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The South African based petrochemical company, SASOL, operates three large plants for the recovery and purification of the chemical 1-hexene. The thermodynamic models available in commercial simulation packages fail to predict or correlate the plant data presently observed by SASOL. The focus of this project is the accruement of comprehensive and accurate modelling parameters that would assist SASOL in optimizing the operation of the three plants and meet their purity specifications. The experimental requirements of the project are the measurement of isothermal vapour-liquid equilibrium (VLE) data for selected binary systems, using a dynamic still. The binary systems investigated were 1-hexene + n-methylpyrrolidone (NMP) at 40, 62 and 90 °C, water + NMP at 70, 90 and 107 °C and 1-hexene + 3methylcyclopentene (3MCP) at 40, 50 and 60 °C. With respect to the modelling of the VLE data, the combined (gamma-phi) and direct (phi-phi) regression procedures were utilized. The results of the analysis show the combined method as the more flexible of the two, when used for low pressure systems. The excess Gibbs energy correlations investigated were the Margules, Van Laar, Wilson, NRTL and UNIQUAC. The NRTL and Van Laar models dominated the modelling results across the range of temperatures for each binary system and for both the direct and combined methods of data regression. The experimental data for the systems of water (1) + NMP (2) at 107 °C and at 70 °C were compared to literature data. The first system showed excellent correlation with the literature results while the second plot at 70 °C showed a positive bias of the experimental data between xj of 0.3 and 0.8. Thermodynamic consistency tests for the VLE data are also required to verify the accuracy of the data. For this project, the point and direct (Van Ness) consistency tests were used as the area test was considered as too mild. All systems passed the point and direct tests for the combined method and therefore verify the thermodynamic consistency of the experimental data. The systems failed in most cases for the direct method as the combined method is the more flexible of the two modelling methods. / Thesis (M.Sc.Eng.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, 2007.

1. A Diffusion-Absorption-Refrigeration (DAR) system for air conditioning (DAAC) is developed. It is directly driven by heat, uses a bubble pump to replace the mechanical pump, uses three-component working fluid, and operates under the same system pressure level. Hence, it is quiet, long lasting and environmental friendly. To investigate the practicality of using the DAAC system for air conditioning, the thermodynamic model is derived first, and then an experimental prototype is built for validation. From the experimental results under various operating conditions, it is found that the bubble pump is the key component that dominates the system performance, so it should be designed carefully with respect to the designed cooling capacity and operating condition. Meanwhile, the system also shows good performance under the ambient temperature disturbance. / 2. A novel absorption air conditioning system based on solar energy and energy storage is proposed. This system uses Lithium-Bromide water solution as refrigerant and is powered by solar energy. Moreover, a new energy storage technique is also proposed to transform and store the solar energy in the form of chemical potential difference of the working fluid. Thus, the system flexibility and energy usage efficiency are improved. To validate the system design, the thermodynamic models for the air conditioning system are developed. Then by computer simulation, the system characteristics and performance are achieved under the proposed operation strategy. It is found that the proposed air conditioning system is energy efficient with high energy storage density and shows great potential in the future. / 3. A complex absorption air conditioning system is proposed by using an advanced energy storage technology called Variable Mass Energy Transformation and Storage (VMETS). This system is based on both compression and absorption refrigeration, uses water-LiBr or ammonia-water as working fluid, and can shift the off-peak electric energy for effective air conditioning. The key of the technology is to regulate the chemical potential by controlling the refrigerant mass fraction in the working fluid with respect to time. By using a solution storage tank and a refrigerant storage tank, the energy transformation and storage can be carried out at the desirable time to provide the low cost air conditioning efficiently. Based on the derived system models, the system characteristics and performance under two system strategies, full-storage and partial-storage strategies, are investigated in details. By computer simulation, it is found that the VMETS technology has high energy conversion efficiency. / 4. A novel thermoelectric air conditioning system is developed. Different from the conventional air conditioning systems, this system is based on the thermoelectric effect and semiconductor technology. It consists of thermoelectric (TE) modules, a power supply, a water circulation system and a computer control system. The thermoelectric system has three functions: heating, cooling, and power generation. To improve the efficiency, it uses the so-called symbiotic generation to optimize the energy usage. In order to investigate the system performance, a theoretical model is developed. By computer simulation, it is found that the system can achieve acceptable performance for cooling and heating under a typical condition. A small experimental model is also built, and the testing result confirms the simulation results. / 5. An intelligent thermal comfort controller is developed to improve the comfort level for air conditioning system. This controller adopts Predicted Mean Vote (PMV) as the control objective rather than the conventional temperature control, and takes six variables into consideration. Meanwhile, a kind of direct neural network (NN) control algorithm is designed by combining a proposed energy saving strategy. By computer simulation, it is found that this controller can achieve high comfort level and energy saving for the conventional Heating, Ventilation and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems. Moreover, a compact thermal comfort controller is also developed for the DAAC system. / 6. A cost-effective Fault Detection and Diagnosis (FDD) method is proposed for HVAC system to maintain the energy saving and thermal comfort. It combines the model-based method and the neural network classifier, so it is called Model-Based Fault Detection and Diagnosis method (MBFDD). To validate the performance, the MBFDD is applied to a HVAC system by simulation. Based on the derived system models, the output variables sensitive to the faults can be selected. After pre-processing the acquired data under normal and faulty conditions, the MBFDD based on neural network classifier can be trained first, and then used for on-line monitoring and FDD. The simulation results show that this method is efficient for the HVAC system, and is able to enhance the comfort level and energy saving as well as the system health and safety. / Air conditioning system plays an important role in modern living. Every year millions of air conditioning systems are made and sold. Consequently, even small technological improvement may add up to significant energy saving. Currently, most of the air conditioning systems are based on the compression refrigeration technology, which uses electricity as power and chlorofluorocarbon (CFCs) as refrigerant. Facing the ever-increasing energy and environmental crisis in the world, developing energy-efficient and environmental-friendly air conditioning system is of great importance. / This thesis presents the research on developing air conditioning systems by employing several kinds of technologies: (1) absorption refrigeration technology; (2) bubble pump technology; (3) energy storage technology; (4) renewable energy technology; (5) thermoelectric refrigeration technology; (6) thermal comfort control technology; and (7) fault detection and diagnosis technology. Based on these technologies, this thesis addresses the following topics: / Liang Jian. / "June 2006." / Adviser: Ruxu Du. / Source: Dissertation Abstracts International, Volume: 67-11, Section: B, page: 6700. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2006. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 175-194). / Electronic reproduction. Hong Kong : Chinese University of Hong Kong, [2012] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Electronic reproduction. [Ann Arbor, MI] : ProQuest Information and Learning, [200-] System requirements: Adobe Acrobat Reader. Available via World Wide Web. / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / School code: 1307.

Zhao, Xiaozheng = 滑移邊界條件下湍流熱對流的實驗研究 / 趙晓争. / "September 2010." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 52-57). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Zhao, Xiaozheng = Hua yi bian jie tiao jian xia tuan liu re dui liu de shi yan yan jiu / Zhao Xiaozheng. / Abstract --- p.i / 摘要 --- p.ii / Acknowledgement --- p.iv / Contains --- p.iv / List of Figures --- p.vii / List of Tables --- p.xi / Chapter 1 --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Turbulence --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Turbulent Rayleigh-Benard Convection --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.1 --- Physical Picture --- p.2 / Chapter 1.2.2 --- Governing Equations and Characteristic Parameters --- p.5 / Chapter 1.2.3 --- Nu Scaling --- p.7 / Chapter 1.2.4 --- Boundary Layer --- p.8 / Chapter 1.3 --- Motivations of the Present Work --- p.10 / Chapter 2 --- Experimental Setup --- p.13 / Chapter 2.1 --- The Convection Cell --- p.13 / Chapter 2.2 --- Temperature Probe and Translation Stage --- p.15 / Chapter 2.3 --- Calibration of the Thermistors --- p.17 / Chapter 2.4 --- Data Acquisition Units --- p.18 / Chapter 2.5 --- The Working Fluids --- p.19 / Chapter 2.6 --- Heat Leakage Prevention --- p.21 / Chapter 3 --- Heat Transfer and Thermal Boundary Layer Measurement --- p.23 / Chapter 3.1 --- The Setup and Experimental Procedure --- p.23 / Chapter 3.2 --- The Mean Temperature and Temperature Fluctuation Profiles across the Interfaces --- p.24 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Profiles across the Water-FC77 Interface --- p.24 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Profiles across the FC77-Mercury Interface --- p.27 / Chapter 3.3 --- Nu Results --- p.29 / Chapter 3.3.1 --- Results Obtained with Assumption of Pure Conduction --- p.30 / Chapter 3.3.2 --- Results from Mean Temperature Profile --- p.32 / Chapter 3.3.3 --- Comparison of the Two Methods --- p.33 / Chapter 3.4 --- Boundary Layer Thickness --- p.37 / Chapter 3.5 --- Summary --- p.39 / Chapter 4 --- Influence of Flow in the Water (Mercury) Layer on the FC77 Layer --- p.41 / Chapter 4.1 --- Experimental Setup --- p.41 / Chapter 4.2 --- Main Results --- p.42 / Chapter 4.3 --- Probability Density Function and Temperature Oscillation --- p.44 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.50 / Chapter 5 --- Conclusions and Perspective --- p.51 / Chapter 5.1 --- Conclusions --- p.51 / Chapter 5.2 --- Perspective for Future Work --- p.52

Cai, Debin = 高普朗特數湍流對流中速度場和溫度場能量級串傳遞的實驗研究 / 蔡德斌. / "September 2010." / Thesis (M.Phil.)--Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2010. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 84-88). / Abstracts in English and Chinese. / Cai, Debin = Gao pu lang te shu tuan liu dui liu zhong su du chang he wen du chang neng liang ji chuan chuan di de shi yan yan jiu / Cai Debin. / Abstract (in English) --- p.i / Abstract (in Chinese) --- p.ii / Acknowledgements --- p.iii / Contents --- p.iv / List of Figures --- p.vi / List of Tables --- p.xv / Chapters / Chapter 1. --- Introduction --- p.1 / Chapter 1.1 --- Turbulence --- p.1 / Chapter 1.2 --- Turbulent Rayleigh-Benard Convection --- p.2 / Chapter 1.3 --- Small-Scale Properties of Turbulent Convection --- p.6 / Chapter 1.4 --- Motivations and structure of this thesis --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4.1 --- Motivations --- p.9 / Chapter 1.4.2 --- Organization of this thesis --- p.15 / Chapter 2. --- Experimental apparatus and techniques --- p.16 / Chapter 2.1 --- Turbulent Rayleigh-Benard convection cell --- p.16 / Chapter 2.2 --- The working fluid 1-Pentanol --- p.20 / Chapter 2.3 --- Technique and instruments in temperature structure function measurement --- p.21 / Chapter 2.3.1 --- Temperature detecting probe --- p.22 / Chapter 2.3.2 --- Electronic instruments for temperature measurement --- p.25 / Chapter 2.4 --- Technique and instruments in velocity structure function measurement --- p.28 / Chapter 3. --- Cascades of Temperature Fluctuations in High Prandtl Number Turbulent Convection --- p.31 / Chapter 3.1 --- Selection of the experimental parameters --- p.31 / Chapter 3.2 --- Temperature structure function at the cell centre --- p.33 / Chapter 3.2.1 --- Experiment arrangements --- p.34 / Chapter 3.2.2 --- Experiment results of temperature structure function at the cell centre --- p.37 / Chapter 3.3 --- Temperature structure function near the cell sidewall --- p.43 / Chapter 3.4 --- Intermittency in the high Pr number system --- p.49 / Chapter 3.5 --- Summary --- p.51 / Chapter 4. --- Cascades of Velocity Fluctuations in High Prandtl Number Turbulent Convection --- p.52 / Chapter 4.1 --- Experiment technique --- p.52 / Chapter 4.2 --- Velocity structure function at the cell centre --- p.54 / Chapter 4.2.1 --- Analysis with time average method only --- p.55 / Chapter 4.2.2 --- Homogeneity and isotropy at the cell centre --- p.61 / Chapter 4.2.3 --- Analysis with spatial average method --- p.65 / Chapter 4.3 --- Velocity structure function near the sidewall --- p.70 / Chapter 4.4 --- Summary --- p.75 / Chapter 5. --- Comparison between Different Experiments --- p.77 / Chapter 5.1 --- Comparison between High and Low Pr Number Cases --- p.77 / Chapter 5.2 --- Comparison between the Temperature and Velocity Structure Function Measurements in High Pr number System --- p.80 / Chapter 6. --- Conclusion --- p.82 / References --- p.84

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A time dependent model of the shallow, tropical convective boundary layer is developed and tested. To simplify the treatment of thermodynamic processes and return to first principles of physics, conserved quantities of entropy and total water density are used as primary model variables. In addition, a new shallow cumulus parameterization scheme is developed and is based on the use of a time dependent cloud kinetic energy equation combining local concepts of cloud processes with the use of a special buoyancy length scale. Two model simulations are performed in an attempt to assess the model's performance and the effectiveness of the parameterization scheme. Results indicate that the model does a reasonable job in both representing the equilibrium structure of a shallow convective boundary layer and in generating a realistic boundary layer structure from an initial state consisting of a shallow moist layer with dry air aloft. The cumulus parameterization scheme appears to adequately represent the transport of thermodynamic quantities associated with convective activity and the use of conserved variables provides an effective way of representing the boundary layer structure and treating the mixing processes associated with cloud processes. This work illustrates the usefulness of generalized conserved variables, particularly entropy and total water density, and indicates that the general approach of using a time dependent cloud kinetic energy equation may be effective for representing thermodynamic processes in the tropical boundary layer. / Graduation date: 1992

The nuclear industry has long relied upon bounding parametric analyses in predicting the safety margins of reactor designs undergoing design-basis accidents. These methods have been known to return highly-conservative results, limiting the operating conditions of the reactor. The Best-Estimate Plus Uncertainty (BEPU) method using a modernized version of the Code-Scaling, Applicability, and Uncertainty (CSAU) methodology has been applied to more accurately predict the safety margins of the Oregon State University Advanced Plant Experiment (APEX) facility experiencing a Loss-of-Feedwater Accident (LOFA). The statistical advantages of the Bayesian paradigm of probability was utilized to incorporate prior knowledge when determining the analysis required to justify the safety margins. RELAP5 Mod 3.3 was used to accurately predict the thermal-hydraulics of a primary Feed-and-Bleed response to the accident using assumptions to accompany the lumped-parameter calculation approach. A novel coupling of thermal-hydraulic and statistical software was accomplished using the Symbolic Nuclear Analysis Package (SNAP). Uncertainty in Peak Cladding Temperature (PCT) was calculated at the 95/95 probability/confidence levels under a series of four separate sensitivity studies. / Graduation date: 2013