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Overend et al [68] designed a viscometer to measure the viscosity of slurries that have a tendency to settle. This viscometer consists of a rotating ribbed rotor surrounded by a stationary slotted sleeve; this system is then placed eccentrically within an inclined rotating bowl. It, is claimed that this overcomes most of the difficulties encountered when attempting to obtain accurate measurements for these types of mixtures. If the mixture being sheared within the annulus does not represent the true composition of the slurry being, tested then the results are expected to be inaccurate. The presence of sediment at the bottom of the rotor or the formation of large masses of particles within the flow domain will affect the accuracy of the measurements obtained. This dissertation studies the amount of flow through the slotted sleeve and the region, or regions, of low shear rate within the flow domain. Assuming that end-effects are unimportant and that the slurries can be replaced by a single-phase fluid, three two-dimensional models are proposed. These models are designed to capture the large-slot construction of the sleeve and the, approximate, non-Newtonian behaviour of the slurries. The first two models solve analytically (using a regular perturbation scheme) and numerically (using a finite volume method) the moderate-and large-Reynolds-number flow, and the third model uses a finite volume method to study the flow patterns developed by pseudoplastic fluids. The results show that the mixing of the slurry is expected to be enhanced by moving the concentric system (i.e., the rotor and the slotted sleeve) close to the rotating bowl and using low to moderate speeds for the rotor and bowl. In addition, when the cylinders rotate in the same directions, two (counter-rotating) eddies are present within the flow domain; whereas, only one eddy (rotating counter-clockwise) is ++ / present when the cylinders rotate in opposite directions. The presence of eddies in the former situation inhibits the flow through the sleeve; while, for moderate rotorspeeds, the flow through the sleeve is enhanced in the latter. When the slurry assumed pseudoplastic, we observe a region of low shear rate located near the dividing streamline present within the flow field. The distribution of shear rate within the flow field is shown to be affected by factors such as the rate of diffusion of the apparent viscosity and the value of the power law index. Therefore, this study suggests that for certain types of slurries, concentrations of particles exist within the domain and that the mixing of slurries can be impeded by the presence of eddies within the main flow field.

Concentric rotating cylinder and turbulent mixing devices have been frequently used in studying mixing and particle coagulation. However, these apparatus develop simple laminar flow (concentric rotating cylinders) or do not have well-defined flow (turbulent mixing devices). In this work, the eccentric rotating cylinder apparatus was investigated to find applicability for the improved study of coagulation based on the modified analytical solution of Ballal and Rivlin. Various eccentricity ratios, rotation speeds and viscosities were simulated to obtain optimum operating conditions. Inertial forces working on the fluid increased as the eccentricity ratio and rotation speed increase. As inertial forces increase, the eddy developed in wide clearance was more skewed in the direction of rotation. Both root-mean-square velocity gradient and average principal strain-rate, were increased by increasing eccentricity ratio. avaerage principal strain-rate were linearly increased as rotation speed increases, which suggested that average prinipal strain-rate can properly represent mixing intensity. Comparison of average principal strain-rate and RMS velocity gradient revealed that RMS velocity gradient overestimated mixing intensity and its error increased as eccentricity ratio increases. This study showed that the eccentric rotating cylinder apparatus has a non-uniform velocity distribution with well-defined fluid dynamics. Therefore, the eccentric rotating cylinder apparatus can be applicable as a model flocculator. However, in order to achieve reliable model predictability, the fluid Reynolds number must be below 200.

This work deals with the determination of the heat transfer coefficient in small channels with a rotating wall. The research part of the thesis is focused on specific geometry, namely labyrinth seals used in rotary machines. Existing criteria equations determining heat transfer coefficients and other parameters in these specific geometries are described. The central part describes the built experimental device for the determination of values of heat flows and heat transfer coefficients on both stator and rotor for given airflow and rotor speed. The following section is devoted to presenting the results of the performed experiments with the corresponding criteria equations. The next part describes the basic mathematical models of inverse heat conduction problems. Calculations of heat flux using these inverse methods are performed and compared with reference heat flux sensors.

In this study we investigates the thermal behavior of an assembly of consecutive cylinders in a counter-rotating configuration cooled by natural convection with the objective of maximizing the heat transfer density rate (heat transfer rate per unit volume). A numerical model was used to solve the governing equations that describe the temperature and flow fields and an optimization algorithm was used to find the optimal structure for flow configurations with two or more degrees of freedom. The geometric structure of the consecutive cylinders was optimized for each flow regime (Rayleigh number) and cylinder rotation speed for one and two degrees of freedom. Smaller cylinders were placed at the entrance to the assembly, in the wedge-shaped flow regions occupied by fluid that had not yet been used for heat transfer, to create additional length scales to the flow configuration. It was found that the optimized spacing decreases and the heat transfer density rate increases as the Rayleigh number increases, for the optimized structure. It was also found that the optimized spacing decreases and the maximum heat transfer density rate increases, as the cylinder rotation speed was increased for the single scale configuration at each Rayleigh number. Results further showed that there was an increase in the heat transfer density rate of the rotating cylinders over stationary cylinders for a single scale configuration. For a multi scale configuration it was found that there was almost no effect of cylinder rotation on the maximum heat transfer density rate, when compared to stationary cylinders, at each Rayleigh number; with the exception of high cylinder rotation speeds, which serve to suppress the heat transfer density rate. It was, however, found that the optimized spacing decreases as the cylinder rotation speed was increased at each Rayleigh number. Results further showed that the maximum heat transfer density rate for a multi scale configuration (with stationary cylinders) was higher than a single scale configuration (with rotating cylinders) with an exception at very low Rayleigh numbers. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering / unrestricted

This work deals with an unconventional wind energy conversion system, in which the wind turbine has rotating cylinders rather than traditional blades. These cylinders can be driven by a brushless DC motor. The turbine operates on the physical principle called Magnus Effect. It presents the mathematical modeling of Magnus turbine and based on this modeling were carried out simulations in PSIM® software. It was implemented and was tested MPPT algorithms type HCC (Hill Climbing Control) for DC brushless motor control for operating the cylinders and hence the power generated by the Magnus turbine. Prototypes of Magnus effect wind system (turbine, generator PMSG, AC / DC converter, DC / DC converter) were built to perform wind tunnel experiments comparing the experimental results with simulated results. We sought to optimize the extraction of wind energy through concepts and innovative solutions in the construction of the turbine, brushless DC servo for rotating cylinders, implementing MPPT algorithms to control the rotation of the cylinder and the static converter. Three turbine concepts are presented and three prototypes were built. Loose cylinders were tested in the wind tunnel and it was measured the lift and drag forces. The "Prototype 3" is 3 m in diameter with two cylinders of 150 mm diameter showed the best experimental results, but still generated mechanical power did not provide an effective net power. / O presente trabalho trata de um sistema eólico não convencional, cuja turbina eólica possui cilindros girantes no lugar das pás tradicionais. Estes cilindros podem ser acionados por um motor brushless CC (sem escovas). O princípio físico de funcionamento desta turbina baseia-se no que se denomina de “Efeito Magnus”. Apresenta-se a modelagem matemática da turbina Magnus e com base nesta modelagem realizam-se simulações no software PSIM®. Programa-se e testa-se algoritmos de rastreamento da máxima potência líquida MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking), do tipo HCC (Hill Climbing Control) no controle do motor brushless CC de acionamento dos cilindros e, consequentemente, da potência gerada pela turbina Magnus. Protótipos de sistema eólico de efeito Magnus (turbina, gerador PMSG, conversores CA/CC, CC/CC) foram construídos para realizar experimentos em túnel de vento, possibilitando comparações dos resultados experimentais com os resultados simulados. Busca-se otimizar a extração da energia dos ventos, através de concepções e soluções inovadoras na construção da turbina, servo acionamento CC brushless para os cilindros girantes, implementação de algoritmos MPPT no controle da rotação dos cilindros e do conversor estático. Três concepções da turbina Magnus são apresentadas e três protótipos construídos. Ensaios de cilindros girantes avulsos com variações nos diâmetros e nas espirais sobrepostas são realizados em túnel de vento com colméias e medem-se as forças de sustentação e de arrasto. O “Protótipo 3” de 3 m de diâmetro com dois cilindros lisos de 150 mm de diâmetro apresentou os melhores resultados experimentais, mas ainda a potência mecânica gerada não proporcionou uma potência líquida efetiva.