The analytical and numerical modeling of CO2 sequestration in deep saline aquifers having different properties was studied with diffusion and convection mechanisms. The complete dissolution of CO2 in the aquifer by diffusion took thousands, even millions of years. In diffusion dominated system, an aquifer with 100 m thickness saturated with CO2 after 10,000,000 years. It was much earlier in convective dominant system. In diffusion process, the dissolution of CO2 in aquifer increased with porosity increase / however, in convection dominant process dissolution of CO2 in aquifer decreased with porosity increase. The increase in permeability accelerated the dissolution of CO2 in aquifer significantly, which was due to increasing velocity. The dissolution process in the aquifer realized faster for the aquifers with lower dispersivity. The results of convective dominant mechanism in aquifers with 1md and 10 md permeability values were so close to that of diffusion dominated system. For the aquifer having permeability higher than 10 md, the convection mechanism began to dominate gradually and it became fully convection dominated system for 50 md and higher permeability values. These results were also verified with calculated Rayleigh number and mixing zone lengths. The mixing zone length increased with increase in porosity and time in diffusion dominated system. However, the mixing zone length decreased with increase in porosity and it increased with increase in dispersivity and permeability higher than 10 md in convection dominated system.

The soil pile system (SPS) is a wastewater infiltration system used for secondary and tertiary treatment of wastewater. The purpose of this study is to perform a feasibility study to assess the applicability of SPS for treatment and safe disposal of domestic wastewaters, using a simplistic steady-state flow analytical modeling and a numerical transient unsaturated flow and transport modeling approaches. It is also aimed to develop guidelines for the design and operation of field scale SPS using the results of modeling studies. The analytical modeling approach (AMA) was used to assess total coliform and chlorine attenuation efficiency in a SPS with clay loam soil. Analytical modeling results showed that SPS can treat wastewater in terms of total coliform and chlorine. Thus, in the light of findings of analytical modeling study, a pilot scale field study was conducted for the identifying the design and operational characteristics of a field scale system. Numerical modeling approach was used to evaluate the impact on contaminant removal of transient nature of wastewater infiltration and redistribution through clay loam soil pile. The results of numerical and analytical models were compared to assess the effect of flow regime on contaminant removal efficiencies. Results show that there is no significant difference between removal efficiencies achieved by numerical and analytical models. Whereupon, analytical model was used to assess behavior of SPS with different soil types, namely silt loam, loam, and sandy loam soils. Model results indicated that SPS can be effective reducing chlorine and total coliform concentrations of wastewater below discharge standards. Results also indicated that SPS is highly sensitive to soil thickness, infiltration rate, soil bulk density and most importantly decay rate coefficients and the performance of SPS is dependent on the design, construction, operation characteristics and soil-environmental conditions of the system.

The European Union is planning to greatly decrease energy consumption during the coming decades. The ultimate goal is to create sustainable communities that are energy neutral. One way of achieving this challenging goal may be to use efficient hydronic (water-based) heating systems supported by heat pumps. The main objective of the research reported in this work was to improve the thermal performance of wall-mounted hydronic space heaters (radiators). By improving the thermal efficiency of the radiators, their operating temperatures can be lowered without decreasing their thermal outputs. This would significantly improve efficiency of the heat pumps, and thereby most probably also reduce the emissions of greenhouse gases. Thus, by improving the efficiency of radiators, energy sustainability of our society would also increase. The objective was also to investigate how much the temperature of the supply water to the radiators could be lowered without decreasing human thermal comfort. Both numerical and analytical modeling was used to map and improve the thermal efficiency of the analyzed radiator system. Analyses have shown that it is possible to cover space heat losses at low outdoor temperatures with the proposed heating-ventilation systems using low-temperature supplies. The proposed systems were able to give the same heat output as conventional radiator systems but at considerably lower supply water temperature. Accordingly, the heat pump efficiency in the proposed systems was in the same proportion higher than in conventional radiator systems. The human thermal comfort could also be maintained at acceptable level at low-temperature supplies with the proposed systems. In order to avoid possible draught discomfort in spaces served by these systems, it was suggested to direct the pre-heated ventilation air towards cold glazed areas. By doing so the draught discomfort could be efficiently neutralized.     Results presented in this work clearly highlight the advantage of forced convection and high temperature gradients inside and alongside radiators - especially for low-temperature supplies. Thus by a proper combination of incoming air supply and existing radiators a significant decrease in supply water temperature could be achieved without decreasing the thermal output from the system. This was confirmed in several studies in this work. It was also shown that existing radiator systems could successfully be combined with efficient air heaters. This also allowed a considerable reduction in supply water temperature without lowering the heat output of the systems. Thus, by employing the proposed methods, a significant improvement of thermal efficiency of existing radiator systems could be accomplished. A wider use of such combined systems in our society would reduce the distribution heat losses from district heating networks, improve heat pump efficiency and thereby most probably also lower carbon dioxide emissions. / <p>QC 20131029</p>

L'émergence des transformateurs piézoélectriques coïncident avec le développement dans les années 1950 des céramiques ferroélectriques appartenant à la famille cristalline des pérovskites qui n'ont cessé de s'améliorer depuis. Outre la compacité dont bénéficie ces structures, les transformateurs piézoélectriques offrent des performances remarquables en terme de gain en tension et rendement utiles pour des applications nécessitant une adaptation de tension ou une isolation galvanique, parfaitement dédiés aux applications de faibles puissances à haut rendement. Toutefois, les transformateurs piézoélectriques peuvent être déviés de leurs applications premières. En effet, la dernière décennie a été marquée par l'apparition de générateur de plasma par effet piézoélectrique utilisant principalement des architectures de type transformateur. Pourtant, si quelques applications usuelles illustrent parfaitement cette interaction, la compréhension des phénomènes physiques qui en sont à l'origine reste à approfondir. L'objectif de cette thèse est d'en expliquer les fondements par une approche méthodique. Ce travail s'articule autour de plusieurs étapes comprenant la mise en oeuvre d'une méthode systématique de la modélisation analytique d'un transformateur piézoélectrique, de l'étude de la carte de champ produit par un transformateur ainsi qu'une étude expérimentale vue des bornes en guise de premières investigations. La modélisation analytique est basée sur l'exploitation du Principe de Moindre Action (PMA). A partir de la théorie linéaire de la piézoélectricité, un modèle général applicable à toutes les géométries de transformateur, exploitant des modes de couplage piézoélectrique multiples, est proposé. Son caractère multimodal est par ailleurs mis en exergue. Cette modélisation est appliquée à une structure classique de transformateur piézoélectrique de type Rosen et les résultats obtenus sont validés d'une part par une identification numérique, issue d'un logiciel de calcul par éléments finis, et d'autre part par une caractérisation expérimentale. La modélisation analytique précédente ne tient pas compte dans sa mise en oeuvre de l'influence de l'environnement dans lequel évolue le transformateur piézoélectrique. Afin de caractériser le potentiel électrique produit, un modèle numérique 2D du champ électrique environnant est proposé selon la méthode des différences finies. Ce modèle est basé sur une extension du modèle analytique précédemment développé incluant les pertes mécaniques afin de quantifier le potentiel électrique de surface. Même si l'influence du plasma est négligée en première approximation, la modélisation permet de mettre en lumière les zones de fort champ correspondant aux zones de décharges luminescentes observées expérimentalement. Finalement, afin de valider le concept de générateur de plasma piézoélectrique, une caractérisation vue des bornes du transformateur piézoélectrique de type Rosen a été entreprise. Une étude systématique du déclenchement de la décharge plasma en fonction du niveau de tension et de la pression environnante a été menée. Cette part expérimentale de l'étude constitue une approche pionnière pour qualifier le comportement électromécanique du transformateur et a ainsi permis de mettre en évidence des comportements non linéaires issus de ce mode de fonctionnement atypique qu'est la génération de décharges de surface par effet piézoélectrique. / The emergence of piezoelectric transformers coincides with the development in the 1950s of ferroelectric ceramics belonging to the perovskites crystalline family. In addition to providing small size and weight, piezoelectric transformers offer outstanding performances in terms of galvanic insulation, voltage ratio and efficiency. Furthermore, compared with conventional electromagnetic transformers, piezoelectric transformers are free from electromagnetic interference. They are consequently more suitable for low power and high efficiency applications for small embedded systems. However, piezoelectric transformers can be deviated from their initial applications. Indeed, the emergence of plasma generator by piezoelectric effect, using mainly piezoelectric transformers, made its mark on the last decade. Nevertheless, if a few typical applications perfectly exemplify this interaction, the understanding of instigated physical phenomena remains to go into detail. The aim of this thesis is to explain the fundaments by a methodical approach. This work is based on several steps including the implementation of piezoelectric transformer analytical modeling, the study of the electrical field generated by a piezoelectric transformer and a first experimental investigation from piezoelectric transformer terminals. The analytical modeling is based on the utilization of the least action principle. From linear piezoelectric theory, a general model applicable to all transformer geometries, using multiple piezoelectric coupling modes, is put forward. Its multimodal characteristic is in addition underlined. This modeling is applied to a classical Rosen type transformer and the obtained results are confirmed on one hand by a numerical identication, and on the other hand by an experimental characterization. The previous analytical modeling does not take into account in its application the influence of the environment in which the piezoelectric transformer evolves. In order to qualify the produced electrical potential, a 2D numerical model of surrounding electrical field is put forward according to nite difference method. This model is based on the extension of previously developed analytical model including mechanical losses in order to quantify the surfacic electrical potential. Even if plasma influence is ignored in first approximation, the modeling allows to highlight high electrical field areas matching glow discharges areas experimentally observed. Finally, in order to validate the concept of piezoelectric plasma generator, a characterization from Rosen type piezoelectric transformer terminals has been undertaken. A systematic study of plasma discharge ignition in function of the input voltage level and the surrounding pressure has been carried out. This experimental part of the study constitutes a pioneering approach in order to qualify transformer electromechanical behavior. It has consequently allowed to give rise to nonlinear behaviors from untypical operation mode which is the surfacic discharge generation by piezoelectric effect.

Dans le milieu automobile, les règlementations visant à limiter l’émission de particules fines et de gaz à effet de serre sont devenues de plus en plus sévères au cours des dernières années. Cette tendance ne va pas s’inverser et des solutions doivent être trouvées pour améliorer le rendement des moteurs à combustion interne (ICE) qui propulsent la majorité des véhicules de tourisme dans le monde.Une des solutions permettant d’améliorer le rendement thermodynamique de l’ICE est d’utiliser un turbocompresseur. Cet organe de suralimentation permet d’accroître le couple du moteur en augmentant la pression d’air dans les cylindres et par conséquent la quantité de comburant. Le turbocompresseur présente cependant un inconvénient pour l’agrément de conduite. Selon la technologie employée, un temps de latence (turbo lag) plus ou moins important apparait entre le moment ou le conducteur appui sur la pédale d’accélérateur et le moment ou le couple est disponible sur les roues.Pour pallier ce problème, on peut utiliser une machine électrique venant assister le turbocompresseur durant la phase de montée en vitesse. Cette machine peut faire partie d’un système indépendant de compression d’air et placée en amont du turbocompresseur, on parlera alors de turbo assisté électriquement. Cette machine peut aussi être intégrée directement au turbocompresseur, on parlera alors de turbo électrique. Dans les deux cas, le temps de réponse du turbocompresseur est amélioré ce qui impacte directement la dynamique du véhicule et le plaisir de conduite. Dans le cas du turbo électrique, l’intégration de la machine électrique directement sur le turbocompresseur permet son fonctionnement en génératrice en offrant ainsi une amélioration du rendement global de l’ICE.Le sujet de la thèse est la modélisation et la conception des machines électriques haute vitesse pour ces applications. Les principales qualités recherchées pour ces machines seront :-leurs capacités à pouvoir fonctionner à haute vitesse : les vitesses recherchées se situe typiquement entre 70 000 et 150 000 tr/min pour des vitesses périphériques de l’ordre de 150 m/s ;-leurs densités de puissance : on recherche des puissances de 3 à 15 kW pour des machines compactes qui devront être intégrées sous le capot du véhicule ;-des rendements élevés de l’ordre de 95 % ;-une conception adaptée à la production en grande série pour l’automobile.Pour répondre à cette problématique, les travaux suivants ont été entrepris :Dans un premier temps, nous avons modélisé finement les phénomènes électromagnétiques et mécaniques liées aux machines électriques haute vitesse à encoches et aimants permanents positionnés en surface. Pour cela, nous avons développé un modèle de calcul en sous-domaines pour la partie électromagnétique et un modèle multicouches de résistance des matériaux pour le calcul de la tenue du rotor à haute vitesse.Dans un deuxième temps, pour pouvoir explorer des topologies de machines très différentes, nous avons eu recourt aux méthodes de calcul par éléments finis. Nous avons pu identifier et de comparer plusieurs topologies de machines à encoches, sans encoches, à bobinage dentaire ou toroïdal. Cette étude paramétrique a permis de comparer la densité de couple et le rendement de ces machines.Enfin, dans une dernière partie, nous avons traité le cas du prototypage et des mesures de ces machines. Pour cela, sur la base des études réalisées, nous avons prototypé trois machines aux performances prometteuses. La conception mécanique des différentes machines est abordée ainsi que les méthodes de mesures et les difficultés liées aux caractérisations à haute vitesse.Au cours de ce travail de thèse, d’autres aspects ont aussi été abordés tel que la modélisation des pertes du système machine électrique et convertisseur de puissance, la dynamique des rotors ou encore les émissions acoustiques. / In the automotive industry, regulations to limit the emission of greenhouse gases have become more and more severe. This trend is not going to change and solutions must be found to improve the efficiency of internal combustion engines (ICE) that drive the majority of passenger cars in the world.Turbochargers are a clever solution to improve the thermodynamic efficiency of the ICE. This forced induction device increases the air pressure in the cylinders and therefore the engine torque. However, turbochargers have a major disadvantage for the driver experience: a lag time (turbo lag) between the moment when the driver steps on the accelerator and the moment when torque is available.To overcome this problem, an electric machine can be used to assist the turbocharger during the speed up phase. This machine can be a part of an independent system of air compression and placed upstream of the turbocharger or it can be integrated directly into the turbocharger. In both cases, the response time of the turbocharger is greatly reduced which directly impacts the dynamic of the vehicle and the driving pleasure. The integration of the electric machine directly on the turbocharger allows its operation as a generator to improve the overall efficiency of the ICE.The subject of this thesis is the modeling and design of high speed electric machines for these applications. The main requirements are:-High-speed operation: between 70,000 and 150,000 rpm and peripheral speeds around 150 m/s.-Power density: from 3 to 15 kW for compact machines that will have to be integrated under the hood of the vehicle.-High efficiency: around 95 % and above.-A design adapted to mass production for the automotive industry.To cope with this requirements, the following tasks were undertaken:Firstly, we modeled the electromagnetic and mechanical behaviors of high-speed slotted electric machines with surface-mounted permanent magnets. For the electromagnetic part, we developed a subdomain calculation model. For the mechanical part, we worked on a multilayer model to evaluate the rotor strength at high speed.Secondly, we used finite element analysis methods to explore different machine structures. We compared several topologies of slotted and slotless machines, with tooth-coil winding and toroidal winding. This parametric study allowed us to compare the torque density and efficiency of these machines.Finally, we dealt with the case of prototyping and measurements of these machines. Based on the previous studies, we prototyped three machines with promising performances. The mechanical design of the different machines is discussed as well as the measurement methods and the difficulties associated with high speed characterization.During this thesis work, other aspects were also discussed such as the losses in power converters driving high-speed electric machines, rotor dynamics and acoustic emissions.