestimates the gradients in the anode. However, the model shows poor agreement with the experimental results obtained on the Ni?YSZ test setup. Large deviations with the temperatures and concentrations assumed in the ideal reactor model are found which might explain the inaccuracy of the model. The good agreement on the Ni?GDC anode suggests that MSR kinetics in SOFCs can be modelled for both open and closed circuit conditions with an appropriate intrinsic rate equation. This was not confirmed for the Ni?YSZ anode. Therefore further investigation with a combined experimental and modelling ap- proach, preferably on similar setups, is required.Sustainable Process and Energy TechnologyProcess and EnergyMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin
Self-sufficient combined supercritical water gasification - solid oxide fuel cell system with integrated internal process waste stream recycling
No full textConfidentialSustainable Process and Energy TechnologyProcess and EnergyMechanical, Maritime and Materials Engineerin
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