The goal of this study is to design and analyze a sandwich composite panel with lightweight graphite foam core and carbon epoxy face sheets that can function as a radiator for the given payload in a satellite. This arrangement provides a lightweight, structurally efficient structure to dissipate the heat from the electronics box to the surroundings. Three-dimensional finite element analysis with MSC Visual Nastran is undertaken for modal, dynamic and heat transfer analysis to design a radiator panel that can sustain fundamental frequency greater than 100 Hz and dissipate 100 W/m2 and withstand launch loads of 10G. The primary focus of this research is to evaluate newly introduced graphite foam by Poco Graphite Inc. as a core in a sandwich structure that can satisfy structural and thermal design requirements. The panel is a rectangular plate with a cutout that can hold the antenna. The panel is fixed on all the sides. The objective is not only to select an optimum design configuration for the face sheets and core but also to explore the potential of the Poco foam core in its heat transfer capacity. Furthermore the effects of various parameters such as face sheet lay-up, orientation, thickness and material properties are studied through analytical models to validate the predictions of finite element analysis. The optimum dimensions of the sandwich panel are determined and structural and thermal response of the Poco foam is compared with existing aluminum honeycomb core.

The hot gas temperature in gas turbine engines is far above the permissible metal temperatures. Advanced cooling technologies must be applied to cool the blades, so they can withstand the extreme conditions. Film cooling is widely used in modern high temperature and high pressure blades as an active cooling scheme. In this study, the film cooling effectiveness in different regions of gas turbine blades was investigated with various film hole/slot configurations and mainstream flow conditions. The study consisted of four parts: 1) effect of upstream wake on blade surface film cooling, 2) effect of upstream vortex on platform purge flow cooling, 3) influence of hole shape and angle on leading edge film cooling and 4) slot film cooling on trailing edge. Pressure sensitive paint (PSP) technique was used to get the conduction-free film cooling effectiveness distribution. For the blade surface film cooling, the effectiveness from axial shaped holes and compound angle shaped holes were examined. Results showed that the compound angle shaped holes offer better film effectiveness than the axial shaped holes. The upstream stationary wakes have detrimental effect on film effectiveness in certain wake rod phase positions. For platform purge flow cooling, the stator-rotor gap was simulated by a typical labyrinth-like seal. Delta wings were used to generate vortex and modeled the passage vortex generated by the upstream vanes. Results showed that the upstream vortex reduces the film cooling effectiveness on the platform. For the leading edge film cooling, two film cooling designs, each with four film cooling hole configurations, were investigated. Results showed that the shaped holes provide higher film cooling effectiveness than the cylindrical holes at higher average blowing ratios. In the same range of average blowing ratio, the radial angle holes produce better effectiveness than the compound angle holes. The seven-row design results in much higher effectiveness than the three-row design. For the trailing edge slot cooling, the effect of slot lip thickness on film effectiveness under the two mainstream conditions was investigated. Results showed thinner lips offer higher effectiveness. The film effectiveness on the slots reduces when the incoming mainstream boundary layer thickness decreases.

An experimental activity was performed to observe and study the effects of graphite dispersion and deposition on thermal hydraulic phenomena in a Reactor Cavity Cooling System (RCCS). The small scale RCCS experimental facility (16.5cm x 16.5cm x 30.4cm) used for this activity represents half of the reactor cavity with an electrically heated vessel. Water flowing through five vertical pipes removes the heat produced in the vessel and releases it in the environment by mixing with cold water in a large tank. PIV technique was used to study the velocity field of the air inside the cavity. A set of 52 thermocouples was installed in the facility to monitor the temperature profiles of the vessel and pipes walls and air. 10g of a fine graphite powder (particle size average 2 [mu]m) were injected into the cavity through a spraying nozzle placed at the bottom of the vessel. Temperatures and air velocity field were recorded and compared with the measurements obtained before the graphite dispersion, showing a decrease of the temperature surfaces which was related to an increase in their emissivity. The results contribute to the understanding of the RCCS capability in case of an accident scenario.

The existence of flammable aerosols presents a high potential for fire hazards in the process industry. Various industrial fluids, most of which operate at elevated temperatures and pressures, can be atomized when released under high pressure through a small orifice. Because of the complexity in the process of aerosol formation and combustion, the availability of data on aerosol flammability and flame propagation behaviors is still quite limited, making it difficult to evaluate the potential fire and explosion risks from released aerosols in the process industry and develop safety measures for preventing and/or mitigating aerosol hazards. A study is needed to investigate the relationship between aerosol combustion behaviors and the properties of the aerosols. This dissertation presents research on the combustion behaviors of flammable aerosols. Monodisperse aerosols created by industrial heat transfer fluids were generated using electrospray. The characteristics of flame propagations in aerosols and the influence of the presence of fuel droplets in the system are studied in the aerosol ignition tests. Flames in aerosols are characterized by non-uniform shapes and discrete flame fronts. Flames were observed in different burning modes. Droplet evaporation was found to play an important role in aerosol burning modes. Droplet evaporation behaviors and fuel vapor distributions are further related to aerosol droplet size, droplet spacing, movement velocity, and liquid volatility. The burning mode of a global flame with rapid size expansion is considered the most hazardous aerosol combustion scenario. This burning mode requires a smaller droplet size and smaller space between droplets. Larger droplet sizes and spacing may hinder the appearance of global flames. But when the liquid fuel has a certain level of volatility, there is an uneven distribution of fuel vapor in the system and this may cause the unique phenomenon of burning mode variations combined with enhanced flame propagation speed. Using an integrated model, the minimum ignition energy values of aerosols were predicted. The aerosol minimum ignition energy is influenced by the fuel-air equivalence ratio and the droplet size. Higher equivalence ratios, up to 1.0, significantly reduce the minimum ignition energy, while larger droplet sizes result in a higher minimum ignition energy.

This study deals with solidification and melting of some typical encapsulated ice thermal energy storage geometries. Using ANSYS GAMBIT and FLUENT 6.0 software, HTF fluid motion past encapsulated water (ice) geometries, varying HTF flow rates and inlet temperatures are analyzed. The main source of irreversibility was from entropy generation accompanying phase change, although viscous dissipation losses were included. Energy efficiencies were well over 99% for all cases, while exergy efficiencies ranged from 70% to 92%. By far, the most influential variable was the inlet HTF temperature; higher efficiencies resulted from inlet HTF temperatures closer to the solidification temperature of water. / UOIT

As hybrid and electric vehicles continue to evolve there is a need for better battery thermal management systems (BTMS), which maintain uniformity of operating temperature of the batteries in the vehicles. This thesis investigates the use of an indirect liquid cooled system, which can be applied to hybrid and electric vehicles. The design is modeled as part of the UOIT EcoCAR. The predominant focus of this indirect liquid cooled system is the entropy generation in each of the components within the system, as well as a total system analysis. Four main components of the system are the battery module, heat exchanger, pump, and throttle. The battery module coolant tubes and the entire heat exchanger model are developed. Various parameters are changed in each component, leading to a decrease in entropy generation depending on the variable changed. Of the four components identified, the heat exchanger produced the majority of entropy generation, which leads to an overall increase in system entropy generation. There are many factors to consider when designing a liquid cooled BTMS. The new model shows a unique ability to improve system performance by reducing the entropy generation in the BTMS. / UOIT

This work examines electrohydrodynamic enhancement of capillary pump loops (CPL) for use in extraterrestrial nuclear applications. A capillary pump uses capillary action through a porous wick to transport heat and mass. The capillary pump is being considered as a method to improve heat transport in extraterrestrial nuclear applications. The work consists of a literature review of electrohydrodynamics, capillary pumped loops and space type nuclear reactors. Current CPLs are assessed for their performance and several design solutions are investigated using theoretical and analytical techniques. Experimental analysis is performed on an electrohydrodynamic gas pump to determine their suitability for implementation into the vapour leg of a capillary pump loop. The results suggest the EHD gas pumps could offer improved performance and it is recommended experiments should be performed in future work with an EHD gas pump in a CPL for verification. A new design for the electrohydrodynamic evaporator is also developed for enhanced performance. / UOIT

Sweetpotato (<i>Ipomoea batatas</i>) is a popular vegetable across the world. It is a staple food item of many countries in South America, Africa and Asia where the population depends on the crop as an important source of energy and essential nutrients like vitamins A and C, calcium, iron and copper. It is also a very popular crop in North America. Deep fat frying is one of the favourite processing methods for sweetpotato. The method is fast and the finished product is desired for its unique flavour and taste. <p>The main objective of this study was to establish analogy between convective heat and mass transfer during frying. The accurate estimation of the coefficients for both phenomena is challenging. During frying, the rate of heat transfer from the oil to the food surface is largely controlled by the convective heat transfer coefficient. This heat transfer coefficient is dependent on the interaction between the temperature gradient and the drying rate in a frying process. The temperature gradient and the drying rate in turn partly depend on the thermophysical properties of the product. In this study, thermophysical properties of sweetpotato were studied and modeled as a function of moisture content and temperature. The properties of interest are specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and density. A designed deep fat frying experiment of sweetpotato was carried out under four different oil temperatures (150, 160, 170 and 180°C) and using three different sample sizes (defined as ratio of diameter to thickness (D/L: 2.5, 3.5 and 4.0). Convective heat transfer coefficients under these frying conditions were estimated and computer simulation based on finite element modeling technique was used to determine convective mass transfer coefficients. Correlation between heat transfer coefficient and mass transfer coefficient were investigated with reliable statistical tool. Effects of sample size, oil temperature and frying time on heat and mass transfer were also studied. <p>Specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of sweetpotato were all found to increase with increase in temperature and moisture content. Density decreased with increase in moisture content. Maximum heat transfer coefficient reached during sweetpotato frying was in the range of 700-850 W/m2.°C. Heat transfer coefficient of sample during frying increased with increase in frying oil temperature but decreased with increase in sample size. Same trend for heat transfer coefficient was observed for effects of oil temperature and sample size on mass transfer coefficient. Maximum mass transfer coefficient reached during sweetpotato frying was in the range of 4×10-6 to 7.2×10-6 kg/m2.s. No general relationship was established between heat transfer coefficient and mass transfer coefficient during frying but a relationship was established between maximum heat transfer coefficient and maximum mass transfer coefficient. A trend was also observed between maximum heat transfer coefficient and the corresponding mass transfer coefficient at that point.

The total worldwide base of installed wind energy peak capacity reached 94 GW by the end of 2007, including 1846 MW in Canada. Wind turbine systems are being installed throughout Canada and often in mountains and cold weather regions, due to their high wind energy potential. Harsh cold weather climates, involving turbulence, gusts, icing and lightning strikes in these regions, affect wind turbine performance. Ice accretion and irregular shedding during turbine operation lead to load imbalances, often causing the turbine to shut off. They create excessive turbine vibration and may change the natural frequency of blades as well as promote higher fatigue loads and increase the bending moment of blades. Icing also affects the tower structure by increasing stresses, due to increased loads from ice accretion. This can lead to structural failures, especially when coupled to strong wind loads. Icing also affects the reliability of anemometers, thereby leading to inaccurate wind speed measurements and resulting in resource estimation errors. Icing issues can directly impact personnel safety, due to falling and projected ice. It is therefore important to expand research on wind turbines operating in cold climate areas. This study presents an experimental investigation including three important fundamental aspects: 1) heat transfer characteristics of the airfoil with and without liquid water content (LWC) at varying angles of attack; 2) energy losses of wind energy while a wind turbine is operating under icing conditions; and 3) aerodynamic characteristics of an airfoil during a simulated icing event. A turbine scale model with curved 3-D blades and a DC generator is tested in a large refrigerated wind tunnel, where ice formation is simulated by spraying water droplets. A NACA 63421 airfoil is used to study the characteristics of aerodynamics and convective heat transfer. The current, voltage, rotation of the DC generator and temperature distribution along the airfoil, which are used to calculate heat transfer coefficients, are measured using a Data Acquisition (DAQ) system and recorded with LabVIEW software. The drag, lift and moment of the airfoil are measured by a force balance system to obtain the aerodynamics of an iced airfoil. This research also quantifies the power loss under various icing conditions. The data obtained can be used to valid numerical data method to predict heat transfer characteristics while wind turbine blades worked in cold climate regions. / October 2008

Sweetpotato (<i>Ipomoea batatas</i>) is a popular vegetable across the world. It is a staple food item of many countries in South America, Africa and Asia where the population depends on the crop as an important source of energy and essential nutrients like vitamins A and C, calcium, iron and copper. It is also a very popular crop in North America. Deep fat frying is one of the favourite processing methods for sweetpotato. The method is fast and the finished product is desired for its unique flavour and taste. <p>The main objective of this study was to establish analogy between convective heat and mass transfer during frying. The accurate estimation of the coefficients for both phenomena is challenging. During frying, the rate of heat transfer from the oil to the food surface is largely controlled by the convective heat transfer coefficient. This heat transfer coefficient is dependent on the interaction between the temperature gradient and the drying rate in a frying process. The temperature gradient and the drying rate in turn partly depend on the thermophysical properties of the product. In this study, thermophysical properties of sweetpotato were studied and modeled as a function of moisture content and temperature. The properties of interest are specific heat capacity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity and density. A designed deep fat frying experiment of sweetpotato was carried out under four different oil temperatures (150, 160, 170 and 180°C) and using three different sample sizes (defined as ratio of diameter to thickness (D/L: 2.5, 3.5 and 4.0). Convective heat transfer coefficients under these frying conditions were estimated and computer simulation based on finite element modeling technique was used to determine convective mass transfer coefficients. Correlation between heat transfer coefficient and mass transfer coefficient were investigated with reliable statistical tool. Effects of sample size, oil temperature and frying time on heat and mass transfer were also studied. <p>Specific heat, thermal conductivity and thermal diffusivity of sweetpotato were all found to increase with increase in temperature and moisture content. Density decreased with increase in moisture content. Maximum heat transfer coefficient reached during sweetpotato frying was in the range of 700-850 W/m2.°C. Heat transfer coefficient of sample during frying increased with increase in frying oil temperature but decreased with increase in sample size. Same trend for heat transfer coefficient was observed for effects of oil temperature and sample size on mass transfer coefficient. Maximum mass transfer coefficient reached during sweetpotato frying was in the range of 4×10-6 to 7.2×10-6 kg/m2.s. No general relationship was established between heat transfer coefficient and mass transfer coefficient during frying but a relationship was established between maximum heat transfer coefficient and maximum mass transfer coefficient. A trend was also observed between maximum heat transfer coefficient and the corresponding mass transfer coefficient at that point.