The heat transfer behavior of phase change material fluid under laminar flow conditions in circular tubes and internally longitudinal finned tubes are presented in this study. Two types of boundary conditions, including uniform axial heat flux with constant peripheral temperature and uniform axial and peripheral temperature, were considered in the case of circular tubes. An effective specific heat technique was used to model the phase change process assuming a hydrodynamically fully-developed flow at the entrance of the tube. Results were also obtained for the phase change process under hydro dynamically and thermally fully developed conditions. In case of a smooth circular tube with phase change material (PCM) fluid, results of Nusselt number were obtained by varying the bulk Stefan number. The Nusselt number results were found to be strongly dependent on the Stefan number. In the case of a finned tube two types of boundary conditions were studied. The first boundary condition had a uniform axial heat flux along the axis of the tube with a variable temperature on the peripheral surface of the tube. The second boundary condition had a constant temperature on the outer surface of the tube. The effective specific heat technique was again implemented to analyze the phase change process under both the boundary conditions. The Nusselt number was determined for a tube with two fins with different fin height ratios and fin thermal conductivity values. It was determined that the Nusselt number was strongly dependent on the Stefan number, fin thermal conductivity value, and height of the fins. It was also observed that for a constant heat axial flux boundary condition with peripherally varying temperature, the phase change slurry with the internally finned tube performed better than the one without fins. A similar trend was observed during the phase change process with internal fins under the constant wall temperature boundary condition.

Seit langem ist die Intelligenz des Menschen für viele Forscher und Philosophen ein faszinierendes Forschungsobjekt. Mit dem Aufkommen der Computertechnik erscheint nun zum ersten mal der Traum, einige dieser typisch menschlichen Fähigkeiten nicht nur zu verstehen, sondern nachbauen oder in Teilgebieten gar übertreffen zu können, als realistisch. Ein wichtiger Teil dieses mit "Künstliche Intelligenz" überschriebenen Forschungsgebietes ist das Schließen über Aktionen und Veränderung. Hier wird versucht, die menschliche Fähigkeit, die Effekte seiner Aktionen vorauszusehen und Pläne zum Erreichen von Zielen zu schmieden, nachzubilden. Ein aktives Forschungsgebiet in diesem Rahmen ist der Fluentkalkül, ein Formalismus zur Modellierung von Aktionen und Veränderung. Er stellt Mittel bereit, in der ein automatischer Agent seine Umgebung und die Effekte seiner Aktionen im Rahmen der mathematischen Logik darstellen kann, um mit Hilfe von logischem Schließen sein Verhalten zu planen. Obwohl zum Fluentkalkül viele Arbeiten existieren, die dessen Anwendungsbereiche und Semantik erweitern, gibt es doch noch relativ wenige Arbeiten zum effizienten Schlussfolgern. Dies ist ein Hauptaugenmerk der vorliegenden Arbeit. Es wird ein Algorithmus geschaffen, der Erkenntnisse aus effizienten Verfahren zum Modelchecking mit Binären Entscheidungsdiagrammen (BDDs) sinngemäß überträgt und für ein Fragment des Fluentkalkül erweitert. Damit können nun auch Planungsprobleme von Fluentkalkül-Planern gelöst werden, die der realisierten symbolischen Breitensuche besser zugänglich sind, als der bisher aussschliesslich verwendeten heuristischen Tiefensuche. Um eine leichtere Vergleichbarkeit Fluentkalkül-basierter Planungsverfahren mit anderen Planungsalgorithmen zu ermöglichen, wurde eine Übersetzung des ADL-Fragments der Planungsdomänenbeschreibungssprache PDDL in den Fluentkalkül geschaffen. Damit können zahlreiche Planungsprobleme aus der Literatur und Planungsdomänenbibliotheken auch mit Fluentkalkül-Planern bearbeitet werden. Die Übersetzung kann zugleich als formale Semantik des nur informal spezifizierten PDDL dienen.

Η παρούσα Διατριβή Μεταπτυχιακού Διπλώματος Ειδίκευσης, πραγματεύεται την ανάλυση της τυρβώδους ροής σε ανοικτούς αγωγούς στον πυθμένα των οποίων ενυπάρχουν σχηματισμοί μορφής θινών (dunes). Μελετήθηκε η περίπτωση 5 θινών οι οποίες τοποθετήθηκαν στον πυθμένα ενός καναλιού βάθους d θεωρώντας μόνιμη ροή. Για την επίλυση χρησιμοποιήθηκαν οι εξισώσεις RANS, ενώ για το κλείσιμο της τύρβης χρησιμοποιήθηκαν τα μοντέλα μιας εξίσωσης Spalart-Allmaras και δύο εξισώσεων k-ε. Η διαχείριση της ελεύθερης επιφάνειας έγινε με την μέθοδο VOF, ενώ η αριθμητική επίλυση βασίστηκε στην μέθοδο των πεπερασμένων όγκων και πραγματοποιήθηκε με τον εμπορικό κώδικα FLUENT 6.1.2. Για την ροή στον ανοικτό αγωγό, στον πυθμένα του οποίου ενυπήρχαν οι σχηματισμοί, θεωρήθηκε αριθμός Reynolds , κλίση πυθμένα και συντελεστή Manning , ο οποίος αντιστοιχεί σε ισοδύναμο ύψος τραχύτητας τοιχωμάτων . Προκειμένου να επαληθευθεί η ακρίβεια της αριθμητικής μεθόδου, επιλύθηκε η περίπτωση του επίπεδου πυθμένα και τα αποτελέσματα συγκρίθηκαν με γνωστά πειραματικά αποτελέσματα καθώς και αποτελέσματα τα οποία προέκυψαν από την μονοδιάστατη ανάλυση της ροής πάνω από επίπεδο πυθμένα. Τα αποτελέσματα βρέθηκαν σε καλή συμφωνία, κυρίως για την κατανομή της ταχύτητας, ενώ για την τύρβη υπήρχε πολύ καλή συμφωνία κυρίως πλησίον του πυθμένα. Για το πρόβλημα των θινών εξετάσθηκαν: (α) τρεις περιπτώσεις με σταθερό άνοιγμα θίνης προς βάθος ροής και διαφορετικά ύψη θινών , 0.25 και (β) τρεις περιπτώσεις με σταθερή αναλογία ανοίγματος προς ύψος και ύψη θινών όπως στην περίπτωση (α). Η ανάλυση έδειξε ότι το μέσο προφίλ της ελεύθερης επιφάνειας μειώνεται στην διεύθυνση της ροής, ενώ πάνω από κάθε θίνη το πλάτος της ανύψωσης της ελεύθερης επιφάνειας αυξάνει με την αύξηση του ύψους και του ανοίγματος των θινών. Η κατανομή των διατμητικών τάσεων παρουσιάζει κυματοειδή μορφή υπεράνω των θινών και αυξάνει αυξανομένου του ύψους τους και με την μείωση του ανοίγματός τους. Πίσω από κάθε θίνη δημιουργείται θύλακας ανακυκλοφορίας της ροής και ο λόγος της απόστασης του σημείου επανακόλλησης προς το ύψος της θίνης είναι . / The spatial development of the turbulent open channel flow over bottom with five dunes is studied. The steady-state flow is described by the RANS equations utilizing either the or the Spalart-Allmaras turbulence models. The free-surface treatment is based on the VOF formulation, while the numerical solution is based on a finite-volume, unstructured-grid discretization. Lengths are rendered dimensionless by the inflow channel depth, while velocities by the mean inflow velocity. The inflow Reynolds number is , the channel slope is and the Manning coefficient is , which results to a roughness height . In order to verify the numerical methods, the flat bottom case is considered and the numerical predictions are compared to known experimental data. We get very good agreement for the velocity distributions, while for turbulence the results are very good close to the bottom and poor close to the free surface. Then, we consider: (a) three cases with constant dune length and differing dune heights 0.15, 0.25, 0.35, and (b) three cases with constant ratio and dune heights as in (a). The spatial development of the free-surface elevation over the dunes presents a negative mean slope for all cases. Locally over each dune, the amplitude of the free-surface elevation increases with increasing dune height and increasing dune length. The spatial development of the wall shear stress presents a wave-like behavior and its amplitude increases with increasing dune height and decreasing dune length. On every dune crest the streamwise velocity profile is steeper than the universal logarithmic profile similar to the behavior in a favorable pressure gradient boundary layer. The detachment at each dune crest is followed by a recirculation region and reattachment at a distance from the dune trough.

The near field blast–wave propagation dynamics has been a subject of intense research in recent past. Since experiments on a large scale are difficult to carry out, focus has been directed towards recreating these blast waves inside the laboratory by expending minuscule amounts of energy(few joules),which have been termed here as micro–blast waves. In the present study, micro-blast waves are generated from the open end of a small diameter polymer tube (Inner Diameter of 1.3 mm)coated on its inner side with negligible amounts of HMX explosive (~18 mg/m), along with traces of aluminium powder. Experimental, numerical, and analytical approaches have been adopted in this investigation to understand the generation and subsequent propagation of these micro–blast waves in the open domain. Time–resolved schlieren flow visualization experiments, using a high speed digital camera, and dynamic pressure measurements (head–on and side–on pressures) have been carried out. Quasi one dimensional numerical modeling of the detonation process inside the tube, has been carried out by considering the reaction kinetics of a single(HMX) reaction to account for the reaction dynamics of HMX. The one dimensional numerical model is then coupled to a commercial Navier– Stokes equation solver to understand the propagation of the blast wave from the open end of the tube. A theory that is valid for large scale explosions of intermediate strength was then used for the first time to understand the propagation dynamics of these micro–blast waves. From the experiments, the trajectory of the blast wave was mapped, and its initial Mach number was found to be about 3.7. The side–on overpressure was found to be 5.5 psi at a distance of 20 mm from the tube, along an axis, offset by 30 mm from the tube axis. These values were found to compare quite well with the numerically obtained data in the open domain. From the numerical model of the tube, the energy in the blast wave was inferred to be 1.5 J. This value was then used in the analytical theory and excellent correlation was obtained, suggesting the exciting possibility of using such theories, validated for large-scale explosions, to describe these micro–blasts. Considering the uncertainties in the approximate model, a better estimate of energy was obtained by working back the energy(using the analytical model) from the trajectory data as 1.25 J. The average TNT equivalent, a measure of its strength relative to a TNT explosion, was found to be 0.3. A few benchmark experiments, demonstrating the capability of this novel blast device have also been done by comparing them against the extant large–scale explosion database, suggesting the possibility of using these micro–blast waves to study certain aspects of large–scale explosions.

Les écoulements en milieu urbain sont complexes et à l'heure actuelle estimés à l'aide d'outils informatiques. Pourtant, le manque de données expérimentales sur des géométries urbaines rend la validation et l'encadrement de l'utilisation de ces derniers difficile. Cette thèse présente les résultats obtenus sur un modèle physique d'un quartier urbain. La distribution des hauteurs d'eau ainsi que la répartition des débits en sortie du quartier expérimental sont mesurées. Leur étude a mis en évidence certains comportements caractéristiques des écoulements. Les données expérimentales ont été comparées aux simulations numériques générées avec un code 3D (Ansys-Fluent®) et un outil de recherche (Neptune 2D) mis au point durant cette thèse. Ce dernier résout les équations de Barré de Saint Venant 2D à l'aide d'un schéma EVR-DG, associé à une modification des solveurs de Riemann qui rend le code de calcul well-balanced.Les écarts observés entre Ansys-Fluent® et l'expérimental sont majoritairement en-dessous de 10%. Le code Neptune 2D apparait quant à lui légèrement moins précis : les écarts peuvent atteindre 20 à 30%. Diverses hypothèses sont avancées pour expliquer ces écarts.

La convection de Rayleigh-Bénard est étudiée expérimentalement dans une cellule circulaire. Des fluides à seuil modèles (gels aqueux de Carbopol) sont mis en œuvre. Leurs comportements rhéologiques et leurs perméabilités en relation avec leurs microstructures ont été finement caractérisés. Dans toute la thèse, les expériences ont été menées sans glissement à la paroi. L'influence du seuil d'écoulement et de la distance entre plaques chaudes et froides sur les transferts thermiques a été approfondie. Trois mécanismes sont discutés pour expliquer le déclenchement de la convection: i) les propriétés visco-élastiques au-dessous du seuil, ii) le fluage au-dessous du seuil, iii) une approche d'un milieu poreux pour les gels de Carbopol considérés comme une suspension de micro-gels. On montre que le nombre de seuil Y, représentant le rapport entre la contrainte du seuil et la contrainte de la poussée d'Archimède est un paramètre important gouvernant l'apparition de l'instabilité. Les valeurs critiques de Y^(-1) sont déterminées entre 60 et 90. La visualisation à l'aide des cristaux liquides thermo-chromiques a permis une vue globale de la cinématique. Les structures observées dans les différents états thermiques montrent l'évolution de la convection. Une analyse qualitative du champ de température est également présentée. Enfin, la simulation numérique dans une cellule carré avec un modèle d'Herschel-Bulkley régularisé dans la gamme des nombres sans dimension utilisée dans les expérience a permis de mettre en évidence les paramètres critiques et la morphologie des champs thermiques et cinématique. Les ordres de grandeurs du nombre de seuil critique prédit se comparent raisonnablement avec les valeurs expérimentales. / In this thesis, three main mechanisms proposed in a recent paper (Darbouli et al., Physics of fluids, 25(2) 2013) have been discussed to explain the onset of Rayleigh Bénard Convection in a yield fluid (Carbopol gels): i) the elasto-visco-plasticity behavior of the material below the yield stress, ii) a viscosity at low values of shear rates by creep measurements below the yield stress, iii) a microscopic viewpoint considering the fluid as a porous two phases system. No-slip conditions have been achieved for all the experiments. The results with different Carbopol gels have proved the importance of Y, the yield number which presents the report of the yield stress and the buoyancy effect, as the governing parameter. The critical value of Y^(-1) with no-slip condition has been found between 60 and 90. A visualization measurement with the utilization of thermochromics liquid crystals presents a global view from above. Different structures have been observed in different states of thermal conditions, which describe the evolution of the convection. For several cases the color of the liquid crystals can indicate the temperature field in the whole experiment cell. Numerical simulations with a Herschel-Bulkley model have also been discussed in this thesis. The dimensionless parameters are defined approaching the values obtained in the experiments, so that we can compare the numerical results with some of experimental ones.

Objetivos: Este trabalho, abrangendo a área da transferência de calor e da mecânica dos fluidos, em seu desenvolvimento envolveu métodos analíticos, numéricos computacionais e experimentais (em ambiente de campo), com a finalidade de analisar o uso de trocadores de calor solo-ar, como estratégia para diminuir o consumo de energia convencional, no aquecimento ou resfriamento de ambientes construídos. Assim, um dos objetivos do estudo foi avaliar, com base em resultados experimentais, a performance do solo como um reservatório de energia, derivada da radiação solar. Buscou-se, pois, identificar parâmetros, procedimentos e condições favoráveis envolvendo esta estratégia. O outro objetivo do estudo foi, usando os softwares GAMBIT e FLUENT, modelar computacionalmente o escoamento do ar no trocador de calor solo-ar. Método: O estudo experimental e numérico foi precedido pela construção de uma edificação, especificamente concebida para a pesquisa, identificada como Casa Ventura. Em continuidade, foram enterrados dutos no solo, que conduziriam ar exterior e água (esta última por um período limitado) ao ambiente interno. No caso da condução de ar, o solo funcionaria como um reservatório de energia, aquecendo ou resfriando a ar. Já, no caso da condução de água, prevista com duto de baixa condutividade térmica, o solo funcionaria apenas como um protetor à radiação solar, para preservar as características térmicas da água, desde um reservatório, de onde a mesma era bombeada, até o interior da casa. Na Casa Ventura foram construídos dois ambientes centrais com características dimensionais e de envolvente equivalentes, constituindo os ambientes monitorados no processo, sendo um, na condição natural, referencial, sem renovação de ar, e o outro, com renovação de ar. Na parte experimental, o ar foi captado do ambiente externo e insuflado por um ventilador nos dutos enterrados, renovou o ar no interior deste último ambiente. Com ajuda de um fan-coil, colocado neste ambiente, o ar renovado trocou calor com a água. Por questões de dificuldades operacionais, o bombeamento de água funcionou por um período muito curto. Durante o experimento, que se desenvolveu por todo o ano de 2007, foram monitoradas e registradas, além da temperatura do solo e da água, a temperatura e a umidade: do ar externo, do ar nos ambientes internos e do ar em escoamento nos dutos enterrados, bem como a velocidade de escoamento nos mesmos. Resultados: De forma geral, o potencial do solo para aquecer foi maior do que o de resfriamento do ar injetado nos dutos enterrados. O potencial de aquecimento foi mais destacado nos meses de maio, junho, julho e agosto, e se mostrou maior que 3K. Para profundidades entre 2 e 3m, estima-se que o potencial possa ser superior a 8K. Por outro lado, o potencial de resfriamento foi maior nos meses de janeiro, fevereiro e dezembro, mas foi baixo para pequenas profundidades (menos de um metro). Para resfriamento, este potencial pode chegar a 4K. Contribuições da pesquisa: Face aos resultados da pesquisa, diversas foram as suas contribuições, dentre as quais se destacam: a construção de um banco de dados experimentais sobre as propriedades e características do solo (índices físicos, difusividade térmica, capacidade térmica volumétrica, condutividade térmica, temperatura e umidade) e do ar ambiente (temperatura e umidade) para o município de Viamão, localizado na região sul do Brasil, e que pode ser usado para a continuidade desta pesquisa ou para a elaboração de novas pesquisas e projetos; e o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia para a modelagem computacional de trocadores de calor solo-ar, validada através dos dados experimentais citados acima, possibilitando, assim, o emprego deste procedimento numérico, para a elaboração de projetos ou novas pesquisas nesta área. / Purpose: The development of the present work, comprising the area of heat transfer and fluids mechanics involved analytical, numerical computational and experimental (in field environment) methods, with the purpose of analyzing the use of earth-to-air heat exchanger, as a strategy to reduce conventional energy consumption, for the heating or cooling of built environments. Thus, one of the study purposes was to evaluate, based on experimental results, the earth performance as an energy reservoir, derived from solar radiation incidence on the surface of the ground. We aimed, then, at identifying favorable parameters, procedures and conditions involving this strategy. The other study purpose was, using the GAMBIT and FLUENT softwares, computationally modeling the air flow in the earth-to-air heat exchanger. Method: The experimental and numerical study was preceded by the construction of a building, specially planned for the research, called Casa Ventura. As a follow-up, ducts were buried on the ground, to conduct external air and water (the latter one for a limited period) to the internal environment of the house. In terms of air conduction, the earth would work as an energy reservoir, heating or cooling the air. Concerning the water conduction, planned to use a duct of low thermal conductivity, the earth would only work as a protector from solar radiation, to preserve the water thermal characteristics, when flowing from the water reservoir, where it would be taken from, to the inside of the house. At Casa Ventura two central environments were built with similar dimensional and envelope characteristics, constituting the environments monitored in the process, in which, one in the natural and referential condition, without air renovation, and the other, with air renovation. In the experimental part, the air was captured from the external environment and inflated by a fan in the buried ducts, and it renovated the air inside this latter environment. With the help of a fan-coil, placed in this environment, the renovated air exchanged heat with the water flowing through the ducts. Due to some operational difficulties, the pumping of water lasted for a very short period. During the experiment, which lasted through the whole year of 2007, besides the water and earth temperature, the temperature and humidity of the following were also monitored and registered: the external air, the air in the internal environments and the air flowing in the buried ducts, as well as the flowing speed of the different fluids. Results: In a general way, the earth potential to heat was higher than the cooling of air injected in the buried ducts. The heating potential was higher in the months of May, June, July and August, doing so by more 3K. For depths between 2 and 3m, it is estimated that the potential might be over 8K. On the other hand, the potential for cooling was higher in the months of January, February and December, but it was low for low depths (less than a meter). For cooling, this potential may reach 4K. Research contributions: Considering the research results, several were the contributions, among which we highlight: the construction of an experimental database on the earth properties and characteristics (physical indexes, thermal diffusivity, volumetric heat capacity, thermal conductivity, temperature and humidity) and the environmental characteristics of the air (temperature and humidity) for the city of Viamão, located in Southern Brazil, and that may be used for the continuation of this research or for the elaboration of new researches and projects; and the development of a methodology for computational modeling of earth-to-air heat exchangers, validated through the experimental data mentioned before, enabling, therefore, the use of this numerical procedure for the elaboration of projects or new researches in this area.

Objetivos: Este trabalho, abrangendo a área da transferência de calor e da mecânica dos fluidos, em seu desenvolvimento envolveu métodos analíticos, numéricos computacionais e experimentais (em ambiente de campo), com a finalidade de analisar o uso de trocadores de calor solo-ar, como estratégia para diminuir o consumo de energia convencional, no aquecimento ou resfriamento de ambientes construídos. Assim, um dos objetivos do estudo foi avaliar, com base em resultados experimentais, a performance do solo como um reservatório de energia, derivada da radiação solar. Buscou-se, pois, identificar parâmetros, procedimentos e condições favoráveis envolvendo esta estratégia. O outro objetivo do estudo foi, usando os softwares GAMBIT e FLUENT, modelar computacionalmente o escoamento do ar no trocador de calor solo-ar. Método: O estudo experimental e numérico foi precedido pela construção de uma edificação, especificamente concebida para a pesquisa, identificada como Casa Ventura. Em continuidade, foram enterrados dutos no solo, que conduziriam ar exterior e água (esta última por um período limitado) ao ambiente interno. No caso da condução de ar, o solo funcionaria como um reservatório de energia, aquecendo ou resfriando a ar. Já, no caso da condução de água, prevista com duto de baixa condutividade térmica, o solo funcionaria apenas como um protetor à radiação solar, para preservar as características térmicas da água, desde um reservatório, de onde a mesma era bombeada, até o interior da casa. Na Casa Ventura foram construídos dois ambientes centrais com características dimensionais e de envolvente equivalentes, constituindo os ambientes monitorados no processo, sendo um, na condição natural, referencial, sem renovação de ar, e o outro, com renovação de ar. Na parte experimental, o ar foi captado do ambiente externo e insuflado por um ventilador nos dutos enterrados, renovou o ar no interior deste último ambiente. Com ajuda de um fan-coil, colocado neste ambiente, o ar renovado trocou calor com a água. Por questões de dificuldades operacionais, o bombeamento de água funcionou por um período muito curto. Durante o experimento, que se desenvolveu por todo o ano de 2007, foram monitoradas e registradas, além da temperatura do solo e da água, a temperatura e a umidade: do ar externo, do ar nos ambientes internos e do ar em escoamento nos dutos enterrados, bem como a velocidade de escoamento nos mesmos. Resultados: De forma geral, o potencial do solo para aquecer foi maior do que o de resfriamento do ar injetado nos dutos enterrados. O potencial de aquecimento foi mais destacado nos meses de maio, junho, julho e agosto, e se mostrou maior que 3K. Para profundidades entre 2 e 3m, estima-se que o potencial possa ser superior a 8K. Por outro lado, o potencial de resfriamento foi maior nos meses de janeiro, fevereiro e dezembro, mas foi baixo para pequenas profundidades (menos de um metro). Para resfriamento, este potencial pode chegar a 4K. Contribuições da pesquisa: Face aos resultados da pesquisa, diversas foram as suas contribuições, dentre as quais se destacam: a construção de um banco de dados experimentais sobre as propriedades e características do solo (índices físicos, difusividade térmica, capacidade térmica volumétrica, condutividade térmica, temperatura e umidade) e do ar ambiente (temperatura e umidade) para o município de Viamão, localizado na região sul do Brasil, e que pode ser usado para a continuidade desta pesquisa ou para a elaboração de novas pesquisas e projetos; e o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia para a modelagem computacional de trocadores de calor solo-ar, validada através dos dados experimentais citados acima, possibilitando, assim, o emprego deste procedimento numérico, para a elaboração de projetos ou novas pesquisas nesta área. / Purpose: The development of the present work, comprising the area of heat transfer and fluids mechanics involved analytical, numerical computational and experimental (in field environment) methods, with the purpose of analyzing the use of earth-to-air heat exchanger, as a strategy to reduce conventional energy consumption, for the heating or cooling of built environments. Thus, one of the study purposes was to evaluate, based on experimental results, the earth performance as an energy reservoir, derived from solar radiation incidence on the surface of the ground. We aimed, then, at identifying favorable parameters, procedures and conditions involving this strategy. The other study purpose was, using the GAMBIT and FLUENT softwares, computationally modeling the air flow in the earth-to-air heat exchanger. Method: The experimental and numerical study was preceded by the construction of a building, specially planned for the research, called Casa Ventura. As a follow-up, ducts were buried on the ground, to conduct external air and water (the latter one for a limited period) to the internal environment of the house. In terms of air conduction, the earth would work as an energy reservoir, heating or cooling the air. Concerning the water conduction, planned to use a duct of low thermal conductivity, the earth would only work as a protector from solar radiation, to preserve the water thermal characteristics, when flowing from the water reservoir, where it would be taken from, to the inside of the house. At Casa Ventura two central environments were built with similar dimensional and envelope characteristics, constituting the environments monitored in the process, in which, one in the natural and referential condition, without air renovation, and the other, with air renovation. In the experimental part, the air was captured from the external environment and inflated by a fan in the buried ducts, and it renovated the air inside this latter environment. With the help of a fan-coil, placed in this environment, the renovated air exchanged heat with the water flowing through the ducts. Due to some operational difficulties, the pumping of water lasted for a very short period. During the experiment, which lasted through the whole year of 2007, besides the water and earth temperature, the temperature and humidity of the following were also monitored and registered: the external air, the air in the internal environments and the air flowing in the buried ducts, as well as the flowing speed of the different fluids. Results: In a general way, the earth potential to heat was higher than the cooling of air injected in the buried ducts. The heating potential was higher in the months of May, June, July and August, doing so by more 3K. For depths between 2 and 3m, it is estimated that the potential might be over 8K. On the other hand, the potential for cooling was higher in the months of January, February and December, but it was low for low depths (less than a meter). For cooling, this potential may reach 4K. Research contributions: Considering the research results, several were the contributions, among which we highlight: the construction of an experimental database on the earth properties and characteristics (physical indexes, thermal diffusivity, volumetric heat capacity, thermal conductivity, temperature and humidity) and the environmental characteristics of the air (temperature and humidity) for the city of Viamão, located in Southern Brazil, and that may be used for the continuation of this research or for the elaboration of new researches and projects; and the development of a methodology for computational modeling of earth-to-air heat exchangers, validated through the experimental data mentioned before, enabling, therefore, the use of this numerical procedure for the elaboration of projects or new researches in this area.

Objetivos: Este trabalho, abrangendo a área da transferência de calor e da mecânica dos fluidos, em seu desenvolvimento envolveu métodos analíticos, numéricos computacionais e experimentais (em ambiente de campo), com a finalidade de analisar o uso de trocadores de calor solo-ar, como estratégia para diminuir o consumo de energia convencional, no aquecimento ou resfriamento de ambientes construídos. Assim, um dos objetivos do estudo foi avaliar, com base em resultados experimentais, a performance do solo como um reservatório de energia, derivada da radiação solar. Buscou-se, pois, identificar parâmetros, procedimentos e condições favoráveis envolvendo esta estratégia. O outro objetivo do estudo foi, usando os softwares GAMBIT e FLUENT, modelar computacionalmente o escoamento do ar no trocador de calor solo-ar. Método: O estudo experimental e numérico foi precedido pela construção de uma edificação, especificamente concebida para a pesquisa, identificada como Casa Ventura. Em continuidade, foram enterrados dutos no solo, que conduziriam ar exterior e água (esta última por um período limitado) ao ambiente interno. No caso da condução de ar, o solo funcionaria como um reservatório de energia, aquecendo ou resfriando a ar. Já, no caso da condução de água, prevista com duto de baixa condutividade térmica, o solo funcionaria apenas como um protetor à radiação solar, para preservar as características térmicas da água, desde um reservatório, de onde a mesma era bombeada, até o interior da casa. Na Casa Ventura foram construídos dois ambientes centrais com características dimensionais e de envolvente equivalentes, constituindo os ambientes monitorados no processo, sendo um, na condição natural, referencial, sem renovação de ar, e o outro, com renovação de ar. Na parte experimental, o ar foi captado do ambiente externo e insuflado por um ventilador nos dutos enterrados, renovou o ar no interior deste último ambiente. Com ajuda de um fan-coil, colocado neste ambiente, o ar renovado trocou calor com a água. Por questões de dificuldades operacionais, o bombeamento de água funcionou por um período muito curto. Durante o experimento, que se desenvolveu por todo o ano de 2007, foram monitoradas e registradas, além da temperatura do solo e da água, a temperatura e a umidade: do ar externo, do ar nos ambientes internos e do ar em escoamento nos dutos enterrados, bem como a velocidade de escoamento nos mesmos. Resultados: De forma geral, o potencial do solo para aquecer foi maior do que o de resfriamento do ar injetado nos dutos enterrados. O potencial de aquecimento foi mais destacado nos meses de maio, junho, julho e agosto, e se mostrou maior que 3K. Para profundidades entre 2 e 3m, estima-se que o potencial possa ser superior a 8K. Por outro lado, o potencial de resfriamento foi maior nos meses de janeiro, fevereiro e dezembro, mas foi baixo para pequenas profundidades (menos de um metro). Para resfriamento, este potencial pode chegar a 4K. Contribuições da pesquisa: Face aos resultados da pesquisa, diversas foram as suas contribuições, dentre as quais se destacam: a construção de um banco de dados experimentais sobre as propriedades e características do solo (índices físicos, difusividade térmica, capacidade térmica volumétrica, condutividade térmica, temperatura e umidade) e do ar ambiente (temperatura e umidade) para o município de Viamão, localizado na região sul do Brasil, e que pode ser usado para a continuidade desta pesquisa ou para a elaboração de novas pesquisas e projetos; e o desenvolvimento de uma metodologia para a modelagem computacional de trocadores de calor solo-ar, validada através dos dados experimentais citados acima, possibilitando, assim, o emprego deste procedimento numérico, para a elaboração de projetos ou novas pesquisas nesta área. / Purpose: The development of the present work, comprising the area of heat transfer and fluids mechanics involved analytical, numerical computational and experimental (in field environment) methods, with the purpose of analyzing the use of earth-to-air heat exchanger, as a strategy to reduce conventional energy consumption, for the heating or cooling of built environments. Thus, one of the study purposes was to evaluate, based on experimental results, the earth performance as an energy reservoir, derived from solar radiation incidence on the surface of the ground. We aimed, then, at identifying favorable parameters, procedures and conditions involving this strategy. The other study purpose was, using the GAMBIT and FLUENT softwares, computationally modeling the air flow in the earth-to-air heat exchanger. Method: The experimental and numerical study was preceded by the construction of a building, specially planned for the research, called Casa Ventura. As a follow-up, ducts were buried on the ground, to conduct external air and water (the latter one for a limited period) to the internal environment of the house. In terms of air conduction, the earth would work as an energy reservoir, heating or cooling the air. Concerning the water conduction, planned to use a duct of low thermal conductivity, the earth would only work as a protector from solar radiation, to preserve the water thermal characteristics, when flowing from the water reservoir, where it would be taken from, to the inside of the house. At Casa Ventura two central environments were built with similar dimensional and envelope characteristics, constituting the environments monitored in the process, in which, one in the natural and referential condition, without air renovation, and the other, with air renovation. In the experimental part, the air was captured from the external environment and inflated by a fan in the buried ducts, and it renovated the air inside this latter environment. With the help of a fan-coil, placed in this environment, the renovated air exchanged heat with the water flowing through the ducts. Due to some operational difficulties, the pumping of water lasted for a very short period. During the experiment, which lasted through the whole year of 2007, besides the water and earth temperature, the temperature and humidity of the following were also monitored and registered: the external air, the air in the internal environments and the air flowing in the buried ducts, as well as the flowing speed of the different fluids. Results: In a general way, the earth potential to heat was higher than the cooling of air injected in the buried ducts. The heating potential was higher in the months of May, June, July and August, doing so by more 3K. For depths between 2 and 3m, it is estimated that the potential might be over 8K. On the other hand, the potential for cooling was higher in the months of January, February and December, but it was low for low depths (less than a meter). For cooling, this potential may reach 4K. Research contributions: Considering the research results, several were the contributions, among which we highlight: the construction of an experimental database on the earth properties and characteristics (physical indexes, thermal diffusivity, volumetric heat capacity, thermal conductivity, temperature and humidity) and the environmental characteristics of the air (temperature and humidity) for the city of Viamão, located in Southern Brazil, and that may be used for the continuation of this research or for the elaboration of new researches and projects; and the development of a methodology for computational modeling of earth-to-air heat exchangers, validated through the experimental data mentioned before, enabling, therefore, the use of this numerical procedure for the elaboration of projects or new researches in this area.

It is well known that surface tension of a liquid has a decisive role in flow dynamics and the eventual equilibrium state, especially in confined flows under low gravity conditions and also in free surface flows. One such instance of a combination of these two cases where surface tension plays an important role is in the microgravity environment of a spacecraft propellant tank. In this specific case both propellant acquisition and residual propellant estimation are critical to the mission objectives particularly in the end-of-life phase. While there have been a few studies pertaining to the equilibrium state in given geometric configurations, the transient flow leading to final state from an initial arbitrary distribution of propellant is rarely described. The present study is aimed at analysing the dynamic behaviour of the liquids under reduced gravity through numerical simulation and also addresses the specific case of propellant flow transient in a cone-in-a-sphere type of tank configuration proposed by Lal and Raghunandan which is likely to result in both improved acquisition and life time estimation of spacecraft. While addressing this specific problem, the present work aims to study the transient nature of such surface tension driven flows in a general form as applicable to other similar problems also. Volume of Fluid (VOF) method for multiphase model in ANSYS FLUENT was adapted with suitable changes for generating numerical solutions to this problem. Simulations were run for three different cone angles of 17o, 21o & 28o with a flat liquid surface for full scale models to measure the rise height and time of rise. Two scaled models of ½ and 1/10th of the original dimensions with the same liquid configuration of the 28o cone angle case were simulated to see if the time scales involved would come down for experimental feasibility. A third simulation of the 1/10th scale model was run with the liquid spread in the tank to imitate the general conditions found in the propellant tank in microgravity. To understand the behaviour of liquids in the microgravity state to changing physical parameters, a set of simulations was run using liquid phases as water and hydrazine with different physical parameters of temperature and surface tension. The theory put forward by Lal and Raghunandan was found to stand firm. In the case of the cone angle of 28o it was observed that in the final equilibrium state the liquid collected towards the apex of the cone with the larger volume fraction of liquid accumulating inside the cone. An addition of a cylindrical section at the bottom of the cone seems to help although not uniformly for all case. The equilibrium settling times for all the three cone angle cases were in the order of 300 to 600 seconds for simulations on a spherical tank of diameter two metres which was close to the actual tank dimension used on spacecraft. Scaled down simulations of 1/10th and ½ the tank geometry with both flat liquid surfaces and spread out liquid volumes showed that the smaller models had equilibrium settling times which were considerably lower (in the order of tens of seconds) than the full scale models. Although smaller, these time scales are larger than the maximum time scales available in drop tower tests which provide a maximum free fall time of around 9 to 10 seconds. Validation of the proposed configuration by flying an aircraft in a parabolic flight path is a possibility that could be explored for the scaled down models since the zero-g duration for these flights is on an average between 15-20 seconds.