No / Accidental spills of hydrocarbons, such as Light Non-Aqueous Phase Liquids (LNAPLs), are one of the most common sources of subsurface contamination. Migration of LNAPL in a porous medium is influenced by various factors such as the number of fluids present in the unsaturated/saturated zones and the proportion of pores occupied by each fluid. The results for relationship between matric suction and degree of saturation are presented in this paper for water¿air, water¿LNAPL and LNAPL¿air systems in a sand. A simple and reliable setup using Buchner funnel was designed to obtain these relations. It was found that the relationship between matric suction head and degree of saturation is hysteretic for all the fluid systems (water¿air, water¿LNAPL and LNAPL¿air). Furthermore, the amount of hysteresis depended upon the fluid system, with the maximum hysteresis occurring for water¿air system. The results suggest that the amount of trapped air depends upon the reversal degree of saturation from drying to wetting.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / The purpose of this research is to analyze the overall energy consumption of an industrial compressed air system, and identify the impact of various energy saving of individual subsystem on the overall system. Two parameters are introduced for energy consumption evaluation and potential energy saving: energy efficiency (e) and process effectiveness (n). An analytical energy model for air compression of the overall system was created taking into consideration the modeling of individual sub-system components: air compressor, after-cooler, filter, dryer and receiver. The analytical energy model for each subsystem included energy consumption evolution using the theoretical thermodynamic approach. Furthermore, pressure loss models of individual components along with pipe friction loss were included in the system overall efficiency calculation. The efficiency analysis methods and effectiveness approach discussed in this study were used to optimize energy consumption and quantify energy savings. The method was tested through a case study on a plant of a die-casting manufacturing company. The experimental system efficiency was 76.2% vs. 89.3% theoretical efficiency. This showed model uncertainty at ~15%. The effectiveness of reducing the set pressure increases as the difference in pressure increase. The effectiveness of using outside air for compressors intake is close to the compressors work reduction percentage. However, it becomes more effective when the temperature difference increase. This is mainly due to extra heat loss. There is potential room of improvement of the various component using the efficiency and effectiveness methods. These components include compressor, intercooler and dryer. Temperature is a crucial parameter that determines the energy consumption applied by these components. If optimum temperature can be determined, plenty of energy savings will be realized.

<div>The purpose of this research is to analyze the overall energy consumption of an industrial compressed air system, and identify the impact of various energy saving of individual subsystem on the overall system. Two parameters are introduced for energy consumption evaluation and potential energy saving: energy efficiency (e) and process effectiveness (n). An analytical energy model for air compression of the overall system was created taking into consideration the modeling of individual sub-system components: air compressor, after-cooler, filter, dryer and receiver. The analytical energy model for each subsystem included energy consumption evolution using the</div><div>theoretical thermodynamic approach. Furthermore, pressure loss models of individual components along with pipe friction loss were included in the system overall efficiency calculation.</div><div>The efficiency analysis methods and effectiveness approach discussed in this study were used to optimize energy consumption and quantify energy savings. The method</div><div>was tested through a case study on a plant of a die-casting manufacturing company. The experimental system efficiency was 76.2% vs. 89.3% theoretical efficiency. This showed model uncertainty at ~15%. The effectiveness of reducing the set pressure increases as the difference in pressure increase. The effectiveness of using outside air for</div><div>compressors intake is close to the compressors work reduction percentage. However, it becomes more effective when the temperature difference increase. This is mainly due to extra heat loss. There is potential room of improvement of the various component using the efficiency and effectiveness methods. These components include compressor, intercooler and dryer. Temperature is a crucial parameter that determines the energy consumption applied by these components. If optimum temperature can be determined, plenty of energy savings will be realized.</div>

Growing demand for electricity forces suppliers to expand their generation capacity. Financing these expansion programmes results in electricity cost increases above inflation rates. By reducing electricity consumption, additional supply capacity is created at lower costs than the building of conventional power stations. Therefore, there is strong justification to reduce electricity consumption on the supplier and consumer side. The mining and industrial sectors of South Africa consumed approximately 43% of the total electricity supplied by Eskom during 2012. Approximately 10% of this electricity was used to produce compressed air. By reducing the electricity consumption of compressed air systems, operating costs are reduced. In turn this reduces the strain on the South African electricity network. Previous energy saving projects on mine compressed air systems realised savings that were not always sustainable. Savings deteriorated due to, amongst others, rapid employee turnover, improper training, lack of maintenance and system changes. There is therefore a need to improve projects that have already been implemented on mine compressed air systems. The continuous improvement of equipment (such as improved control valves) and the availability of newer technologies can be used to improve existing energy saving strategies. This study provides a solution to reduce the electricity consumption and operating costs of a deep level mine compressed air system. This was achieved by modernising and improving an existing underground compressed air saving strategy. This improvement resulted in a power saving of 1.15 MW; a saving equivalent to an annual cost saving of R4.16 million. It was found that the improved underground compressed air DSM project realised significant additional electrical energy savings. This resulted in ample cost savings to justify the implementation of the project improvements. It is recommended that opportunities to improve existing electrical energy saving projects on surface compressed air systems are investigated. / MIng (Mechanical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Improvements upon current gas turbine sealing technology performance are essential for decreasing specific fuel consumption to meet stringent future efficiency targets. The clearances between rotating and static components of a gas turbine, which need to be sealed, vary over a flight cycle. Hence, a seal which can passively maintain an optimum clearance, whilst preventing contact between itself and the rotor, is extremely desirable. Various configurations of a Rolls Royce (RR) seal concept, the Large Axial Movement Face Seal (LAMFS), use static pressure forces to locate face seals. Prototypes were tested experimentally at the Osney Thermofluids Laboratory, Oxford. Firstly a proof-of concept rig (simulating a 2-D seal cross-section) manufactured by RR was re-commissioned. The simplest configuration using parallel seal faces induced an unstable seal housing behaviour. The author used this result, CFD, and analytical methods to improve the design and provide a self-centring ability. A fully annular test rig of this new seal concept was then manufactured to simulate a 3D engine representative seal. The full annulus eliminated leakage paths unavoidable in the simpler rig. A parametric program of experiments was designed to identify geometries and conditions which favoured best-practice design. The new seal design is in the process of being patented by Rolls Royce. A 'fluidic' seal was also investigated, showing very promising results. A test rig was manufactured so that a row of jets could be directed across a leakage cross-flow. An experimental program identified parameters which could achieve a combined lower leakage mass flow rate compared with the original leakage. Influence of jet spanwise spacing, injection angle, jet to mainstream pressure ratio, mainstream pressure difference and channel height were analysed. It is hoped this thesis can be used as a tool to further improve these seal concepts from the parametric trends which were identified experimentally.

Growing demand for electricity forces suppliers to expand their generation capacity. Financing these expansion programmes results in electricity cost increases above inflation rates. By reducing electricity consumption, additional supply capacity is created at lower costs than the building of conventional power stations. Therefore, there is strong justification to reduce electricity consumption on the supplier and consumer side. The mining and industrial sectors of South Africa consumed approximately 43% of the total electricity supplied by Eskom during 2012. Approximately 10% of this electricity was used to produce compressed air. By reducing the electricity consumption of compressed air systems, operating costs are reduced. In turn this reduces the strain on the South African electricity network. Previous energy saving projects on mine compressed air systems realised savings that were not always sustainable. Savings deteriorated due to, amongst others, rapid employee turnover, improper training, lack of maintenance and system changes. There is therefore a need to improve projects that have already been implemented on mine compressed air systems. The continuous improvement of equipment (such as improved control valves) and the availability of newer technologies can be used to improve existing energy saving strategies. This study provides a solution to reduce the electricity consumption and operating costs of a deep level mine compressed air system. This was achieved by modernising and improving an existing underground compressed air saving strategy. This improvement resulted in a power saving of 1.15 MW; a saving equivalent to an annual cost saving of R4.16 million. It was found that the improved underground compressed air DSM project realised significant additional electrical energy savings. This resulted in ample cost savings to justify the implementation of the project improvements. It is recommended that opportunities to improve existing electrical energy saving projects on surface compressed air systems are investigated. / MIng (Mechanical Engineering), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

This master thesis deals with the understanding of the secondary air system of athree spool turbofan. The main purpose is the creation of secondary air systemand thermal models to evaluate the behavior of this kind of engine architectureand estimate the pros and cons in comparison with a typical two spool turbofan. Afinite element model of the secondary air system of the engine has been designedbased on the experience of typical jet engines manufactured by Snecma. Theinner thermodynamic pattern and mass flow rates of the engine were obtained.Some local improvements were then made by making analogies with the enginesmanufactured by Snecma. After having communicated the results to theperformance unit to get updates thermodynamic cycles, a quite reliable model wasobtained and can be used as a reference for further studies of this kind of engineat Snecma.

Although pre-swirlers play a determinant role in the transport of air from stationary parts to rotating holes, knowledge about their actual performance is limited. Therefore, this paper aims to relate how the pre-swirler pressure drop affects the performance of different pre-swirlers in terms of discharge coefficient, adiabatic pre-swirl effectiveness, and swirl ratio. The results are extracted from numerical simulations carried out on three different designs, two guide vanes, and a nozzle. When available, the results are compared to experimental data. The guide vanes have shown similar responses to the pressure drop variations. Their discharge coefficients remain relatively insensitive with an average value of 97%. The swirl ratio range from 0.704 to 1.013 and 0.703 to 1.023 respectively for a pressure drop varying from 3 to 7 bars. The adiabatic pre-swirl effectiveness is of 96% and 94%, respectively, under steady state operation.The nozzle design has shown inferior performance as compared to the guide vane designs. Its discharge coefficient remains around 91% and the swirl ratio varies between 0.678 and 1.121 for a pressure drop ranging from 3 to 10 bars. Under steady state operation, the adiabatic pre-swirl effectiveness is 1.22. The influence of through-flows on the aforementioned parameters was also analyzed. It was observed that the through-flow deteriorates the performance of the pre-swirlers, whether in terms of dimensionless pre-swirl effectiveness, or swirl ratio. The discharge coefficient was however not affected.

This master thesis deals with the understanding of the secondary air system of athree spool turbofan. The main purpose is the creation of secondary air systemand thermal models to evaluate the behavior of this kind of engine architectureand estimate the pros and cons in comparison with a typical two spool turbofan. Afinite element model of the secondary air system of the engine has been designedbased on the experience of typical jet engines manufactured by Snecma. Theinner thermodynamic pattern and mass flow rates of the engine were obtained.Some local improvements were then made by making analogies with the enginesmanufactured by Snecma. After having communicated the results to theperformance unit to get updates thermodynamic cycles, a quite reliable model wasobtained and

<p>Compressed  air  is  a  powerful  source  of  stored  energy  and  is  used  in  a  variety  of  applications varying from painting to pressing, making it a versatile tool for manufacturers.  Due to the high cost and energy consumption associated with producing compressed air and it’s use within industrial manufacturing, it is often referred to as a fourth utility behind electricity, natural gas, and water.  This is the reason why air compressors and associated equipment are often the focus for improvements in the eyes of manufacturing plant managers.</p> <p><br></p> <p>As compressed air can be used in multiple ways, the methods used to extract and transfer the energy from this source vary as well.  Compressed air can flow through different types of piping, such as aluminum, Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), rubber, etc.  with varying hydraulic diameters, and through different fittings such as 90-degree elbows, T-junctions, valves, etc.which can cause one of the major concerns related to managing the energy consumption of an air compressor, and that is the waste of air through leaks.</p> <p>Air leaks make up a considerable portion of the energy that is wasted in a compressed air system,  as they cause a multitude of problems that the compressor will have to makeup  for  to  maintain  the  steady  operation  of  the  pneumatic  devices  on  the  manufacturing floor that rely on compressed air for their application.  When air leaks are formed within the compressed air piping network,  they act as continuous consumers and cause not only the siphoning off of said compressed air, put also reduce the pressure that is needed within the  pipes.   The  air  compressors  will  have  to  work  harder  to  compensate  for  the  losses  in the pressure and the amount of air itself, causing an over consumption of energy and power.Overworking the air compressor also causes the internal equipment to be stretched beyond its capabilities, especially if they are already running at full loads, reducing their total lifespans considerably.  In addition, if there are multiple leaks close to the pneumatic devices on the manufacturing floor, the immediate loss in pressure and air can cause the devices to operate inefficiently and thus cause a reduction in production.  This will all cumulatively impact the manufacturer considerably when it comes to energy consumption and profits.</p> <p>There are multiple methods of air leak detection and accounting that currently exist so as  to  understand  their  impact  on  the  compressed  air  systems.   The  methods  are  usually conducted when the air compressors are running but during the time when there is no, orminimal, active consumption of the air by the pneumatic devices on the manufacturing floor.This time period is usually called non-production hours and generally occur during breaksor  between  employee  shift  changes.   This  time  is  specifically  chosen  so  that  the  only  air consumption within the piping is that of the leaks and thus, the majority of the energy and power consumed during this time is noted to be used to feed the air leaks.  The collected data is then used to extrapolate and calculate the energy and power consumed by these leaks for the rest of the year.  There are, however, a few problems that arise when using such a method to understand the effects of the leaks in the system throughout the year.  One of the issues is that it is assumed that the air and pressure lost through the found leaks areconstant even during the production hours i.e.  the hours that there is active air consumptionby the pneumatic devices on the floor, which may not be the case due to the increased airflow rates and varying pressure within the line which can cause an increase in the amount of air lost through the same orifices that was initially detected.  Another challenge that arises with using only the data collected during a single non-production time period is that theremay be additional air leaks that may be created later on,  and the energy and power lostdue to the newer air leaks would remain unaccounted for.  As the initial estimates will not include the additional losses, the effects of the air leaks may be underestimated by the plant managers.  To combat said issues, a continuous method of air leak analyses will be required so as to monitor the air compressors’ efficiency in relation to the air leaks in real time.</p> <p>By studying a model that includes both the production, and non-production hours when accounting  for  the  leaks,  it  was  observed  that  there  was  a  50.33%  increase  in  the  energy losses, and a 82.90% increase in the demand losses that were estimated when the effects ofthe air leaks were observed continuously and in real time.  A real time monitoring system canprovide an in-depth understanding of the compressed air system and its efficiency.  Managing leaks within a compressed air system can be challenging especially when the amount of energy wasted through these leaks are unaccounted for.  The main goal of this research was to finda non intrusive way to calculate the amount of air as well as energy lost due to these leaks using time series pressure measurements.  Previous studies have shown a strong relationship between the pressure difference, and the use of air within pneumatic lines, this correlationalong with other factors has been exploited in this research to find a novel and viable methodof leak accounting to develop a Continuous Air Leak Monitoring (CALM) system.</p> <p><br></p>