In the most of the drilling operations it is obvious that a considerable amount of money is spent for drilling related problems / including stuck pipe, lost circulation, and excessive mud cost. In order to decrease the percentage of non-productive time (NPT) caused by these kind of problems, the aim is to control annular frictional pressure losses especially in the fields where pore pressure and fracture pressure gradient is too close which is called narrow drilling window. If we can solve these problems, the budget spent for drilling the wells will fall, therefore enabling the industry to be able to drill wells that were previously uneconomical. Managed Pressure Drilling (MPD) is a new technology that allows us to overcome these kinds of drilling problems by controlling the annular frictional pressure losses. As the industry remains relatively unaware of the full spectrum of benefits, this thesis involves the techniques used in Managed Pressure Drilling with an emphasis upon revealing several of its lesser known and therefore less appreciated applications.

This dissertation seeks to merge the ideas from robust control theory such as H-Infinity control design and the Small Gain Theorem, L stability theory and Lyapunov stability from nonlinear control, and recent theoretical achievements in adaptive control. The fusion of frequency domain and linear time domain ideas allows the derivation of an H-Infinity Norm Minimization Approach (H-Infinity-NMA) for adaptive control architecture that permits a control designer to simplify the adaptive tuning process and tune the uncertainty compensation characteristics via linear control design techniques, band limit the adaptive control signal, efficiently handle redundant actuators, and handle unmatched uncertainty and matched uncertainty in a single design framework. The two stage design framework is similar to that used in robust control, but without sacrificing performance. The first stage of the design considers an ideal system with the system uncertainty completely known. For this system, a control law is designed using linear H-Infinity theory. Then in the second stage, an adaptive process is implemented that emulates the behavior of the ideal system. If the linear H-Infinity design is applied to control the emulated system, it then guarantees closed loop system stability of the actual system. All of this is accomplished while providing notions of transient performance bounds between the ideal system and the true system. Extensions to the theory include architectures for a class of output feedback systems, limiting the authority of an adaptive control system, and a method for improving the performance of an adaptive system with slow dynamics without any modification terms. Applications focus on using aerodynamic flow control for aircraft flight control and the Crew Launch Vehicle.

Helicopter performance is greatly influenced by its drag. Pylons, fuselage, landing gear, and especially the rotor hub of a helicopter experience large separated flow regions, even under steady level flight conditions the vehicle has been designed for, contributing to the helicopter drag. Several passive and active flow control concepts have been studied for reducing helicopter drag. While passive flow control methods reduce drag, they do so at one optimized design condition. Therefore, passive drag reduction methods may not work for helicopters that operate under widely varying flight conditions. Active flow control (AFC) methods overcome this disadvantage and consequently are widely being pursued. The present investigator has studied some of these AFC methods using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques and has found synthetic (or pulsed) jets as one of the more effective drag reduction devices. Two bluff bodies, representative of helicopter components, have been studied and the mechanism behind drag reduction has been analyzed. It was found that the increase in momentum due to the jet, and a resultant reduction in the separated flow region, is the main reason for drag reduction in these configurations. In comparison with steady jets, synthetic jets were found to use less power for a greater drag reduction. The flow inside these synthetic jet devices is incompressible. It is computationally inefficient to use compressible flow solvers in incompressible regions. In such regions, using Lattice Boltzmann equations (LBE) is more suitable compared to solving the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. The length scales close to the synthetic jet devices are very small. LBE may be used to better resolve these small length scale regions. However, using LBE throughout the whole domain would be computationally expensive since the grid spacing in the LBE solver has to be of the order of the mean free path. To address this need, a coupled Lattice Boltzmann-Navier-Stokes (LB-NS) methodology has been developed. The LBE solver has been successfully validated in a standalone manner for several benchmark cases. The solver has also been shown to be of second order accuracy. This LBE solver has been subsequently coupled with an existing Navier-Stokes (NS) solver. Validation of the coupled methodology has been done for analytical problems with known closed form solution. This LB-NS methodology is further used to simulate the flow past a cylinder where synthetic jet devices have been used to reduce drag. The LBE solver is used in the cavity of the synthetic jet nozzle while the NS solver is employed in the rest of the domain. The cylinder configuration was chosen to demonstrate drag reduction on helicopter hub shape geometries. Significant drag reduction is observed when synthetic jets are used, compared to the baseline no flow control case.

No description available.

The flow around a finite square prism has not been studied extensively when compared with an “infinite” (or two-dimensional) square prism. In the present study, the effect of a wake-mounted splitter plate on the flow around a surface-mounted square prism of finite height was investigated experimentally using a low-speed wind tunnel. Of specific interest were the combined effects of the splitter plate length and the prism’s aspect ratio on the vortex shedding, mean drag force coefficient, and the mean wake. Four square prisms of aspect ratios AR = 9, 7, 5 and 3 were tested at a Reynolds number of Re = 7.4×104 and a boundary layer thickness of /D = 1.5. Splitter plate lengths of L/D = 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 5, and 7, were tested, with all plates having the same height as the prism. Measurements of the mean drag force were obtained with a force balance, and measurements of the vortex shedding frequency were obtained with a single-component hot-wire probe. A seven-hole pressure probe was used to measure the time-averaged wake velocity at a Reynolds number of Re = 3.7×104 for AR = 9 and 5 with splitter plates of lengths L/D = 1, 3, 5, and 7. These measurements were carried out to allow for a better understanding of how the splitter plate affects the mean wake of the finite prism. The results show that the splitter plate is a less effective drag-reduction, but more effective vortex-shedding-suppression, device for finite square prisms than it is for infinite square prisms. Significant reduction in the mean drag coefficient was realized only for short prisms (of AR ≤ 5) when long splitter plates (of L/D ≥ 5) were used. A splitter plate of length L/D = 3 was able to suppress vortex shedding for all aspect ratios tested. However, for square prisms of aspect ratios AR ≤ 7, the splitter plate is a less effective vortex-shedding-suppression device when compared to its use with finite circular cylinders, i.e. longer splitter plates are needed for vortex shedding suppression with square prisms. Wake measurements showed distinct wake velocity fields for the two prisms tested. For the prism of AR = 9, a strong downwash flow in the upper part of the wake became weaker towards the ground plane. For the prism of AR = 5, the downwash remained strong close to the ground plane. With splitter plates installed, the downwash became weaker for both prisms. The splitter plate was found to narrow the wake width, especially close to the ground plane, and led to the stretching of the streamwise vortex structures in the vertical direction, and increased entrainment towards the wake centreline in the cross-stream direction.

Dans cette thèse nous mettons en oeuvre une méthode vortex hybride pénalisée (HVP) afin desimuler des écoulements incompressibles autour de corps non profilés dans des milieux complexessolides-fluides-poreux. Avec cette approche particulaire hybride, le phénomène de convection estmodélisé à l’aide d’une méthode vortex afin de bénéficier du caractère peu diffusif et naturel desméthodes particulaires. Un remaillage des particules est alors réalisé systématiquement sur unegrille cartésienne sous-jacente afin d’éviter les phénomènes de distorsion. D’autre part, les effetsdiffusifs et d’étirement ainsi que le calcul de la vitesse sont traités sur la grille cartésienne, àl’aide de schémas eulériens. Le traitement des conditions de bords aux parois de l’obstacle esteffectué à l’aide d’une technique de pénalisation, particulièrement bien adaptée au traitementde milieux solides-fluides-poreux.Cette méthode HVP est appliquée au contrôle passif d’écoulement. Cette étude de contrôleest effectuée respectivement en 2D et en 3D autour d’un demi-cylindre et d’un hémisphère parl’ajout d’un revêtement poreux à la surface de l’obstacle. La présence de cette couche poreusemodifiant la nature des conditions aux interfaces, permet de régulariser l’écoulement global etde diminuer la traînée aérodynamique de l’obstacle contrôlé. A travers des études paramétriquessur la perméabilité, l’épaisseur et la position du revêtement poreux, ce travail vise à identifier desdispositifs de contrôles efficaces pour des écoulements autour d’obstacles comme des rétroviseursautomobiles. / In this work we use a hybrid vortex penalization method (HVP) to simulate incompressibleflows past bluff bodies in complex solid-fluid-porous media. In this hybrid particle approach,the advection phenomenon is modeled through a vortex method in order to benefit from thenatural description of the flow supplied by particle methods and their low numerical diffusionfeatures. A particle remeshing is performed systematically on an underlying Cartesian grid inorder to prevent distortion phenomena. On the other hand, the viscous and stretching effects aswell as the velocity calculation are discretized on the mesh through Eulerian schemes. Finally,the treatment of boundary conditions is handled with a penalization method that is well suitedfor the treatment of solid-fluid-porous media.The HVP method is applied to passive flow control. This flow control study is realized pasta 2D semi-circular cylinder and a 3D hemisphere by adding a porous layer on the surface of thebody. The presence of such porous layer modifies the characteristics of the conditions at theinterfaces and leads to a regularization of the wake and to a decrease of the aerodynamic dragof the controlled obstacle. Through parametric studies on the permeability, the thickness andthe position of the porous coating, this works aims to identify efficient control devices for flowsaround obstacles like the rear-view mirrors of a ground vehicle.

Cette thèse se situe dans le contexte des systèmes (min,+)-linéaires incertains, contenus dans des intervalles dont seules les bornes sont connues. Dans un premier temps, puisque les calculs exacts - somme, inf-convolution, étoile de Kleene/clôture sous-additive - sont souvent coûteux en espace mémoire et en temps de calculs, des calculs approchés sont proposés à travers des fonctions d'inclusion. Les résultats obtenus sont des intervalles particuliers appelés conteneurs. La borne supérieure d'un conteneur est l'élément le plus grand de la classe d'équivalence du système approché selon la transformée de Legendre-Fenchel. La borne inférieure représente un minorant de cette classe d'équivalence et ainsi du système exact. Les caractéristiques de convexité de ces bornes permettent d'obtenir des algorithmes de calculs de complexité linéaire et quasi-linéaire. Dans un second temps, la commande des systèmes (min,+)-linéaires incertains est étudiée. Ces incertitudes peuvent apparaître suite aux calculs effectués sur les conteneurs proposés ci-dessus, mais également lorsque des paramètres incertains ou variables sont présents lors des modélisations. Des structures de contrôles existantes (précompensateur, retour de sortie) sont appliquées à ces systèmes incertains et les problèmes suivants sont ainsi traités : problème du Window Flow Control, réduction de l'incertitude en sortie du système contrôlé par un précompensateur, calcul d'un précompensateur neutre ralentissant les entrées sans dégrader la dynamique du système seul.

The objective of the proposed research is to develop a cost-effective power flow controller to improve the utilization and reliability of the existing transmission, sub-transmission, and distribution networks. Over the last two decades, electricity consumption and generation have continually grown at an annual rate of around 2.5%. At the same time, investments in the Transmission and Distribution (T&D) infrastructure have steadily declined. Further, it has become increasingly difficult and expensive to build new power lines. As a result, the aging power-grid has become congested and is under stress, resulting in compromised reliability and higher energy costs. In such an environment it becomes important that existing assets are used effectively to achieve highest efficiency. System reliability is sacrosanct and cannot be compromised. Utility system planners are moving from radial towards networked systems to achieve higher reliability, especially under contingency conditions. While enhancing reliability, this has degraded the controllability of the network, as current flow along individual lines can no longer be controlled. The transfer capacity of the system gets limited by the first line that reaches the thermal capacity, even when majority of the lines are operating at a fraction of their capacity. The utilization of the system gets further degraded as the lines are operated with spare capacity to sustain overloads under contingencies. Market efficiency is also sub-optimal, with congestion on key corridors restricting the low-cost generators to connect to the end users, resulting in higher electricity prices for the consumers. The proposed technology offers the capability to realize a controllable meshed-network, with the ability to utilize static and dynamic capacity of the grid to provide system-wide benefits, including- increased line and system-capacity utilization, increased reliability, improved operation under contingencies, and rapid implementation. It would allow a broadening of the energy market, permitting owners to direct how energy flows on their wires, and making it easier to connect to new sources of generation.

“Hardware in the Loop” (HIL) testing is widely used in the automotive industry. The sophisticated electronic control units used for vehicle control are usually tested and evaluated using HIL-simulations. The HIL increases the degree of realistic testing of any system. Moreover, it helps in designing the structure and control of the system under test so that it works effectively in the situations that will be encountered in the system. Due to the size and the complexity of interaction within a power network, most research is based on pure simulation. To validate the performance of physical generator or protection system, most testing is constrained to very simple power network. This research, however, examines a method to test power system hardware within a complex virtual environment using the concept of the HIL. The HIL testing for electronic control units and power systems protection device can be easily performed at signal level. But performance of power systems equipments, such as distributed generation systems can not be evaluated at signal level using HIL testing. The HIL testing for power systems equipments is termed here as ‘Power Network in the Loop’ (PNIL). PNIL testing can only be performed at power level and requires a power amplifier that can amplify the simulation signal to the power level. A power network is divided in two parts. One part represents the Power Network Under Test (PNUT) and the other part represents the rest of the complex network. The complex network is simulated in real time simulator (RTS) while the PNUT is connected to the Voltage Source Converter (VSC) based power amplifier. Two way interaction between the simulator and amplifier is performed using analog to digital (A/D) and digital to analog (D/A) converters. The power amplifier amplifies the current or voltage signal of simulator to the power level and establishes the power level interaction between RTS and PNUT. In the first part of this thesis, design and control of a VSC based power amplifier that can amplify a broadband voltage signal is presented. A new Hybrid Discontinuous Control method is proposed for the amplifier. This amplifier can be used for several power systems applications. In the first part of the thesis, use of this amplifier in DSTATCOM and UPS applications are presented. In the later part of this thesis the solution of network in the loop testing with the help of this amplifier is reported. The experimental setup for PNIL testing is built in the laboratory of Queensland University of Technology and the feasibility of PNIL testing has been evaluated using the experimental studies. In the last section of this thesis a universal load with power regenerative capability is designed. This universal load is used to test the DG system using PNIL concepts. This thesis is composed of published/submitted papers that form the chapters in this dissertation. Each paper has been published or submitted during the period of candidature. Chapter 1 integrates all the papers to provide a coherent view of wide bandwidth switching amplifier and its used in different power systems applications specially for the solution of power systems testing using PNIL.

Dans cette thèse nous mettons en oeuvre une méthode vortex hybride pénalisée (HVP) afin desimuler des écoulements incompressibles autour de corps non profilés dans des milieux complexessolides-fluides-poreux. Avec cette approche particulaire hybride, le phénomène de convection estmodélisé à l’aide d’une méthode vortex afin de bénéficier du caractère peu diffusif et naturel desméthodes particulaires. Un remaillage des particules est alors réalisé systématiquement sur unegrille cartésienne sous-jacente afin d’éviter les phénomènes de distorsion. D’autre part, les effetsdiffusifs et d’étirement ainsi que le calcul de la vitesse sont traités sur la grille cartésienne, àl’aide de schémas eulériens. Le traitement des conditions de bords aux parois de l’obstacle esteffectué à l’aide d’une technique de pénalisation, particulièrement bien adaptée au traitementde milieux solides-fluides-poreux.Cette méthode HVP est appliquée au contrôle passif d’écoulement. Cette étude de contrôleest effectuée respectivement en 2D et en 3D autour d’un demi-cylindre et d’un hémisphère parl’ajout d’un revêtement poreux à la surface de l’obstacle. La présence de cette couche poreusemodifiant la nature des conditions aux interfaces, permet de régulariser l’écoulement global etde diminuer la traînée aérodynamique de l’obstacle contrôlé. A travers des études paramétriquessur la perméabilité, l’épaisseur et la position du revêtement poreux, ce travail vise à identifier desdispositifs de contrôles efficaces pour des écoulements autour d’obstacles comme des rétroviseursautomobiles. / In this work we use a hybrid vortex penalization method (HVP) to simulate incompressibleflows past bluff bodies in complex solid-fluid-porous media. In this hybrid particle approach,the advection phenomenon is modeled through a vortex method in order to benefit from thenatural description of the flow supplied by particle methods and their low numerical diffusionfeatures. A particle remeshing is performed systematically on an underlying Cartesian grid inorder to prevent distortion phenomena. On the other hand, the viscous and stretching effects aswell as the velocity calculation are discretized on the mesh through Eulerian schemes. Finally,the treatment of boundary conditions is handled with a penalization method that is well suitedfor the treatment of solid-fluid-porous media.The HVP method is applied to passive flow control. This flow control study is realized pasta 2D semi-circular cylinder and a 3D hemisphere by adding a porous layer on the surface of thebody. The presence of such porous layer modifies the characteristics of the conditions at theinterfaces and leads to a regularization of the wake and to a decrease of the aerodynamic dragof the controlled obstacle. Through parametric studies on the permeability, the thickness andthe position of the porous coating, this works aims to identify efficient control devices for flowsaround obstacles like the rear-view mirrors of a ground vehicle.