Axial ventilation fans are used to improve the air quality, remove contaminants, and to control the temperature and humidity in occupied areas. Ventilation fans are one of the most harmful sources of noise due to their close proximity to occupied areas and widespread use. The prolonged exposure to hazardous noise levels can lead to noise-induced hearing loss. Consequently, there is a critical need to reduce noise levels from ventilation fans. Since fan noise scales with the 4-6th power of the fan tip speed, minimizing the fan tip speed and optimizing the duct geometry are effective methods to reduce fan noise. However, there is a tradeoff between reducing fan speed, noise and aerodynamic efficiency. To this end, a new innovative comprehensive optimum design methodology considering both aerodynamic efficiency and noise was formulated and implemented using a multi-objective genetic algorithm. The methodology incorporates a control vortex design approach that results in a spanwise chord and twist distribution of the blades that maximize the volumetric flow rate contribution of the outer radii, i.e. the axial flow velocity increases from the fan hub to the tip. The resulting blade geometry generates a given volumetric flow rate at the minimum fan tip speed. The fan design is complemented by the design of the optimum inlet duct geometry to maximize volumetric flow rate and minimize BL thickness for low noise generation. Good agreement with experimental results validates the design process. The present study also incorporates multi-element airfoils to further increase the aerodynamic characteristics of the fan blades and enable lower fan speeds and noise. Good agreement between experiments and predictions indicate that traditional blade element momentum methods can be implemented in conjunction with multi-element airfoil aerodynamic characteristics with good accuracy. A direct comparison of fans designed with single and multi-element airfoils has shown that fans designed with multi-element airfoils aerodynamically outperform single element fans. / Doctor of Philosophy / Axial ventilation fans are widely used to improve the air quality, remove contaminants, and to control the temperature and humidity in occupied areas. However, high noise levels from ventilations fans are a harmful source of noise that can lead to irreversible noise-induced hearing loss. Therefore, this work addresses a critical need for quiet and efficient ventilation fans. To this end, a new innovative comprehensive optimum design methodology considering both aerodynamic efficiency and noise was formulated, implemented, and tested. The methodology optimizes the fan geometry to maximize the volumetric flow rate and minimize noise. The fan design is complemented by the design of the optimum inlet duct geometry to increase the volumetric flow rate and minimize BL thickness for low noise generation. Good agreement with experimental results validates the design process. The present study also incorporates multi-element airfoils to further increase the aerodynamic characteristics of the fan blades. A direct comparison of fans designed with single and multi-element airfoils has shown that fans designed with multi-element airfoils aerodynamically outperform single element airfoil fans.

Simultaneous Perturbation Stochastic Approximation method has attracted considerable application in many different areas such as statistical parameter estimation, feedback control, simulation-based optimization, signal & image processing, and experimental design. In this paper, its performance as a viable optimization tool is demonstrated by applying it first to a simple wing geometry design problem for which the objective function is described by an empirical formula from aircraft design practice and then it is used in a transonic fan blade design problem in which the objective function is not represented by any explicit function but is estimated at each design iteration by a computational fluid dynamics algorithm for solving the Navier-Stokes equations / Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA)

The use of induction fans for face ventilation in room and pillar mines has proved to be an efficient, flexible, and viable technique. In addition to their merits over conventional systems, induction fans enable remote controlled mine operations with low maintenance requirements. Theoretical investigations were conducted initially to verify the potential of free air jets in mine ventilation. A laboratory model using water as the fluid medium was designed to study the flow characteristics of a jet fan in a blind entry. The model was tested in a variety of brattice curtain and nozzle combinations to investigate the ventilating efficiency of jet fans. A jet fan was selected and tested in a full scale model and in a coal mine. Experiments were conducted to evaluate the laboratory flow models. Flow quantities and velocities in the entry were measured using state-of-the-art instrumentation to quantify various parameters. Air velocities near the face were found to be satisfactory to dilute contaminants from the face. A model for the axial velocity profile of the jet was suggested. Beyond 25m distance from the jet fan exit the jet tended to move away from the wall to the opposite wall. Carbon dioxide was used as a tracer gas to measure the effective ventilating air quantity near the face and re-circulation in various tests. The re-circulation involved in the system was found to be less than 40% in all the experiments. It was also found that the use of line curtains in combination with a jet a fan can eliminate any type of re-circulation. Numerical modeling of a jet fan in a typical coal mine heading was conducted to obtain details of the flow. The results of the simulation using computational fluid dynamics were similar to the flow patterns observed in the experiments. It was found that a jet fan can effectively ventilate an entry as deep as 40m. Fan positioning, airway geometry, airway surface properties, and mine layout severely affect its performance. It is therefore necessary to understand the flow mechanics of a jet fan in a mine heading before applying the technique for a particular situation. / Ph. D.

Os experimentos florestais que estudam os efeitos de espaçamento devem adotar delineamentos distintos daqueles utilizados convencionalmente, por conta da grande demanda de área experimental dos delineamentos convencionais, o delineamento sistemático tipo \"leque\" é a forma mais viável de se executar este tipo de ensaio. Neste delineamento, as árvores são dispostas em diversos círculos concêntricos, de modo que, vários espaçamentos são gerados, porém, sem que haja possibilidade para a casualização. Para este tipo de experimento, convencionalmente são realizadas análises geoestatísticas que modelam o comportamento espacial de dependência entre os elementos, utilizando além da variável observada, as coordenadas das observações. Assim, é modelada uma função denominada semivariograma que explica esta dependência espacial, possibilitando a criação de um mapa de tendências denominado krigagem. Neste trabalho, são tratadas as variáveis de altura, diâmetro do fuste, diâmetro da copa, área da copa e volume cilíndrico de árvores de Canafístula, aos seis meses para altura e aos 13, 25 e 37 meses para todas as variáveis, após o plantio de mudas de Canafístula (Peltophorum dubium) em um experimento conduzido em Mato Grosso do Sul. Além da análise geoestatística, também é realizada a análise multivariada objetivando relacionar as variáveis por meio de medidas de correlação, efetuar a análise de componentes principais, de agrupamentos e discriminante. Além disso, é realizada a análise de medidas repetidas, objetivando avaliar o comportamento dessas variáveis ao longo dos períodos. Por fim, algumas formas combinadas de avaliar e interpretar os resultados são apresentadas, de modo a relacionar as análises já realizadas, calculando novos componentes principais para as variáveis, por período, efetuando a análise geoestatística dos componentes principais e avaliando o comportamento desses componentes ao longo do tempo. / Forest experiments which study the spacing effects should adopt different delineations from those conventionally used, due to the great demand for experimental area of conventional delineations, the systematic fan design is the most viable way to perform this type of test. In this design, the trees are arranged in several concentric circles, so that various spacings are generated, however, with no possibility for randomization. For this type of experiment, statistical analyses modeling the spatial behavior of dependence between the elements are conventionally performed using, in addition to the variable observed, the coordinates of the observations. Thus, a function called semivariogram that explains the spatial dependence is modeled, enabling the creation of a map of trends called kriging. In this paper, the variables of height, bole diameter, treetop diameter, area and its cylindrical volume of trees Canafistula, are treated at six months for height and at 13, 25 and 37 months for all variables after planting canafístula seedlings (Peltophorum dubium) in an experiment carried out in Mato Grosso do Sul. In addition to the geostatistical analysis, a multivariate analysis is also performed, aiming to relate the variables by correlation measures and performing the analysis of the main, grouping and discriminating components. Furthermore, the repeated measures analysis is performed aiming to evaluate the behavior of these variables over the periods. Finally, some combined ways to assess and interpret the results are presented in order to relate the previous analyses, calculating new key components for the variables, by period, performing the geostatistical analysis of the main components and evaluating the behavior of these components over time.

Os experimentos florestais que estudam os efeitos de espaçamento devem adotar delineamentos distintos daqueles utilizados convencionalmente, por conta da grande demanda de área experimental dos delineamentos convencionais, o delineamento sistemático tipo \"leque\" é a forma mais viável de se executar este tipo de ensaio. Neste delineamento, as árvores são dispostas em diversos círculos concêntricos, de modo que, vários espaçamentos são gerados, porém, sem que haja possibilidade para a casualização. Para este tipo de experimento, convencionalmente são realizadas análises geoestatísticas que modelam o comportamento espacial de dependência entre os elementos, utilizando além da variável observada, as coordenadas das observações. Assim, é modelada uma função denominada semivariograma que explica esta dependência espacial, possibilitando a criação de um mapa de tendências denominado krigagem. Neste trabalho, são tratadas as variáveis de altura, diâmetro do fuste, diâmetro da copa, área da copa e volume cilíndrico de árvores de Canafístula, aos seis meses para altura e aos 13, 25 e 37 meses para todas as variáveis, após o plantio de mudas de Canafístula (Peltophorum dubium) em um experimento conduzido em Mato Grosso do Sul. Além da análise geoestatística, também é realizada a análise multivariada objetivando relacionar as variáveis por meio de medidas de correlação, efetuar a análise de componentes principais, de agrupamentos e discriminante. Além disso, é realizada a análise de medidas repetidas, objetivando avaliar o comportamento dessas variáveis ao longo dos períodos. Por fim, algumas formas combinadas de avaliar e interpretar os resultados são apresentadas, de modo a relacionar as análises já realizadas, calculando novos componentes principais para as variáveis, por período, efetuando a análise geoestatística dos componentes principais e avaliando o comportamento desses componentes ao longo do tempo. / Forest experiments which study the spacing effects should adopt different delineations from those conventionally used, due to the great demand for experimental area of conventional delineations, the systematic fan design is the most viable way to perform this type of test. In this design, the trees are arranged in several concentric circles, so that various spacings are generated, however, with no possibility for randomization. For this type of experiment, statistical analyses modeling the spatial behavior of dependence between the elements are conventionally performed using, in addition to the variable observed, the coordinates of the observations. Thus, a function called semivariogram that explains the spatial dependence is modeled, enabling the creation of a map of trends called kriging. In this paper, the variables of height, bole diameter, treetop diameter, area and its cylindrical volume of trees Canafistula, are treated at six months for height and at 13, 25 and 37 months for all variables after planting canafístula seedlings (Peltophorum dubium) in an experiment carried out in Mato Grosso do Sul. In addition to the geostatistical analysis, a multivariate analysis is also performed, aiming to relate the variables by correlation measures and performing the analysis of the main, grouping and discriminating components. Furthermore, the repeated measures analysis is performed aiming to evaluate the behavior of these variables over the periods. Finally, some combined ways to assess and interpret the results are presented in order to relate the previous analyses, calculating new key components for the variables, by period, performing the geostatistical analysis of the main components and evaluating the behavior of these components over time.

Vehicle electrification plays a significant role in the effort to reduce the environmental impact of the automotive industry. Scania is one of the leading manufacturers ofheavy vehicles which is currently moving towards a sustainable transport system by manufacturing a new generation of heavy vehicles powered by batteries. Oneof the major concerns with these vehicles is related to the noise generated by the electric axial fans used in the cooling system. This project was conducted with thepurpose of investigating the factors that positively affect both noise and performance in the electric fans. Based on two different blade design methods and several noisecontrol techniques, 11 fan models were developed. The fan models created with design method 1 are equipped with cambered-plate blades, while the models madewith design method 2 consist of airfoil-shaped blades. Moreover, the performance of these models was analyzed by using theoretical methods and Computational FluidDynamics (CFD). In addition, two empirical approaches were used to estimate the acoustic energy emitted by the fan models. Furthermore, the developed modelswere compared with two commercially available fans. It was found that both design methods provide similar performance in low pressure differences. On the other hand,the efficiency and acoustic energy are influenced by the choice of the noise control methods. / Fordonselektrifiering har en väsentlig roll i arbetet med att minska bilindustrins miljöpåverkan. Scania är en av de ledande tillverkarna av tunga fordon som för närvarandegår mot ett hållbart transportsystem, genom att tillverka en ny generation tunga fordon drivna med batterier. Ett stort bekymmer med dessa fordon är relaterattill det ljud som genereras av de elektriska axialfläktarna som används i kylsystemet. Detta projekt genomfördes i syfte till att undersöka de faktorer som positivtpåverkar både buller och prestanda hos de elektriska fläktarna. Baserat på två olika bladdesignmetoder och flera brusstyrningstekniker, utvecklades 11 fläktmodeller.Fläktmodellerna som är utformade med konstruktionsmetod 1 är utrustade med krökformade plattor, medan modellerna som skapades med designmetod 2 bestårav vingprofil blad. Dessutom analyserades prestandan för dessa modeller med användning av teoretiska metoder och strömningsmekaniska beräkningar. Ytterligaretvå empiriska tillvägagångssätt användes för att uppskatta den akustiska energin som släppts ut av fläktmodellerna. Utöver det jämfördes de utvecklade modellernamed två kommersiellt tillgängliga fläktar. Detta visade att båda konstruktionsmetoderna resulterar i liknande prestanda vid lågtrycksskillnader, däremot påverkasverkningsgraden och den akustiska energin av valet av brusstyrningsmetoder.

In this study, a variable pitch axial flow fan is designed and analysed for Ankara Wind Tunnel (AWT). In order to determine the loss caharacteristics of AWT, an algorithm is developed and the results are validated. Also some pressure and velocity measurements are made at the fan section to find the losses experimentally. After completion of the fan design, analyses are made at different volumetric flowrates and blade angles including the design point and the performance characteristics of the fan are obtained and thereafter the operating range of the tunnel is deterimened.

Nous avons abordé dans ce travail deux aspects particuliers de la mécanique des fluides appliquées à la conception des matériels de lutte contre l’incendie. Le premier concerne la ventilation lors du traitement des compartiments. Nous avons montré qu’une grille alvéolaire, placée devant l’hélice du ventilateur, nous permet de façonner le jet et de lui donner une forme ovalisée. Cette forme est plus adéquate à l’entrant du compartiment et permet un gain important de la performance de ces ventilateurs. Le deuxième aspect de ce travail a été de concevoir un système de dosage d’émulseur dans un réseau d’eau sous pression. Nous avons pour cela défini un doseur de type venturi, équipé d’une ogive conique au niveau du col. Cette ogive, dont la position est définie par le rapport entre la pression d’entrée et la pression de sortie. Nous avons montré, à partir du théorème de Bernoulli, que ce système permet de maintenir une aspiration au niveau du col, quelle que soit la pression ou le débit le traversant. / In this work we have analysed two topics of fluid mechanics, applied to the design of fire fighting equipment. The first one is the performance of ventilation during the movement of air in a compartment that contains a fire. We have shown that specific blade angle designed within the gril and placed in front of the fan propeller, allows us to manipulate the jet of air giving it an oval shape. This shape is more efficient and allows a significant gain in the air movement performance within the compartment for these fans. The second aspect of this work was to define an emulsifier dosing system in a pressurized water system. We define a venturi dosing system with a movable cone piece. The position of this conical piece is Controlled by the pressure ratio between the inlet and the outlet. Based on Bernoulli's theorem, we have demontrated that this system maintains a level of suction at the Inlet regardless of the pressure or flow passing through it.