Thesis (Ph. D.)--Chemical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. / Ludovice, Peter, Committee Chair; Lee, Jay, Committee Member; Meredith, Carson, Committee Member; Morris, Jeff, Committee Member; Neitzel, Paul, Committee Member. Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 120-123).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Texas at Austin, 2003. / Supervisor: Noel T. Clemens Vita. Includes bibliographical references. Also available from UMI.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Florida State University, 2004. / Advisor: Dr. Steven W. Van Sciver, Florida State University, College of Engineering, Department of Mechanical Engineering. Title and description from dissertation home page (viewed June 16, 2004). Includes bibliographical references.

Not available / text

published_or_final_version / Civil Engineering / Master / Master of Philosophy

In a pressurized water reactor (PWR), pressurized water flows over fuel rods containing radioactive uranium. Potential failure of these nuclear fuel rods is a primary concern, as fuel rod failure typically results in power generation losses and reactor downtime. Thermal parameters such as critical heat flux have traditionally been utilized as performance metrics to ensure that the reactor core remains stable even during failure events. Recently, fuel leaking events have occurred which have resulted in excess debris buildup on fuel rods and fuel grid array mixing devices. Understanding the flow field surrounding these nuclear fuel rods is critical in predicting where crud could deposit. Although CFD simulations have been conducted to characterize the fluid flow around fuel rod bundles, limited experimental data characterizing the mechanics of this fluid flow exists in the current literature. This study will present experimental data collected detailing the fluid flow around a rod bundle geometry using a novel matched refractive index particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) technique over a 3D volume cross section of a prototypical nuclear fuel rod bundle. Velocimetry tracking will be performed in order to characterize the mechanics of the fluid flow. Using optical distortion mitigation techniques and various image processing methods, data from multiple cameras was used to assemble 3-dimensional velocity information of a turbulent fluid region. Results are compared to the solution of a k-epsilon unsteady RANS numerical simulation.

A particle tracking velocimetry (PTV) system is used to investigate the turbulent properties at the free surface of shallow shear flows and a shallow vortex street (VS) wake flow. The resolution of the PTV system enables information to be gathered regarding the large-scale turbulent structure of these flows, and also enables analysis to proceed in both the temporal and spatial domains. Statistical tools such as the probability density function (PDF), autocorrelation and power spectral density (PSD) are utilised to characterise the turbulent properties at the flow surface. Two supercritical flows and one subcritical shallow shear flow are analysed. Taylor's frozen turbulence hypothesis is shown to be valid for these flows, and the integral length scales indicate that 2D isotropic structures with scales larger than the flow depth are present at the free surface. Such large-scale structures at the free surface are consistent with observations from dye visualisation experiments and with "spiral eddies" identified by Kumar, et al (1998). The longitudinal extent of near and intermediate wake fields for the shallow VS wake flow is well defined by the integral wake length scale specified by v.Carmer (2005). The near wake region is characterised by high rates of exchange between the mean flow and large-scale 2D coherent structures (2DCS). In the intermediate field, the rate of decay of the turbulent stress components greatly diminishes as the 2DCS are stabilised and dissipated under the action of bed friction. Multiple peaks are observed in the power spectral density of the turbulent fluctuations. The periodic shedding of 2DCS behind the circular cylinder is characterised by an energy peak at a Strouhal number of 0.21, and further energy peaks are observed in the near-wake region. The PSD estimates are consistent with the findings of v.Carmer (2005) in which a -5/3 decay law to high frequencies is observed, and no evidence of an inverse energy cascade is present.

No description available.

Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) is now emerging as a powerful tool for the investigation of unsteady fluid mechanics. At the same time, the study and optimisation of in-cylinder flow processes in automotive Internal Combustion (IC) engines is of increasing importance in the design of improved combustion systems with lower emissions and favourable power and efficiency characteristics. This thesis describes the development and application of PIV as a routine diagnostic tool for the investigation of in-cylinder flows in a production geometry single cylinder research engine exhibiting "barrel swirl" or "tumbling" in-cylinder fluid motion. The work has involved the design and installation of a complete PIV engine facility, based around a four-valve, four-stroke Rover research engine equipped with piston crown optical access and a glass cylinder liner. Novel techniques for the on-line monitoring of important experimental parameters have been developed which permit the reliable acquisition of high spatial resolution PIV data from both horizontal and vertical measurement planes within the engine cylinder. A novel optical correction technique has been developed to control the severe particle image degradation which was experienced when imaging vertical planes within the glass cylinder. A simple means for selection of an appropriate corrective lens for this application is described, together with an experimental evaluation of the lens performance. A representative set of PIV images and data from both horizontal and vertical planes are then presented. These have been selected from a comprehensive set of flow mapping experiments in the motored engine. The data are discussed with reference to the work of others in engines of similar geometry and have shed new light on the detailed processes involved in the formation and breakdown of barrel swirl. Initial PIV measurements ahead of a flame under part load, skip fired conditions have also been made in the engine. This has demonstrated the possibility of investigating incylinder flow behaviour under conditions approaching those in a fully firing, production geometry optical engine. Finally, limitations in the PIV technique employed in this work and methods of overcoming them are described and the prospects for further work are discussed.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--West Virginia University, 2005 / Title from document title page. Document formatted into pages; contains ix, 183 p. : ill. (some col.). Includes abstract. Includes bibliographical references (p. 178-183).