The thesis is aimed at the problem of the air distribution in buildings. The object of research is the concert hall. The thesis contains three different technical proposals and technical views of the microclimate concert hall. The microclimate’s solutions are focused on the air distribution in the hall. The part of the thesis is an experiment. The experiment continues on the one of the technical proposals. Its purpose is to determine the characteristics of air flowing from distribution element.

The purpose of this thesis work was to study the airflow patterns and the particle distribution in a generic car cabin in order to evaluate the air quality and find how it can be improved. A 3D CAD model was created using the Solidworks software program and meshed using ICEM CFD software. The ICEM CFD software was used to generate the mesh and ANSYS FLUENT was adapted for the simulation. In total, 12 different cases were simulated by considering different inlet velocities and vent setup. The predicted results were further used to analyze the airflow and particle distribution in the entire car cabin. With higher inlet velocity there were more particles being transported to the rear part of the cabin. In general, the particle concentration was higher in the front of the cabin when they were introduced through the inlets, especially with low inlet velocities. Opening the recirculation vents resulted in a slight reduction of the flow to the rear side and reduced the particle distribution accordingly. When smoke particles were introduced in the rear seats, they mostly stayed in the rear of the cabin, especially with low inlet flow velocities as the air did not mix sufficiently. Overall a higher inlet airflow velocity reduced the number of particles that were trapped on the front and rear seats. However, an increase in the number of particles that were trapped on the ceiling, floor and walls were obtained. / Syftet med den här avhandlingen var att studera luftflödesmönster och partikelfördelningen i en generell bilkabin för att utvärdera luftkvaliteten och se hur man kan förbättra den. En 3D CAD-modell skapades med hjälp av Solidworks och ett rutnät skapades med hjälp av ICEM CFD. ICEM CFD användes för att generera rutnätet och ANSYS FLUENT användes för simuleringarna. Totalt simulerades 12 olika fall bestående av olika inflödeshastigheter och ventilinställningar. De beräknade resultaten användes sedan för att analysera luftflödet och partikelfördelningen i hela bilkabinen. Med högre inloppsflöde var det fler partiklar som transporterades till bakre delen av bilkabinen. Överlag var partikelkoncentrationen högre i framdelen av kabinen när partiklarna introducerades i inloppsventilerna, särskilt vid låga inloppshastigheter. Att öppna recirkulationsventilerna resulterade i en liten minskning av luftflödet till bakdelen av kabinen och även så partikelfördelningen. När rökpartiklar introducerades i baksätena, stannade de för det mesta i bakdelen av kabinen, särskilt vid låga inloppsflödeshastigheter då luften inte blandades tillräckligt. Överlag innebar en högre inloppsflödeshastighet reducerade mängden av partiklar som fastnade på fram- och baksätena, men ökade mängden partiklar som fastnade på taket, golvet och på väggarna.

Enligt Folkhälsomyndighetens uppgifter påstår 18 procent av den vuxna populationen att de lider av symtom relaterat till inomhusmiljön. Symtomen kan beröra alldagliga ohälsor däribland trötthet och huvudvärk till allvarliga åkommor såsom cancer (Folkhälsomyndigheten, 2013). Då ventilationens huvuduppgift är att tillgodose kraven på inomhusklimatet och därmed förebygga ohälsa, berör detta examensarbete problematiken kring ventilationssystemets utformning och dess ekonomiska konsekvenser. Syftet med arbetet var att identifiera vilken luftflödesprincip som är kostnadseffektivast för kontorsverksamhet utifrån två skilda typplanlösningar. Tre luftflödesprinciper har studerats, där slutligen ett CAV-, VAV- och DCV- system har utformats och dimensionerats utifrån realistiska förutsättningar och krav berörande inomhusklimatet. Ventilationssystemen utformas på skilda sätt med avseende på vilken luftflödesprincip som används, vilket bidrar till ekonomiska för- och nackdelar. Den ekonomiska undersökningen utförs genom jämförelser utifrån respektive ventilationssystems livscykelanalys, där luftflödesprinciper med likartade förutsättningar studeras i förhållande till varandra. Rapporten hanterar generella problem och tillvägagångssätt gällande problematiken kring dimensionering och utformning av ventilationssystem. De ekonomiska analyserna har resulterat i tydliga skillnader gällande investering-, drift- och underhållskostnader för respektive system. Resultatet påvisar att investeringskostnaden är den viktigaste faktorn vid val av ventilationssystem. / According to Folkhälsomyndigheten, 18 precent of the adult population claims they experience symptoms related to the indoor environment. These symptoms can consist of both common illnesses, such as fatigue and headache, to more serious diseases such as cancer (Folkhälsomyndigheten, 2013). The main task of a ventilation system is to satisfy the requirements regarding the indoor climate and thereby consequently prevent poor health. This report focuses on the complex problems regarding ventilation systems design and it´s economic consquences. The purpose with this report is to identify which airflow principle is the most cost effective for office operations basad on two distinct floor plans. Three airflow principles have been studied; consist of the CAV-, VAV- and DCV-principle. All principles were designed and dimensioned based on realistic conditions and the specific requirement regarding the indoor environment. Each ventilation system was designed differently depending on the applied airflow principle, which led to different economic pros and cons for each ventilation system. The airflow principle´s life cycle cost has been compared in an economic analysis. The economic analysises were based on comparisons between each ventilation system’s life cycle cost and it´s reigning conditions. The report deals with general problems and processes regarding the dimensioning and designing of the ventilation systems. The economic comparisons resulted in a substantial difference in investment- , operation- and the maintenance cost for each system. The results proved that the investment cost is the key factor when comparing the airflow principle´s life cycle cost.

No description available.

The dispersion model was used to study mixing levels in a full scale aeration tank. The effect of air flow rate, water flow rate and diffuser type was investigated. The peak time technique proved satisfactory in predicting the theoretical tracer response curve generated using the dispersion model. The dispersion model adequately described the longitudinal mixing that occurred in a full scale aeration tank equipped with fine and coarse bubble air diffusers. Response curves from two tanks-in-series were also obtained. / Thesis / Master of Engineering (ME)

Stellenbosch University. Faculty of Engineering. Dept. of Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering. / Thesis (MEng)--Stellenbosch University, 1990. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The causes of disturbances in the flow patterns at the inlets of axial flow fans that are used in mechanical draft cooling towers and the effects of these disturbances on the fans, were investigated. A scale model of a part of a mechanical draft cooling tower used at a power station was built for the purpose of this study. In the cooling tower the axial flow fans are arranged in a matrix configuration. It was noted from the scale model that the boundary fan was subjected to the worst inlet disturbances and this had an adverse effect on the flow it produced. Geometric alterations like the use of guide vanes and rounded inlets improved the flow through the boundary fan considerably. It was found that the performance of the fans is a function of the number of fans used and the elevation of the fans. Several tests to determine the performance of the cooling tower confirmed the results obtained from the experiments on the scale model. It was also found that the speed and direction of the prevailing wind have a significant effect on the cooling tower. Experiments to investigate the effects of cross-flow at the inlet of a fan indicated an increased flow through the fan at low cross-flow velocities and that the flow decreased at high cross-flow velocities. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die invloed en oorsake van versteurde inlaatvloeipatrone op aksiaalwaaiers wat in meganiese-trek koeltorings gebruik word is ondersoek. 'n Skaaimodel van 'n deel van 'n meganiese-trek koeltoring wat by 'n kragstasie gebruik word is gebou vir die doel van die studie. Die aksiaalwaaiers wat in die koeltoring gebruik word is in 'n matrikskonfigurasie gerangskik. Vanaf die skaalmodel is waargeneem dat die randwaaier die ergste versteuring by die inlaat ervaar, en gevolglik minder vloei as die res van die waaiers in die opstelling lewer. Die vloei deur die randwaaier is verbeter deur verskillende geometriese wysigings soos leilemme en inlaatafrondings aan te bring. Daar is gevind dat die werking van die waaiers in die opstelling 'n funksie van die hoeveelheid waaiers asook die grondvryhoogte is. Om die werking van die koeltoring te bepaal is verskillende toetse daarop uitgevoer. Die resultate het die geldigheid van die skaalmodel bevestig. Daar is ook gevind dat die heersende windsterkte en rigting 'n definitiewe invloed op die koeltoring uitoefen. Die invloed van 'n dwarsvloei by die inlaat van 'n enkele waaier is ook eksperimenteel ondersoek. Die resultate toon dat daar 'n vermeerdering in vloei deur die waaier by lae dwarsvloeisnelhede plaasvind. Hoë dwarsvloeisnelhede veroorsaak egter 'n vermindering in vloei.

Thesis (MScEng)--Stellenbosch University, 2014. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: A measurement device was developed to accurately determine the pneumatic power performance of an Oscillating Water Column (OWC) model in a wave flume. The analysis of the pneumatic power is significant due to the wave-topneumatic energy being the primary energy conversion process and where the most energy losses can be expected. The aim of the research study is to address the accurate pneumatic power measurement of unsteady and bidirectional airflow in OWC model experiments. The two fundamental measurements required for the pneumatic power measurement are the pressure difference over an orifice on the OWC model and the volumetric flow rate of air through the outlet. The designed, constructed and assembled measurement device comprised of a venturi flow meter, containing a hot-film anemometer, which could measure the pressure drop and the volumetric flow rate in one device. The assembled pneumatic power measurement device was calibrated in a vertical wind tunnel at steady state. The results from the calibration tests showed that the volumetric flow rate measurements from the pneumatic power measurement device was accurate to within 3 % of the wind tunnel’s readings. The pneumatic power measurement device was incorporated onto a constructed Perspex physical model of a simple OWC device. This assembled system was used as the test unit in the wave flume at Stellenbosch University (SUN). The results from the experimental tests underwent comparative analysis with three analytical OWC air-flow models which were simulated as three scenarios using Matlab Simulink. These results showed that the measurement device has the ability to measure the pneumatic power but there is difficulty in modelling the complex air-flow system of the OWC device. This results in varying levels of agreement between the experimental and simulated pneumatic power results. The research study has revealed that there is difficulty in designing an accurate device for a wide range of test parameters due to the variance in output values. The unsteady and bidirectional nature of the air flow is also difficult to accurately simulate using a one-dimensional analytical model. Recommendations for further investigation are for CFD systems to be used for the analysis of the air-flow in an OWC system and to be used to validate future pneumatic power measurement devices. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: ‘n Meetinstrument was ontwikkel om die pneumatiese kraglewering van ‘n model van die Ossillerende Water Kolom (OWK) golfenergie omsetter in ‘n golf tenk akkuraat te meet. Dit is belangrik om die omskakeling van golf na pneumatiese energie te analiseer siende dat die grootste energieverlies in dié proses plaasvind. Die doel van hierdie navorsingsprojek was om die akkurate pneumatiese kragmeting van variërende en twee-rigting vloei van lug in ‘n OWK model na te vors. Die twee fundamentele metings wat benodig word vir die pneumatiese kragbepaling is die drukverskil oor die vloei vernouing en die volumetriese vloeitempo van lug deur die uitlaat van die toetstoestel. Die spesiaal ontwerpte meettoestel wat gebruik is in die eksperiment het bestaan uit ‘n venturi vloeimeter wat ‘n verhitte-film anemometer bevat het wat die drukverandering en die volumetriese vloeitempo kan meet in ‘n enkele instrument. Die pneumatiese kragmeting was gekalibreer in ‘n vertikale windtonnel waarin ‘n konstante vloei tempo geïnduseer was. Die kalibrasieproses het bevestig dat die meettoestel metings lewer met ‘n fout van minder as 3 % wanneer dit vergelyk word met die bekende konstante vloei tempo soos bepaal in die windtonnel. ‘n Fisiese model van ‘n vereenvoudigde OWK golfenergie omsetter was ontwerp en gebou uit Perspex om as toetstoestel te gebruik vir die evaluering van die ontwerpte pneumatiese kraglewering meettoestel. Die toetse was uitgevoer in ‘n golftenk by die Universiteit Stellenbosch (SUN). The toetsresultate was vergelyk met drie ander OWK lugvloei modelle wat gesimuleer was deur om die analitiese modelle op te stel en te simuleer in Matlab Simulink. Die vergelyking van modellering resultate het gewys dat die meettoestel die vermoë het om pneumatiese krag te meet. Daar was wel komplikasies met die modellering van die komplekse lugvloei in die OWK toestel, die resultate het geen definitiewe ooreenstemming gewys tussen die eksperimentele en gesimuleerde pneumatiese krag resultate nie. Die navorsingsprojek het gewys dat daar komplikasies is om ‘n enkel toestel te ontwerp wat oor ‘n wye bereik kan meet weens die variasie van die verskillende parameters. Die variërende en twee-rigting lugvloei is ook moeilik om akkuraat te simuleer met ‘n een-dimensionele analitiese simulasie model. Aanbevelings vir verdere navorsing sluit in om die lugvloei in die OWK stelsel te modelleer en te analiseer in ‘n drie-dimensionele model om die lesings van ‘n pneumatiese krag meettoestel te bevestig.

Breast cancer is one of the most common types of cancer affecting women in the world today. To better understand breast cancer initiation and progression modeling biological tissue under physiological conditions is essential. Indeed, breast cancer involves complex interactions between mammary epithelial cells and the stroma, both extracellular matrix (ECM) and cells including adipocytes (fat tissue) and fibroblasts (connective tissue). Therefore, the engineering of in vitro three-dimensional (3D) systems of breast tissues allows a deeper understanding of the complex cell-cell and cell-ECM interactions involved during breast tissue development and cancer initiation and progression. Furthermore, such 3D systems may provide a viable alternative to investigate new drug or drug regimen and to model and monitor concurrent cellular processes during tumor growth and invasion. The development of suitable 3D in vitro models relies on the ability to mimic the microenvironment, the structure, and the functions of the breast tissue. Different approaches to develop a novel 3D breast model have been investigated. Most models use gel scaffolds, including Matrigel® and collagen to generate breast tissue-like structures. However, the physicochemical, mechanical, and geometrical properties of these scaffolds only partially meet the mechanical, physical, and chemical parameters of the breast tissue matrix. In the present studies, we investigated the overall hypothesis that electrospun SF-derived scaffolds promote mammary cell growth and the formation of mammary-like structures depending on the composition and/or coating of the scaffolds with ECM proteins. Through an extensive literature search (1) the importance of 3D modeling of tissues and organs in vivo, (2) 3D modeling of the mammary tissue and currently available models, (3) the properties and applications of SF in tissue modeling and regeneration were reviewed (Chapter 1). Our studies provide evidence of the effects of various concentrations (Chapter 2) of SF along with different electrospinning techniques (Chapter 3) on the structure of electrospun scaffolds and whether those scaffolds provide suitable microenvironments for mammary epithelial cells as determined by MCF10A cell attachment, viability, and structure formation. Further, we investigated the effects of the key ECM proteins collagen I (Chapter 4) and laminin (Chapter 5) used to blend or coat, respectively, SF scaffolds on the attachment, viability and structure formation of mammary epithelial cells. Our studies first highlight the mechanical and physical properties of the different SF-derived scaffolds through various SF concentrations and electrospinning techniques. Second, the biocompatibility of these SF electrospun scaffolds was defined based on MCF10A cell survival and adhesion. Third, our data indicate that scaffolds derived from blended and/or coated SF with collagen I also promoted human mammary cell survival and adhesion. Lastly, our observations suggest that on laminin-coated SF scaffolds MCF10A mammary cells, in the presence of lactogenic hormones, differentiated forming acinus-like structures. Overall, these studies provide evidence that SF electrospun scaffolds closely mimic the structure of the ECM fibers and allow many advantages such as; physical and chemical modification of the microenvironment by varying electrospinning parameters and addition of various proteins, hormones, and growth factors, respectively. Further, coating these SF scaffolds with essential ECM proteins, in particular laminin, promote cell-ECM interactions necessary for cell differentiation and formation of growth-arrested structures, through providing cell integrin binding sites and appropriate chemical cues.

This research was aimed at the development and validation of new in vitro methods capable of predicting in vivo drug deposition from dry powder inhalers, DPIs, in lung-normal human adults. Three physical models of the mouth, throat and upper airways, MT-TB, were designed and validated using the anatomical literature. Small, medium and large versions were constructed to cover approximately 95% of the variation seen in normal adult humans of both genders. The models were housed in an artificial thorax and used for in vitro testing of drug deposition from Budelin Novolizer DPIs using a breath simulator to mimic inhalation profiles reported in clinical trials of deposition from the same inhaler. Testing in the model triplet produced results for in vitro total lung deposition (TLD) consistent with the complete range of drug deposition results reported in vivo. The effect of variables such as in vitro flow rate were also predictive of in vivo deposition. To further assess the method’s robustness, in vitro drug deposition from 5 marketed DPIs was assessed in the “medium” MT-TB model. With the exception of Relenza Diskhaler, mean values for %TLD+SD differed by only < 2% from their literature in vivo. The relationship between inhaler orientation and in vitro regional airway deposition was determined. Aerosol drug deposition was found to depend on the angle at which an inhaler is inserted into the mouth although the results for MT deposition were dependent on both the product and the formulation being delivered. In the clinic, inhalation profiles were collected from 20 healthy inhaler naïve volunteers (10M, 10F) before and after they received formal inhalation training in the use of a DPI. Statistically significant improvements in Peak Inhalation Flow Rate (PIFR) and Inhalation Volume (V) were observed following formalized training. The shapes of the average inhalation profiles recorded in the clinic were found to be comparable to the simulated profiles used in the in vitro deposition studies described above. In conclusion, novel in vitro test methods are described that accurately predict both the average and range of aerosol airway drug deposition seen from DPIs in the clinic.

A utilização do sensor medidor de vazão mássica de ar (MAFS) para controlar a vazão em massa de ar admitida pelo motor de combustão interna é relativamente nova no Brasil. Dentre os veículos comercializados no mercado brasileiro é possível encontrar uma série de exemplos que aplicam tal tecnologia. Acredita-se ainda, que este sensor em breve será adotado pela totalidade dos fabricantes de veículos nacionais. Este trabalho aborda uma metodologia prática para instalação robusta deste sensor em sistemas de admissão de ar para motores de combustão interna veiculares. Esta metodologia foi baseada em recentes projetos de desenvolvimento de sistemas de admissão de ar realizados por uma das principais montadoras brasileiras que utiliza este tipo de sensor para auxiliar no gerenciamento do sistema eletrônico de controle do motor. Este trabalho inclui ainda informações sobre os principais testes de validação para a instalação do sensor nos sistemas de admissão veicular, bem como algumas das práticas adotadas na execução do processo de desenvolvimento. Além disso, serão abordados também os efeitos de modificações realizadas nos sistemas de admissão e como estas afetam os resultados obtidos. / The usage of Mass Air Flow Sensor (MAFS) to control the mass air flow intake by the internal combustion engine is relatively new in Brazil. Among the vehicles sold in the Brazilian market it is possible to find a number of examples that apply this technology. It is believed, however, that this sensor will soon be embraced by all domestic vehicle manufacturers. This document presents a practical methodology for robust installation of this sensor in air intake systems for a vehicle internal combustion engine. This methodology was based on recent development projects of air intake systems developed by one of the main Brazilian companies that use this type of sensor to help the electronic control system to manage the engine. This work also includes information about the main validation tests for installing the sensor in the vehicle air intake systems, as well as some of the practices adopted in the implementation of the development process. There will also be addressed the effects of modifications in the intake systems and how these modifications affect the results.