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Non-intrusive acoustic instruments that measure fluid velocity and temperature have been restricted to low subsonic Mach number applications due to increased complexities associated with acoustic refraction, low signal-to-noise ratios, and a limited range of practical applications. In the current work, the use of acoustics for non-intrusive flow monitoring in compressible flows is explored and a novel sonic anemometry and thermometry (SAT) technique is developed. Using multiple arrangements of SAT equipment, a compressible acoustic tomography technique was also developed to resolve flow non-uniformities. Three validation experiments were used to investigate the novel SAT technique performance, and a fourth validation experiment was used to explore compressible flow tomography capabilities. In the first experiment, an unheated jet was used to verify that the acoustic technique could measure fluid velocities in high subsonic Mach number flows. The application demonstrated velocity root mean square (RMS) errors of 9 m/s in unheated jet flows up to Mach 0.83. Next, a heated jet facility was used to assess the impact of fluid temperature on measurement accuracy. Using jet Mach numbers up to 0.7 and total temperatures up to 700 K, RMS velocity and static temperature errors up to 8.5 m/s (2.4% of maximum jet velocity) and 23.3 K (3.3% of total temperature) were observed. Finally, the acoustic technique was implemented at the exhaust of a JT15D-1A turbofan engine to investigate technique sensitivity to bypass engine conditions. A mass flow rate and thrust estimation approach was developed and RMS errors of 1.1 kg/s and 200 N were observed in conditions up to an exhaust Mach number of 0.48. Since modern acoustic tomography techniques require an incompressible flow assumption for velocity detection, advancements were made to extend acoustic tomography methods to compressible flow scenarios for the final experiment. The approach was tested in the heated jet operating at Mach 0.48 and 0.72 (total temperature of 675 K, approximately 2.25 times the ambient) and numerical simulations were used to identify technique sensitivity to input variables and system design. This research marks the first time an acoustic method has been used to estimate compressible flow velocities and temperatures. / Ph. D.

"Material property estimation method is developed with 1-D heat conduction model and bounding exercise for Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) analysis. The purpose of this study is to develop an unsophisticated tool to convert small scale cone calorimeter data into input data that can be used in computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models to predict flame spread. Specific interests of input data for FDS in this study include thermal conductivity, specific heat, pre exponential factor, activation energy, heat of vaporization. The tool consists of two objects; 1-D model and bounding exercise. Main structure of the model is based on one of the thermal boundary conditions in the FDS, named as “Pyrolysis Model, Thermally-Thick Solid”, in which pyrolysis flux occurs on the surface of the object under radiant heat flux. This boundary condition is adopted because it has the best characteristics in the dynamics of modeling which are subject to our interests. The structure of the model is simple and concise. For engineering point of view, a practical model ought to have such simplicity that saves time and effort. Pyrolysis model in FDS meets this requirement. It is also a part of reason that this study is to develop a computational model which converts a set of data from the cone calorimeter test to a set of input data for FDS. A pyrolysis term on a surface of an object in this boundary condition will be playing an important role regarding a surface temperature and a mass loss rate of the object. Bounding exercise is introduced to guide proper outcome out of the modeling. Prediction of the material properties from the simulation is confirmed by the experimental data in terms of surface temperature history and mass loss rate under the bounding exercise procedure. For the cone calorimeter, thirteen different materials are tested. Test materials vary with their material composition such as thermoplastics, fiber reinforced plastics (FRP), and a wood. Throughout the modeling fed by a set of the cone calorimeter test data, estimated material properties are provided. So called “Bounding Exercise” is introduced here to draw the estimated material properties. Bounding exercise is a tool in order to guide the material property estimation procedure. Three sets of properties (Upper, Standard and Lower) are derived from the boundary exercise as recommended material properties. From the modeling results, PMMA shows the best agreement regarding the estimated material properties compared with already known results from the references. Wood indicates, however, somewhat different results, in which the mass loss rate takes a peak around the ignition and decreases sharply. This burning behavior can not be predicted using the “Pyrolysis Model”. The model in this study does not account so called “Charring Behavior” that a charring layer toward a surface or difference between a charred density in a charring layer and a normal density in a virgin layer of a wood. These factors result in a discrepancy of the estimated material properties with the reference data. Unlike PMMA and wood, FRP materials show a unique ignition characteristic. Mass loss rate history from some FRP materials indicate more a thermoplastic burning behavior and other materials tend to char. In addition there are few known material property data for theses materials and it is difficult to verify the results from this study with pre-existing data. Some plastic samples also indicate difficulties of the modeling. Because some samples melt and disfigure during the test, one dimensional heat transfer boundary condition is no longer applicable. Each bounding exercise results are fully examined and analyze in Chapter 6. Some of limitations contain model’s structural limitation, in which the model is too simple for certain cases, as well as limitations of bounding exercise. Finally, recommendations are made for future work including upgraded model accountable for the pyrolysis of charring material and FRP materials, data comparison with FDS results, and improved bounding exercise method."

Aims and Methods The overall aim was to evaluate methods of screening and assessment of distress, anxiety, and depression in cancer patients. Further, to evaluate effects of a psychosocial intervention and to explore changes of distress, anxiety, depression, and HRQoL during six months. Study I included 495 consecutive patients screened with the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) at their first visit to an Oncology Department. Half of the patients with >7 on any of HADS subscales received standard care (SCG), and half received a psychosocial intervention (IG). To compare HADS with a thorough clinical assessment (CA), Study II included 171 identified patients representing both sexes, <65/≥65 years, and curative/palliative treatment intention. Results Screening with HADS identified anxiety or/and depression symptoms in 36% of the 495 patients. Thirty-six (43%) of 84 IG patients attended CA, resulting in support for 20 (24%) of them. There were no differences between SC and IG during follow-up, anxiety and depression decreased and HRQoL increased, although anxiety was still present and HRQoL impaired at six months. The Distress Thermometer (DT) ≥4 (sensitivity 87%, specificity 73%) is valid for screening of distress; its ability to measure changes over time is comparable to HADS. Of 319 patients screened with <8 on both HADS subscales, 196 (80%) were stable non-cases with HRQoL comparable to that of the general population and 49 (20%) patients were unstable non-cases, with deteriorated anxiety, depression, and HRQoL. >4 on HADS subscales may be useful for early detection of unstable non-cases. In Study II, HADS identified 49 (34%) and the CA 71 (49%) patients as having distress, anxiety or depression. CA identified more men and more young patients with distress than HADS did. Conclusion Screening and assessment identifies patients with persistent symptoms and increases access to CA and support. The DT may be used routinely in oncology care. When HADS is used, healthcare professionals should be aware of psychosocial problems perceived by patients but not covered by HADS. Most patients identified with distress seem to have resources to manage problems without needing additional support. Patients screened as non-cases indicate no need for re-assessment.

A differential, membrane-based nanocalorimeter has been designed and constructed for thermal studies of mesoscopic samples at low temperatures. The calorimeter is intended for sample masses from mg to sub-μg and a broad temperature range from above room temperature down to the sub-K region. It allows concurrent use of ac steady state and relaxation methods. Effort was spent to achieve good absolute accuracy to enable investigations of the electronic contribution to the heat capacity of superconductors. The calorimeter consists of a pair of cells, each of which is a stack of heaters and thermometer in the center of a silicon nitride membrane, in total giving a background heat capacity less than 100 nJ/K at 300 K, decreasing to 10 pJ/K at 1 K. The device has several distinctive features: i) The resistive thermometer, made of a GeAu alloy, displays a high sensitivity, dlnR/dlnT ≈ −1 over the entire temperature range. ii) The sample is placed in direct contact with the thermometer, which is allowed to self-heat. The thermometer can thus be operated at high dc current to increase the resolution. iii) Data are acquired with a set of eight synchronized lock-in amplifiers measuring dc, 1st and 2nd harmonic signals of heaters and thermometer. iv) Absolute accuracy is achieved via a novel variable-frequency fixed-phase technique in which the measurement frequency is automatically adjusted during ac-calorimetry measurements to account for the temperature variation of the sample specific heat and the device thermal conductance. The properties of the empty cell and the effect of the thermal link between sample and cell were analytically studied. Practical expressions for describing the frequency dependence of heat capacity, thermal conductance, and temperature oscillation amplitude of the system were formulated. Comparisons with measurements and numerical simulations show excellent agreement. Calibration procedures are simple, but care should be taken to minimize thermal radiation effects. The experimental setup is operated with self-regulation of heater powers and thermometer bias, including compensation to zero the differential dc signal. As a result its high resolution and compact format, the calorimeter is well suited for studies of phase transitions and phase diagrams as well as electronic specific heat. The performance of the device is demonstrated by a study of the superconducting state of a small lead crystal. / En differentiell, membran-baserad nanocalorimeter har designats och tillverkats för termiska studier av mesoskopiska prover vid låg temperatur. Kalorimetern är avsedd för provmassor från mg till sub-μg och ett brett temperaturområde från över rumstemperatur till under 1 K. Den tillåter samtidig användning av både ac steady state och relaxations-metod. Fokus har lagts på att uppnå en god absolut noggrannhet för att möjliggöra studier av det elektroniska bidraget till värmekapaciteten hos supraledare. Kalorimetern består av två celler, var och en uppbyggd som en stack med värmeelement och termometer i mitten av ett kiselnitrid-membran, med en total bakgrundsvärmekapacitet på mindre än 100 nJ/K vid 300 K, minskande till 10 pJ/K vid 1 K. Kalorimetern har flera särdrag: i) Den resistiva termometern, gjord av en GeAu legering, visar en hög känslighet, dlnR/dlnT ≈ −1 över hela temperaturområdet. ii) Provet placeras i direkt kontakt med termometern, som tillåts att självvärma. Termometern kan alltså användas vid hög dc ström för att öka upplösningen. iii) Mätningarna genomförs med en uppsättning av åtta synkroniserade lock-in förstärkare, som mäter dc, grundfrekvens och 1:a övertonen hos värme-element och termometer. iv) Absolut noggrannhet uppnås genom en ny variabel-frekvens konstant-fas teknik där mätfrekvensen justeras automatiskt under ac-kalorimetrimätningar för att kompensera temperaturberoendet hos provets specifika värmekapacitet och kalorimetercellens värmeledningsförmåga. Egenskaperna hos den tomma cellen och inverkan av den termiska länken mellan prov och cell studerades analytiskt. Praktiska uttryck för att beskriva frekvens beroendet hos systemets värmekapacitet, värmeledningsförmåga, och temperaturoscillationer har formulerats. Jämförelser mellan mätningar och numeriska simuleringar visar mycket bra överensstämmelse. Kalibreringsförfarandet är enkelt, men försiktighet bör vidtas för att minimera värmestrålningseffekter. Experimentuppställningen drivs med självreglering av värmare och termometer, inklusive kompensation för att nollställa den differentiella dc signalen. Som en följd av dess höga upplösning och kompakta format är kalorimetern väl lämpad för studier av fasövergångar och fasdiagram såväl som det elektroniska specifika värmet. Kalorimeterns prestanda demonstreras genom en studie av det supraledande tillståndet hos en liten blykristall. / At the time of the doctoral defense, the following paper was unpublished and had a status as follows: Paper 5: Accepted.

This thesis contains the description of well-known methods and principles dealing with the measurement of the flow-velocity of fluids. Furthermore, it contains the description of the development of the mobile flow-meter, including the realization and the technical description of the device. The thesis describes the advantages and disadvantages of the above mentioned flow-meter. The last part of the thesis is dedicated to the calibration of the device and to the possible practical use of the flow-meter.

The Masters thesis describes the control of heating system in family houses where exists requests for supervising and measuring of sources, energy storages and delivery parts of network. Description includes detail for source education support, overviews to development tools and programming language for microcontrollers. Heating system is built for two sources of energy and every source is steered alone. Source codes are designed into PIC? single-chip processors PIC? 18F4520 and PIC? 16F628A developed by Microchip company. These are deployed in unified boards called embedded board chosen for their accessibility from point of view low and high voltage interfaces. Part application of powerful elements control describes principle of operation and their usage in networks. For on-line control of central equipment is preferred usage of powerful components with servo-mechanism and for simpler usage is good to use passive components. Temperature sensor read current value in cross points of network where are media mixed or saved. Processors provides except own control jobs information interface for users too. Used SW is well arranged, faithful and includes routine for source code optimizing. The example of controlled system is actuators in family house heating with high and low temperature circuits which are controlled by industrial systems as current gas coopers.

Content of the Bachelor Thesis covers design and realisation of an unit for multipoint temperature measuring in cooling and freezing equipments in food stores and shops. As a controlling microcomputer is used an Atmel ATMega128, temperature sensors are realised by DS18S20 digital thermometers, connected via 1-wire bus. Unit can read temperature from 32 temperature sensors, includes memory for measured data, real time clock, Ethernet interface and display with buttons for basic user control. Temperatures are measured periodically with user defined interval, values are stored into internal memory and showed on display. Measured data can also be transferred via Ethernet to clinent PC, where can be viewed in form of table and graphs.